I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : M C E L H O E S & D U F F Y H I S T O R Y S T O R I N G Y O U R B O A T F O R W I N -T E R N E W M O T O R C Y -C L E -C O V E R A G E 2
SEWER BACKUP PRE-VENTION TIPS MORTGAGE INSUR-ANCE 3 CLEANING A FLOOD-ED BASEMENT 4 R E F E R R A L P R O G R A M 5 P R O T E C T IN G O U R C L IE N T S S IN C E 1 9 2 1 F A L L 2 0 1 5
I N S U R A N C E N E W S
M E E T A T E A M M E M B E R : J E N N I F E R F R A S E RJennifer has over 15 years’ experience in the Insurance Industry, the last 10 in Commercial Lines. Jennifer is an welcome addition to McElhoes & Duffy’s Commercial Department. Please
contact Jennifer at [email protected] for any Commercial and Business Insurance inquiries.
Service Line Coverage
Many homeowners are not aware of the fact that they are responsible for the outdoor service lines from the street to their house, and behind their house to a well, septic tank, or an out building. With Underground Service Line Coverage, homeowners are covered for service line failure, which is physical damage resulting in a leak, break, tear, rupture, or collapse of a pipe or arcing wiring.
Extensions offered for Service Line coverage include:
Loss of Use– hotels, meals, rent, or other living expenses in the event you must leave your residence
Expedited Expenses– reasonable extra expenses to make temporary repairs, and expedite permanent repairs or replacements
Excavation Costs– necessary excavation costs required to repair/ replace the damaged service line
Outdoor Property Extension– outdoor property that is damaged due to service line failure. Includes, but not limited to, shrubs, trees, lawn, and driveway
Examples of typical losses courtesy of Red River Mutual:
A tree on your property has root growth that has caused damage to the sewer line connecting your home to the public sewer system. Your entire front yard will need to be excavated to repair the damage.
Cost: $5000
A leak occurs in the ground loop piping that forms part of your Heat Pump or Geo-Thermal Heating System. Your yard will need to be excavated to pinpoint the location of the leak and then the leak will have to be repaired. You may incur Loss of Use costs if your dwelling is uninhabitable until repairs are completed.
Cost: $9500
Established in 1921, McElhoes & Duffy is going on 94 years in business. The team at McElhoes & Duffy continues to provide uncompro-mised service to our clients. In today’s “Bigger is Better” society we strongly believe that personalized customer service is the backbone to our success and we will continue to find new ways and technology to provide the best service possible for our clients. McElhoes and Duffy is also now connected to both Facebook and Twitter. Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/McElhoes-Duffy-Insurance-Brokers and on Twitter @mcelhoesduffy. Like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter to be entered to win a 42” flat screen TV.
www.mcelhoesduffy.com
M C E L H O E S & D U F F Y I N S U R A N C E B R O K E R S , E S T . 1 9 2 1
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I N S U R A N C E N E W S
MPI INTRODUCES NEW MOTORCYCLE COVERAGE
In an effort to work more positively with motorcycle owners, MPI has introduced more options for motorcycle coverage. As of May 2015, motorcyclists are able to purchase these new products from their Autopac agent:
Rental Vehicle Insurance
Extension Loss of Use
Excess Value Coverage
New and Leased Vehicle Protection Extension Insurance
Motorcyclists will now have extension insurance up to par with those of automobiles.
For more information, call our office at (204) 233-1418
STORING YOUR BOAT FOR WINTER
Unfortunately, we have reached that time of the year where boat owners should start to think about winterization. A good first step is to make a checklist of what needs to be accomplished. Use the owner’s manual of your boat’s motor(s) for the manufacturer’s recommendations on winterization. The following is an idea of how you should prepare your boat for storage: Out of Water Storage
Pressure wash hull
Clean barnacles off props and shafts rudders, struts and trim tabs
Clean all thru-hulls and strainers
Open seacocks to allow any water to drain
Check the hull for blisters and if you find any that should be attended to you might want to open them to drain over the winter
It is probably best to take the batteries out of the boat and take them home and either put them on a trickle charger or charge them every 30-60 days
In Water Storage
Close all seacocks and check rudder shafts and stuffing boxes for leaks, tighten or repack as necessary
Check your battery to make sure it is fully charged, clean terminals, add water if necessary and make sure your charging system is working
Check bilge pumps to ensure they are working and that float switches properly activate the pumps and that they are not hindered by debris
Make sure either to check your boat periodically or have the marina check it and report to you
If in an area where the water you are docked or moored in actually freezes, you should have a de-icing device or bubbling system around your boat
PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM SEWER BACKUP
1. Arrange for a plumber to install a backwater valve on a sewer line in the basement of your home. This device will automatically close if sewage backs up from the main sewer
2. Install a sump pit drainage system (sump pit, sump pump, or discharge pipe) 3. Check your backwater valve and sump pit drainage system regularity
4. Do not drain water from your sump pump into your floor drain. This is not only illegal, but also increases the risk of basement flooding. The sewer system is not designed to handle sump pump water
5. Improve drainage around your house:
-Build up the ground around your house so water flows away from sidewalks, patios, decks, and driveways as these can settle over time and redirect the water toward your basement.
