Kathryn Smith

After a quiet December, Mother Nature has really created a ruckus in Wisconsin the last several weeks. From significant amounts of snow to extremely cold temperatures, winter’s back!

If you’re fed up with shoveling, it may be time to hire a snow removal service for the remainder of the season. If you’ve recently hired a snow removal service or plan to, you should be aware of the potential risks.

Accidents happen, especially in slippery, icy conditions. What if their worker slips and falls on your driveway or causes damage to your home or to property of others? You might be held responsible. That’s why it’s important to have the proper insurance, for both you and the company, to ensure coverage for potential losses.

Here are some things to do to ensure you’re both protected:

1. Consider requesting a copy of their current Certificate of Insurance. You’ll want to look for two types of coverages:

• Liability insurance covers property damage and injuries caused by their workers.
• Workers’ compensation insurance provides payment to injured workers for lost wages and medical services, regardless of who was at fault.

If they can’t provide proof of insurance, don’t hire them!

2. Verify that they’re bonded.

• Bonding protects you if they fail to complete a job or fail to meet other financial obligations, such as paying for damage the worker caused to your property.
• To determine whether your snow removal service is bonded, ask for a bond number and certification. You should take extra precautions to ensure that both the bond and the license are up to date.

3. Make sure they bring and use their own tools and equipment.

• If you offer your own equipment to them, you assume the responsibility to ensure the equipment is suitable for the job, is in safe condition, and they’re trained to use it.

4. Keep a copy of all paperwork.

• Include proof of licensing (if required), bonding and insurance, the contract, invoices, proof of payment, and all letters and e-mails.

Winter can be a long season and who knows what surprises Mother Nature may have in store. Keep your surprises to a minimum this winter and be prepared if you hire help.

For additional tips on hiring a snow removal service, check out the link below.

Burned out with shoveling snow?

Author Bio: Wendy Wagner is a senior Personal Lines underwriter and has been with West Bend for seven years. In her free time, Wendy enjoys snorkeling and swimming with manatees and sharks. Wendy and her family also love fostering dogs and finding them new homes.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Feb 12, 2019 9:58:30 AM

Here in Wisconsin, the weather is consistently throwing us for a loop. Anticipating snow and ice is something we all should do.

If you’re looking to avoid an icy driveway this winter, or you’re curious about when and how to apply salt, here’s a few tips to get you started:

• Before salting, make sure to shovel your driveway or sidewalk and clear as much snow as possible. This will help the salt work directly on the icy patches.
• You don’t need a ton of salt to clear the ice off your driveway. A nice even layer of salt should do the trick and help to remove ice buildup.
• Each version of salt varies and has its own specified melting temperature. When selecting salt, make sure to read the manufacture instructions on the package for proper use and application. Most times, salt should begin to work within 20 minutes. If the ice isn’t melting, it may be too cold outside for that specific salt product.
• Once the ice has started to melt, try and remove some of the thicker patches with a shovel to reduce re-freezing and slush. Reapply salt in extremely icy areas as needed.

Here are some additional tips to keep you and others safe:

• Protect yourself when using salt by wearing a pair of gloves or using a scoop to spread the salt out. If your children are outside, keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t come into contact with any salt either!
• Consider your furry family members. When brining pets inside, check their paws. Salt left on a dog’s paws can cause some significant burns and make your pup extremely uncomfortable.
• Think ahead. If you’re having friends over or you’re concerned about people slipping, clear your driveway and sprinkle salt down so it has enough time to start working.

Keeping your driveway and sidewalk clear is incredibly important to avoid injury, not only to you and your family, but also to guests or neighbors.

Do you have any tips or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.

Sources:

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-use-salt-to-melt-ice-on-driveways-and-sidewalks

https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-use-deicers-and-anti-icers-on-sidewalks-and-driveways/

http://blog.regdist.com/6-important-tips-to-safely-and-effectively-use-ice-melt

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Megan Ringwell on Feb 5, 2019 9:00:00 AM

Extreme cold temperatures put your home or business at risk for frozen pipes. As water freezes, it expands and puts pressure on pipes. When there’s too much pressure on pipes, they burst. Most times, the areas you need to be most concerned about are unheated areas, like garages and basements.

Every year, West Bend adjusters handle numerous burst pipe claims thanks to the extreme Midwest weather. Often times, these claims are on second homes or vacation properties. “These losses can be very large as the water can run for weeks,” says Scott Thomas, director of claims. In Scott’s experience, most of these situations occur when a furnace fails, or the heat is turned down too far. These losses can be minimized by someone checking on the property during extreme weather and by utilizing remote temperature monitoring technology.

