Your ability to earn a living is far and away your largest asset. Learn how to protect your paycheck if you become unable to work in the event of sudden injury or illness.

Disability Insurance

Think about it. What would happen if suddenly, due to an illness or injury, you were unable to work?

Without your paycheck, how long would you be able to make your mortgage or rent payment, buy groceries or pay your credit card bills without feeling the pinch? If you’re like most, it wouldn’t be long at all: 7 in 10 working Americans couldn’t make it a month before financial difficulties would set in, and one in four would have problems immediately, according to a Life Happens survey.¹

That’s where disability insurance comes in. Think of it as insurance for your paycheck. It ensures that if you are unable to work because of illness or injury, you will continue to receive an income and make ends meet until you’re able to return to work.

You don’t hesitate to insure your home, car and other valuable possessions, so why wouldn’t you also protect what pays for all those things—your paycheck.

Posted by LIFE HAPPENS, 2018.

Overview

The number of motorcyclists killed in crashes dropped to 4,985 in 2018, an almost 5% decrease, but motorcycle riders are still overrepresented in traffic fatalities. To keep everyone safe, we urge drivers and motorcyclists to share the road and be alert, and we’re reminding motorcyclists to make themselves visible, to use DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets, and to always ride sober.

As the arrival of warmer weather gets closer each day, you’re probably starting to think about yard work and outdoor projects you want to accomplish this year. An important machine that keeps your yard looking good is your lawn mower.

If you’re like me, you probably pushed your lawn mower into your garage or shed and left it to sit for the winter. If that’s the case, now’s the time to have some maintenance work done on it so you’re ready to start cutting when the spring grass starts growing.

To get the most out of your lawn mower this season, here are some maintenance tips:

1. Change the oil. Clean oil is critical to keeping your engine lubricated and running smoothly. If you didn’t change the oil at the end of the lawn-cutting season, make sure to do it now. Changing the oil in your lawn mower is very easy. If it doesn’t have a drain plug, simply remove the oil cap, and tip the lawn mower on its side to drain. Before refilling your mower with oil, refer to your owner’s manual to determine the correct oil type. Lastly, dispose of your oil based on municipality guidelines. It should never be thrown into your garbage.

2. Replace the air filter. The purpose of the air filter is to protect your engine from dirt and debris. An extremely dirty air filter can lead to engine problems and potentially costly repairs. While it can vary on your conditions, typically you should change your air filter on a yearly basis. If your lawn mower is dusty and dirty after each cut, inspect it regularly. Depending on the filter type, you may be able to use your air compressor or vacuum cleaner to remove the debris.

3. Sharpen the blade. Your lawn mower blade is critical to maintaining your lawn and keeping it healthy. Hitting debris such as rocks, stones, sticks, and mulch can quickly dull it. Unfortunately, dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it which causes grass to turn brown. This can also lead to disease. If you prefer not to do this yourself, visit your local hardware store or small engine shop. To prevent downtime, consider buying extra blades to keep on hand.

4. Give it a good wash. Grass clippings and other debris can build up underneath the mowing deck. If moisture is present, it can lead to mold growth. Use a putty knife, garden hose, or pressure washer regularly to keep it clean. Don’t forget to dry it off with a rag or blower.

5. Change the spark plug. If you’re having a difficult time starting your lawn mower, it may be time to change the spark plug. Over time, deposit buildup can occur. In addition, normal wear and tear can lead to cracked porcelain or electrodes that have been burned away.

6. Look for rodents. During the winter months, mice need a nice warm place to stay. If they find their way into your garage or shed, it’s likely they’ll find a nice engine to snuggle up to. Check your lawn mower and the area around it for evidence of mice. Things to look for include nesting materials, droppings, or gnaw marks.

7. Check tire pressure. Cold weather can reduce tire pressure. Before cutting your lawn, don’t forget to check tire pressure. If a tire has more air than others, it could cause uneven mowing.

8. Inspect the battery. If you kept your battery indoors or on a trickle charger, it should be ready to go when the grass starts growing. If you kept it in your mower, check for cracks in the casing or corrosion buildup. Corrosion buildup can be removed simply with baking soda and a wire brush. Lastly, if you’re installing your battery for the first time, make sure the connections are snug.

Don’t forget about safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 80,000 people make unexpected trips to the emergency room each year because of lawn mower injuries.

Posted by Scott Stueber on Apr 7, 2020 10:29:21 AM

While spring showers bring May flowers, they can also bring unwanted water into your basement or cause water backups through your sewers or drains. These can be costly and messy to clean up.

The basic homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t include coverage for water back up and sump pump discharge or overflow coverage. Kim Bechler, senior personal lines underwriter will explain why water back up and sump pump discharge or overflow coverage is necessary. Without this coverage, you would have to pay for the damage to your home and/or personal property out of pocket.

Who should buy Water Back up and Sump Pump Discharge or Overflow coverage?

