Westland Insurance

As the cold weather continues, exposed pipes are likely to freeze. This is especially true if they’re located in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics and garages. Pipes that run along poorly insulated exterior walls can also be affected by temperature extremes.

Continuous freezing and thawing can cause pipes to weaken and break. Water damage from burst pipes can result in mould, and if the damage isn’t repaired quickly or effectively, the build-up of mould can render a house uninhabitable. That’s why it’s important for you to know that although your homeowner’s policy may cover damage from burst pipes, most likely it doesn’t cover damage from mould.

The best way to prevent this nightmare scenario from happening is to be proactive and prevent your pipes from freezing.

ü · Install adequate insulation in outside walls that have pipes running alongside, under the floors above the basement, and above the attic ceiling.

ü · Disconnect the garden hose before the cold weather begins.

ü · Wrap exposed pipes with insulating sleeves.

ü · Seal foundation cracks in crawlspaces.

ü · Open the cabinet doors under your sinks during extreme cold weather to allow warm air to get in.

ü · Run a small trickle of water through cold and hot water faucets attached to pipes that could potentially freeze.

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle of water comes out, your pipe is probably frozen. Here are some tips on how to thaw the pipe safely;

ü · Keep the faucet open. As the frozen area of the pipe begins to melt, the water flow will help dissolve the ice.

ü · Apply heat to the section of the pipe that is frozen with an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable electric space heater, or with towels soaked in hot water. Don’t use a blowtorch or other open flame devices. A blowtorch can quickly boil frozen water and cause the pipe to explode. Plus, open flames are a serious fire hazard and can increase your exposure to carbon monoxide.

ü · Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you’re unable to locate or access the frozen section of the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

ü · Check all the other faucets in your home: if one pipe has frozen, others may have too.

Labels: Home Insurance Vancouver

RV-ing has become an increasingly popular way to vacation, especially for families. Since models are available to fit most budgets, from folding travel trailers that cost as little as $7,000 to Class-A motor homes with $140,000 price tags, more and more families are purchasing these recreational vehicles.

Even with different price tags, all RVs are alike in that they represent a significant investment for the purchaser. But according to a recent survey, most RV owners don’t purchase stand-alone coverage for their investment.

A 2007 Progressive Insurance survey of over 1,000 RV owners found that 54 per cent of respondents purchased only the necessary auto policy, compared to only 28 per cent who bought a stand-alone policy with specialized RV coverage. Fourteen per cent said they didn’t obtain any coverage for their RV.

Consider the following:

- An RV is a unique hybrid of a home and a method of transportation.

- You might keep personal items in your RV that you would never keep in your car, such as clothing, jewelry, binoculars, VCRs, satellite dishes, laptops, camcorders or outdoor gear.

• When you park your RV at a campsite, you may be liable for the area around your RV. If someone is injured, you may be responsible.

• If your RV is damaged while you're traveling, you'll need a place to stay and a way to get there.
If your RV is insured under a standard auto policy, none of these scenarios will be covered and you could wind up losing a lot of money. However, when you purchase a stand-alone policy, you can rest assured that you have a broad range of coverage for a wide range of potential incidents. That’s because stand-alone policy coverage for RV’s combines the protections of homeowner’s as well as auto policies.

So rather than only insuring your RV with an auto policy, consider the protection your family and investment deserves.

Labels: Auto Insurance in British Columbia, Home Insurance Vancouver

Recent statistics show that approximately 46% of teenagers and 89% of all drivers text on their cell phone while driving. These numbers are expected, but still very alarming. Texting is certainly a quick and efficient way of sending a message to someone, be it your boss advising you of additional information for the upcoming meeting, your wife asking you to bring home supper, or a friend inviting you over for drinks.

It seems harmless to take 30 seconds to reply to that important text message, but it is 30 seconds that you have your eyes off the road. In those 30 seconds, you may not see the traffic light turn red, the driver in front of you stop, or the pedestrian crossing the road.

Texting while driving has been named as one of the major contributors to causing traffic accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Motor vehicle accidents will cause your car insurance rates to skyrocket. This has quickly become a growing problem for Canada and the United States, as more and more people rely on their cell phones for conducting personal as well as company business. Fast paced, hectic schedules make pulling over and safely answering a call or text seems like time that cannot be taken. Instead, we choose to risk ourselves as well as the lives of others in order to save a minute or two.

Recently, texting and talking bans have been implemented in several provinces, including Saskatchewan and British Columbia. This law came into effect on January 1, 2010, for these two provinces. In BC, if you are pulled over by a law enforcement officer because of texting while driving, you face a fine of $164.00 plus 3 points on your driver’s license. You will also face higher auto insurance premiums. These penalties, along with the risk of injuring or killing yourself or someone else, are definitely not worth it. Take a minute or two to pull over and answer your phone, or better yet, wait until you reach your destination. No phone call or text is important enough to die over.