Even if heat is maintained at comfortable levels, pipes on outer walls can freeze during extreme weather. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help prevent this from happening in your home or business.

1. Insulation is Key: Pipes that are exposed such as sprinkler lines or hose bibs are most likely to freeze. Garage and unheated basement pipes are also susceptible to freezing. Adding a layer of insulation to these pipes can prevent them from freezing. Go a step further and add insulation to your basement and attic to help maintain the temperature in cooler areas.

2. Monitor Your Heat: Try to keep your heat at one setting day and night. I know, heating your home or business can be very pricy but the added expense on your heating bill is much less than the cost of a broken pipe repair. If you plan to leave town for a few days, don’t set your heat to lower than 55 degrees.

3. Open Cabinets: Open your cabinet doors and allow heat to circulate around the plumbing under your cabinets.

4. Allow Water to Trickle: Keep your faucets on just enough so they drip, this keeps water moving and prevents it from freezing.

5. Prep for the Cold: Make sure outdoor hoses are removed and water is shut off to the faucets before winter.

If your pipes freeze, there are a few steps you can take to thaw them. Be cautious; if a pipe in has burst due to a freeze, water will come out and potentially flood your home or business.

• Turn on your faucet.
• Apply heat to the frozen area of the pipe. Because the faucet is on, as the pipe thaws, water should start to flow and come out the faucet.
• Keep heating until the water is back to normal pressure. Make sure to check all faucets in your home too.
• If you’re uncomfortable or unsure what to do, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Megan Ringwell on Jan 29, 2019 10:35:48 AM

From smart food dispensers and surveillance systems to ingenious toys and crafty crates, tech-savvy pet products are a booming market. Dog-walking robots may not be a reality yet, but we have recommendations for keeping your pets fed, safe, and busy while you’re away. With smart home technology devices, you can take some of the stress out of pet ownership and help your pet live a happier, healthier life.

Food: Make sure mealtimes are on time.

With hectic schedules, it can be easy to forget to feed your pet on time, especially if you’re running late for work, stuck in traffic, or taking the kids to practice. A connected pet feeder makes it easy to feed your pet on time every day. Automated dispensers like the PetSafe Automatic Pet Feeder let you schedule mealtimes and deliver specific portions. You can also feed your pet through the app anytime you want.

If you have pets that need separate mealtimes, devices like the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder use RFID collar tags or your pets’ microchips to detect when the appropriate pet approaches the feeder. The device will only dispense food once it identifies the right animal.

Safety: Find Fido wherever he may roam.

If you have an escape artist or like to take off-leash nature walks with your pup, he may be a good candidate for a pet tracker — a GPS-enabled device that attaches to your pet’s collar. It’s lightweight enough to work for dogs of all sizes, or even cats. Use the app to establish zones where your pet usually plays or walks. If your buddy crosses the “safe place” boundary, you’ll receive an alert letting you know his location. Pet trackers like the Whistle 3 also work as fitness monitors, displaying how many calories your furry friend burned, how many miles he’s run, and how many hours he’s slept (hint: a lot!).

Security: Keep an eye on your pets.

There are a variety of WiFi-enabled cameras that let you see, hear, and talk to your pets when you’re not home.

1. Nest Cam: From the makers of Nest home security products, the Nest Cam is a high-quality indoor security camera that makes a great pet cam.

2. Wyze Cam: This security camera pans automatically, so you can always keep an eye on your animals.

3. Arlo Pro 2: For outdoor pets, this video camera is a weather-resistant, battery-powered option you can place anywhere. With an outdoor camera, you can see, hear, and talk to your pet whether you’re inside the house or across town at work.

4. Eyenimal Cat Video Camera: For a fun twist on a pet cam, attach this tiny camera to your pet’s collar to check out where she goes on her walkabouts. It has night vision, is water resistant, and will record two-three hours of video at a time.

Entertainment: Pet-friendly connected toys.

It’s hard not to feel guilty when you have to leave your pet home alone. Thankfully, technology has given us creative ways to keep our fur babies entertained (without chewing shoes or clawing the sofa). As a bonus, some of these devices even let you keep in touch with your pets wherever you are. Here are a few entertainment devices your pet might love:

• The Interactive Cube: The PetCube Play is a sophisticated-looking black cube equipped with a camera. You can see your pet through a live video feed on your smartphone and “play” with her using a built-in laser toy that you operate via the app. You can also set the PetCube on a schedule, which is great for days when you can’t take a break to play.
• The Substitute Ball Thrower: It’s as simple and ingenious as it sounds. The iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher for Dogs throws the ball for your dog to retrieve. Once you teach your pup how to return the ball to the launcher, she’ll quickly learn how to entertain herself for hours at a time. The iFetch works indoors or outdoors and has different sized balls for any size dog.
• The Entertainment Center: Chat with your cat or dog no matter where you are using the PetChatzHD. Attach the camera to your wall at critter height to communicate with your pet via two-way audio. Use your PetChatzHD to have a video call with your pet or switch the channel to DOGTV. It can dispense treats and even has an accessory called PawCall that lets your pet call you on your phone or play games when you’re away. If your pet is willing to learn a few tricks, the PetChatzHD has endless ways to keep him entertained.