Homeowners, condo owners, and renters may want to purchase this endorsement to protect themselves from a loss that occurs to their home or to their personal property from either sump pump failure/overflow or water backing up through drains.

What type of losses would be covered under this coverage form?

Backup through sewers or drains and overflows or water discharged from a sump pump or related equipment would be covered.

If this type of loss occurs and you have the Water Backup and Sump Pump Discharge or Overflow endorsement on your policy, you would be protected against loss to your home and/or your personal property up to the coverage limit you purchased.

Why is it important to add this coverage to your policy and purchase an adequate limit?

Many homes have finished basements and are used for additional living space. The cost to clean and repair could be a financial strain. By adding this coverage to your policy, you can decrease or eliminate the financial strain you could face if a loss occurs. Most carriers offer different coverage limits and some even allow you to pick a deductible that will work for your needs and budget.

How can you prevent a water back up or sump discharge or overflow from occurring?

As a homeowner, there are simple things you can do to help prevent a loss from occurring. A few common tips include, but are not limited to:

• • • Installing a battery backup on your sump pump or installing a backup generator in your home in case your power goes out during a storm.
    • Installing a second sump pump if your home is in a wet area and your sump pump goes off regularly.
    • Making sure you install the correct pump size and that it’s installed properly.
    • Testing your sump pump if you haven’t heard it run recently. Maintenance is the key to preventing sump pump failure.

Even if you take actions to prevent a loss, it doesn’t mean you won’t have one. Protect your home and personal property by contacting your independent insurance agent to make sure you have adequate coverage.

Earth Day is on its way, and there are a lot of us who are looking to see what we can do in order to celebrate this special and important day. If you want to care for the Earth more, and you want to take the time to celebrate Earth Day, then this article will help you to figure out exactly what you want to do in the long run. Check it out, try some of them, and have a great time when it comes to helping the Earth to be what it deserves to be.

According to Wikipedia, ” Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.”

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We required this planet more than this planet require us. Let’s plant as much trees as we can. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s be a part of global campaign aimed at educating people about environmental issues and factors responsible for environment degradation. Let’s start now. And let’s not stop.

Earth Day is more than just a single day — April 22. It’s bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. Here are 25 different ways you can celebrate Earth day.

1. If you are in a situation where you can actually walk, ride your bike, or carpool in order to get from place to place, then it may be time for you to consider that. The fewer cars on the road, the better off that we will be when it comes to our atmosphere.

2. You can volunteer your time to organizations (local or national) that put effort into making the world a better place and helping the environment. There are a lot of great things that you can do, and on Earth Day, there are usually local activities as well.

3. Did you know that switching all of your bills to e-bills and online invoices can save millions of trees every single year? It’s true! If you are in a position where you can do that without making everything more confusing and stressful, then you definitely want to look at the different things that you can do in the long run.

4. Education is the key to everything that you do for the environment. If you know more about what you can do to protect the environment, then you will be able to use that knowledge and share it with others who may be interested in it as well. And that, in the long run, can make a big difference.

5. Do you want to encourage others to get in on the celebration? Then consider putting together what is known as a pledge board at work, school, or your place of worship. You can leave post it notes there so that people can write down the activities that they pledge to do for the environment throughout the next year or so.

6. Do you have a recycling plan in place? If you already do, start looking into what you have in order to expand what you’re recycling. If you do not, then you want to take a look and see what you can recycle in your local area and if you can work to make a difference in that way.

7. Do your faucets leak? If so, did you know that this wastes a lot of water on a yearly basis? If you haven’t done so yet, then you may want to look into how you can go ahead and get started with it during the next year.

8. Plant a tree. Trees are a big part of our earth, and planting one will just add to the health and wellness of the world that we live in.

9. Join a group that is focused on taking care of the environment and see how you can help. It can get your family involved and excited about everything that is available.

10. Go to a local event. A lot of communities will have an “Earth Day fair” or something similar that your family can enjoy together and learn from.

11. Stop drinking bottled water! There are plenty of alternatives out there and, if you stop drinking bottled water, you can save a lot of plastic that would, otherwise, be filling up landfills and dumps.

12. Consider making your yard an oasis for birds and other creatures. You can put in a bird feeder, install birdhouses, put in a bird bath, and more. By making it comfortable for them, they will be more likely to stick around.

13. Help kids learn about the environment by installing a play garden. These can help children to start to fall in love with nature while also being a lot of fun and helping them to get their hands a little bit dirty at the same time.

14. Consider putting together your own garden in your yard. This can save you money, help enrich the area, and it can make it so that you can get more out of what you’re doing on a regular basis.

15. Are you concerned about legislation at the state or national level when it comes to the environment? Then now may be the time for you to write an email or letter to your representative, senator, or whatever official that you may be looking to talk to about environment.

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16. Have you updated your light bulbs yet? There are a lot of different options out there that you can choose from, and most of them are much more environmentally friendly than what we grew up with. Changing them can save you a lot of time, money, and energy.