-Extend downspouts so water flows away from your house. If downspouts are connected to your home’s sewer system, disconnect.
-Regularly clean debris from eaves troughs. If they overflow when clean, replace with a larger size.
6. Don’t throw garbage, such as dental floss or cotton swabs, down your sinks or toilettes. This can clog your sewer and cause sewer backup.
7. Periodically clean your private sewer service pipe.
8. Avoid pouring fat, oil, and grease down the drain, as it hardens while cooling, causing it to stick to the inner lining of the sewer pumps, leading to an eventual blockage.
9. Don’t store your belongings on the floor in your basement in paper boxes. Store on a shelf or in plastic totes.
10. Don’t put grass clippings, leaves, or other debris on the streets as they can plug the drains. Plugged drains cause water buildup on the street, drain into the sewer system through manhole covers, and increase your risk of basement flooding
If you notice a plugged drain, call 311.
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Insurance News
M A R L E N E S T R E E T
R E S O U R C E C E N T R E
O N C E A G A I N M C E L H O E S A N D D U F F Y
I N S U R A N C E W I L L B E C O L L E C T I N G
T O Y S A N D D O N A T I O N S F O R T H E
M A R L E N E S T R E E T R E S O U R C E C E N T R E .
Y O U C A N D R O P O F F A N Y
U N W R A P P E D T O Y A T O U R O F F I C E A T
U N I T 1 - 6 0 4 S T M A R Y ’ S R O A D .
T H A N K Y O U I N A D V A N C E
T O E V E R Y O N E W H O
G E N E R O U S L Y D O N A T E S
E A C H Y E A R !
MORTGAGE INSURANCE
There are many
advantages of insuring
your mortgage directly
with a Life Insurance
company versus a Bank
or Mortgage Lender.
Talk to Terry Bialek for
more information.
Call us at
204-233–1418 and
set up an appointment
with Terry to find out
what is best for you.
INSURANCE NEWS
Page 4CLEANING UP YOUR FLOODED BASEMENT
If your basement does floor due to sewer backup or other causes such as water escape or rupture, clean up and repairs must be done properly in order to avoid mold and other health hazards. While clean up should be done as fast as possible, there are some important steps to take in order to do the job safely.
First: Safety
Ensure water, electricity, and gas utilities are turned off. Call your local utility company for assistance if needed.
Wear protective clothes, boots, and gloves. Also cover any open sores and cuts to prevent infection.
Use a flashlight, not a match, lighter, or lantern as gas vapors may be present. Open all windows in the flooded areas to allow gas build up to be vented out of the house.
Contact your insurance broker ASAP to report the damage. It’s a good idea to take photos or videos to assist in assessing the damage. Next: Clean up—Remove flood water ASAP using a wet vacuum or pumping method. Pumped water should be directed away from storm sewers or septic fields to prevent sewer backup. Discard the following items soaked in flood water:
Damaged cans, or boxed and bottles foods
Cosmetics
Stuffed toys
Paper products
Carpets, rugs, and underlay
Using hot soapy water, scrub all flood areas. Wash walls 24” above the highest water level.
After cleaning a room, go over it again with a disinfectant to kill germs and odor. Do not mix bleach with other household cleaners as it may create a poisonous gas.
If possible, allow items still in good condition to dry in the sun. When thoroughly dry, vacuum and spray with disinfectant. Once properly cleaned, contact your utility company to inspect the area and turn the services back on.
Last: Dry and Ventilate– Dry out your home and remove mildew by lowering the humidity. Open exterior doors and windows, open all closet doors and cabinets, use fans to circulate air, and run a humidifier. Heavy duty fans and dehumidifiers can be rented.
Medication or medical supplies
Upholstered furniture