Comfort: Help calm your fearful friend.

It can be heartbreaking to know your pet is scared or anxious. Whether he’s set off by fireworks, vacuum cleaners, the garbage truck, or thunderstorms, anxiety is a common problem for many pets. When you can’t comfort him, provide him a safe space to relax with a safe nest like ZenCrate.

This crate filters out noise as an innovative solution for animals who startle easily. It’s designed to keep loud noises out and soothing noises in. The crate detects when an animal goes inside and begins playing soft, calming music. With reduced light exposure and vibration damping technology, this crate will become your pup’s sanctuary from an overstimulating world. Use the ZenCrate WiFi camera to check in on him when you’re out. The camera streams live video of your pup or kitty in the ZenCrate and sends a notification when he enters or exits the crate.

Our pets would do anything for us, so it’s our job to care for them the best we can. These high-tech, pet-friendly gadgets can help keep your best buddy happy, relieve boredom, and make your life just a little bit easier.

Author Bio: Sandy Newman is a Texas-based real estate agent for Owners.com, where the process of buying and selling your home is made simple. Sandy enjoys educating homeowners on smart tech for pets. In his downtime, Sandy is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, hiking and more. He has three kids, two dogs and three cats.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jan 15, 2019 11:50:47 AM

 

For many, buying a home is a dream come true. However, if you’ve been through the process, you know it’s not an easy task. You must figure out how much you can afford, get pre-approved, make an offer, and get a home inspection.

If you’ve purchased a new home recently, you may be familiar with the dangers of radon gas. If not, January is Radon Awareness Month.

What’s radon?

Radon is an invisible, odorless, and cancer-causing radioactive gas. It’s naturally found in rock, soil, and water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It’s estimated that 21,000 Americans die each year.

Unfortunately, there’s no escaping it. Radon has been found in all 50 states. Levels can vary from house to house or even floor to floor. Therefore, just because your neighbor’s home may have high levels of radon it doesn’t mean yours will.

How radon enters your home

Due to the difference between pressure in your home and the ground, radon gas can be naturally pulled in. Radon can find its way into your home through:

• Cracks in your basement floor or foundation;

• Well water or your sump pump;

• Exposed soil in a crawl space;

• Loose fitting pipes; and

• Building materials such as brick, concrete, and rock.

If your home has high levels of radon, you and your family have an increased risk of lung cancer.

How can you protect your family?

Testing your home for radon is the only way to determine if your home and family are at risk. There are no other signs that can identify if there’s a problem in your home.

Types of radon test kits

There are two types of home kits available; short-term and long-term. Short-term kits can be purchased online or at big box retailers and cost between $10 and $30. This type of kit should be placed in the lowest part of your home for a specific amount of time; usually a couple of days. After the designated time frame expires, mail the test kit to a lab to analyze your results. The results will be mailed back to you.

A long-term kit can be purchased the same way, but the cost ranges between $10 and $200. A long-term kit may collect particles anywhere from 90 days to one year. While long-term kits provide more accurate results, your family may potentially be exposed for a longer period. Experts recommend purchasing a long-term kit only if a short-term kit identifies a potential problem.

Lastly, another option for testing your home is hiring a professional service. While this method is most accurate and delivers results quicker, it’s also more expensive.

Testing for radon in your water

If you live in the city, the EPA provides testing guidelines that must be followed. If you live outside the city and have a private well, it’s your responsibility to determine if your water is safe. Experts recommend yearly testing.

What to do if radon levels are high

If a test determines dangerous levels of radon in your home, contact a professional. They can provide additional testing, as well as design and install a radon mitigation system that is customized for your home. Once the system is running, follow up tests will be done to make sure it’s working properly.

Do you have any tips or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

http://www.radontestinglab.com/enterhome.asp

https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/environmental-safety/test-or-remove-radon-gas/

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jan 8, 2019 11:36:42 AM

Topics: Home Safety

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jan 2, 2018 9:08:23 AM