Labels: Auto Insurance Vancouver

After several months of beautiful spring and summer weather, once the snow starts to fly, it seems like we all forget exactly how to drive according to the winter weather conditions. Roads can become snowy, icy, and extremely treacherous, all in a matter of a few short hours. It would be nice to park the car in a warm garage for months, but this isn’t a practical idea for most people. Instead, we need to follow a few simple rules that will help reduce the chances of becoming stranded in the cold, or being involved in a nasty collision. Safety and preparation are the two essential keys to survive another season of frigid weather.

• First and foremost, bring your car in for a routine maintenance check before winter begins. Your vehicle should be in top running condition in order to last through the harsh temperatures and heavy snowfalls that come with winter. Your local mechanic or service station will check and top up your windshield fluid, oil, and antifreeze, as well as check and replace – if necessary – your battery, air filter, and wiper blades. Make sure that your tire pressure is equal and correct, and that your tires are not leaking air.
• Keep your gas tank level at least half full at all times. This will help to prevent the gas line from freezing when the temperature drops.
• Before driving anywhere, even to the gas station or convenience store, brush off your entire vehicle. This includes the hood, roof, headlights, and taillights. Snow left on the hood could blow up onto the windows, reducing visibility. When you scrappy your windows, scrape them entirely, not just a small area for the driver to see out of. You need to use your full range of visibility, especially in winter.
• Always drive according to the weather conditions. This applies to all seasons, not just winter. Slow down and allow yourself more time for breaking on icy streets. Keep ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you, just in case they make a sudden stop. Many winter accidents are caused by following too closely and not having enough time to stop before sliding into the back of another vehicle.
• If you are traveling long distances, make sure that you are prepared in case you become stranded. Monitor the weather reports before you travel and be prepared to change your travel plans. If you find yourself traveling in poor conditions, safely pull over if possible. It is better to arrive late to your destination to not arrive at all. Always bring a fully charged cell phone and an emergency kit. This kit should include blankets, extra clothes and boots, a flashlight, high energy food, and water. Never talk or text on your cell phone while driving. If you find it necessary to use your phone, pull over to make or answer the call.
• Also carry an emergency car kit with essential winter equipment. This kit would include a tow chain, road flares, jumper cables, a small shovel, a brush and window scraper, and kitty litter or sand for tire traction.
• If you happen to get stuck, stay in your vehicle. NEVER leave and try to walk for help. Hypothermia can set in very quickly, causing you to become disoriented and Can lead to death. Run your engine every hour to keep warm, and crack your window open to avoid getting the gasses inside the vehicle. Tie something brightly colored on the antenna to alert passing motorists.
  
  
  
  

Labels: Auto Insurance Vancouver

The Christmas holiday season is a time for celebration, cheerfulness, thinking of others, and spending time with family and good friends. For many, it is also a time to eat and drink. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a drink or two to toast loved ones or ring in the New Year. However, you must know your limit and drink responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption could lead to regrettable sexual jaunts, embarrassing phone calls or text messages, and inappropriate behavior at family and office Christmas parties. This behavior can severely – and permanently – damage your reputation and any chance for advancement up the corporate ladder.

The biggest and most dangerous decision people make while drinking is getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and believing they are fine to drive. Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of injury and death during the holidays; it is also one that can be avoided – 100%.

There are many misconceptions associated with drinking and driving. Following are some of the most common myths:

Larger people can handle their alcohol better than smaller people. While it is true that an individual’s size plays a factor in how they are affected by alcohol, there are several aspects that must be considered. Everyone has a different metabolic rate. This means that the body processes food and alcohol at different rates for everyone. A person weighing 200 pounds may have a slower metabolism than someone weighing 150 pounds. Therefore, alcohol stays in the body for a longer period of time. After the first drink is consumed, the effects are already taking place.

If you drink beer instead of hard alcohol, then you will be fine to drive. To be blunt, alcohol is alcohol. True, whiskey may have a higher alcohol percentage than a bottle of beer, but that just means that an individual is more likely to consume more beers; thus, becoming even more impaired. Alcohol – no matter what kind, affects the body.

Coffee will sober you up. Coffee contains caffeine, which will make you feel as if you are more awake, but it will not counteract the effects of alcohol. Alcohol impairs your judgment and vision, slows reaction time, and lowers your inhibitions. The only factor that can eliminate these effects is time.

If you roll down the windows and breathe fresh air, turn up the radio, or splash cold water in your face, you will sober up faster. Again, only time can eliminate the effects of alcohol on the body. These tactics are mere distractions that will not change your level of impairment at all.

The truth is, when you drink and drive, you risk more than just losing your good reputation. You also risk losing your job, your livelihood; even your family. You will accumulate hundreds – perhaps thousands – in fines and court costs. You will have a criminal record, which will prevent you from traveling out of country. Worst of all, you could severely injure or kill yourself or others – including your family. This is not a present that anyone wants to wake up to on Christmas morning.

So, by all means, have a great time during the holiday, but be responsible as well. If you choose to consume alcohol, then also choose to appoint a designated driver or arrange to take a taxi home. If you notice that someone on the road is driving erratically and could possibly be impaired, do not hesitate to call the police or 911. This way, everyone can arrive home safe and enjoy the season.

Labels: Auto Insurance Vancouver