17. Put together an activity for your community if there isn’t one going on. Organize an event, do a community clean up, or put together a fair if there isn’t one already there.

18. Consider adopting a highway. Our roads get a lot of litter and junk on them on a regular basis, and there are highways all over the country that do not have what they need when it comes to people that can clean them. Go with your work or group of friends to take care of things.

19. Take some time to work with your local school. Local schools need all of the help that they can get when it comes to figuring out the best way to get kids more interested in the environment and its care.

20. Take initiative to make sure that your workplace is more environmentally friendly. See what you can do in order to make it just a little bit easier on everyone when it comes to getting involved with caring for the environment. Do research on recycling and get everything in order so you can all do your part.

21. Go and enjoy nature in a special way. Go on a hike. Go to the park. Do something that gets you in touch with nature and that helps to remind you exactly why you’re going to want to go ahead and put so much time, effort, and energy into what you have to offer here.

22. Put together a list of goals for the following year. What do you want to do throughout the year? What steps are you going to take in order to make sure that you can get everything that you need without a lot of hassle? Focus on those things above everything else.

23. Consider finding a way to help an environmental organization financially. If you have additional finances, there are all sorts of organizations out there who will need a little bit of help with money. Most are nonprofit organizations, so look into the ones that work on the things that you are most concerned about or most interested in and consider donating to them.

24. “Adopt” a creature at a wildlife preserve. There are a lot of them out there that need sponsoring, so consider finding a rescue that takes care of your favorite animals, then see how you can adopt and help pay for the care and such that one of these beautiful animals needs.

25. Don’t just leave it to Earth day! If we can do a myriad of things when we are celebrating Earth Day, imagine just how much more that we could do if we took care of the environment every other day during the year. So, why not look into what can be done through the whole year and make taking care of the environment a regular part of how you live.

There could be number of other ways to celebrate Earth day. These are just 25 ways by which you can celebrate Earth day and make a small contribution to the global campaign.

Image credit: Camelia , Thomas

Posted by: Rinkesh with Auto-Owners Insurance

Spring is a wonderful time of year. Unfortunately, spring can also come with rain, hail, high winds, tornadoes and whatever else Mother Nature has in store. Preparing before a severe storm hits is essential to potentially reducing storm damage to your home.

Here’s 10 quick and easy home tips you can use to prepare for the upcoming storm season.

1. Designate a safe place in your home to take shelter during a storm. This is ideally in the lowest level of your home with few windows or large furniture. Make sure all your family members know this is where to go in the event of a big storm.

2. Prepare a safe place for your pet(s). If you have pets keep in mind that storms, especially severe storms, will affect them too. Create a sleeping and eating area for your pets within the designated safe place of your home. Be sure to stock extra food, treats, and water.

Read: Storm Damage & Homeowners Insurance: 5 Things You Need to Know

3. Prepare an emergency kit. It’s a good idea to stockpile crucial items to help your family get through any power outage or delay in aid after a storm. Items to consider are:

• Extra batteries of all sizes
• Flashlights
• Battery-operated radio
• Portable cell phone charger
• First-aid kit
• Bottled water
• Non-perishable snacks and meals
• Blankets
• Cash

4. Check any wall air conditioners. Disastersafety.org recommends checking your wall air conditioners. Since these appliances essentially exist in a hole in your home, it’s important to make sure they’re sealed correctly. Specifically check:

• The caulking around the air conditioner’s sleeve. Fill any gaps or cracks you see in the caulking
• Weather stripping around the unit
• The internal drain to make sure water is flowing freely

5. Test your sump pump. Make sure the system is draining properly and mechanical components are operating well. Consider battery-powered backup options in case there is a power outage.

6. Clean your gutters. When the rain comes, you need a clear drainage path away from your roof. This will prevent water from pooling at your house’s foundation and possibly entering your basement.

7. Secure your gutters. Make sure all downspouts and extensions are in place and are the proper length to move water away from your foundation. It’s generally recommended to divert water about 10 feet away from your home.

8. Make sure your trees are pruned and healthy. Windstorms can do a lot of damage. Get rid of trees that pose a potential risk for falling on your home or on another property you value.

9. Secure your outdoor gear. This includes furniture, tools, mowers, etc. If they are not in use, put them away or tie them down. These can become either damaged or the cause of damage in a high wind situation.

Read: Storm Damage & Homeowners Insurance: 5 Things You Need to Know

10. Stay informed. Make sure you have a way of getting weather notifications. Several free weather apps will send you a push notification when severe weather is in your area. Keep in mind storms can come in the middle of the night. So, be sure to allow notifications and keep the sound on to hear the alerts. There are also weather radios you can use in your home that will alert you of severe storms any time of day.

Preparation before severe storms can make a huge difference in not only reducing storm damage but also the stress on you and your family. By implementing these simple home tips, you may be able to make this season’s severe storms feel a little less severe.

Posted by Auto-Owners Insurance.