Blog

When the weather gets hot at this time of year, you tend to hear people say, “The dog days of summer are definitely here.” When I was young and I heard my parents say that, I knew it meant the hot weather was here and the air conditioning would be turned on. Thank goodness!

“The dog days of summer” isn’t a reference to our pets being outside in the heat with their tongues out, scrounging for a bowl of water. It refers to Sirius the Dog Star. It was thought in ancient times that when the Dog Star aligned with the sun, weather would get even hotter. This alignment occurs in July and goes into August.

When the weather gets hot and humid, the last thing you want to experience is trouble with your air conditioner.

My brother, as well as some friends of mine, recently experienced issues with their central air conditioning. For my friends, it led to buying a new and expensive system. Ouch! For my brother, it was a simple fix. His condenser unit was clogged with cottonwood.

A few years ago, I found my basement carpet soaked with water. I learned the plastic tubing that went from the furnace to the drain was clogged with mold and it caused the water to back up everywhere.

Here are some videos that may help you identify why your home isn’t cooling during the “dog days of summer.” If the repair looks too complicated, call your local heating and air conditioning contractor.

Air Conditioner Not Cooling

How to fix your AC! Outdoor fan not running

Hello, You Need a New Compressor on that Air Conditioner. NOT!

Furnace AC Water Leak Fixed

Source:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150710-dog-days-summer-sirius-star-astronomy-weather-language/

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 26, 2016 8:30:00 AM

Have you ever been stranded on the side of the road because your car stopped working or you had an empty gas tank, flat tire, or dead battery? If you are on your way to a vacation destination, this is definitely NOT fun.

If you had roadside assistance, however, it would eliminate some of the stress associated with a breakdown. Maybe you’ve considered purchasing an AAA membership specifically for roadside assistance.

Kim Bechler, senior personal lines underwriter will discuss how TravelNet® works with West Bend’s Home and Highway® policy.

TravelNet emergency roadside assistance is available for a minimal additional premium charge for each of the vehicles covered on your Home and Highway package policy. TravelNet provides roadside assistance for a variety of emergencies, including towing, tire repair, fuel delivery, battery jump-starts, and lockouts.

In addition, if an accident or disablement occurs to your covered auto over 100 miles from your home and your trip must be delayed because of repairs, TravelNet will provide up to $250 for lodging, meals, and bus or taxi fees.

TravelNet is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And it’s easy to use. You simply sign and drive. You’re covered for the cost of the service(s) up to the limit on your policy.

TravelNet offers three limits: $100, $125, and $150 per vehicle. This means West Bend will cover the expenses you incur up to the limit you choose. You decide if you want this coverage for all or just some of the vehicles insured on your Home and Highway policy. This coverage doesn’t require the vehicle(s) to have other than collision or collision coverage, and it can be purchased for your private passenger autos, motorcycles, and motorhomes.

If you do a lot of traveling and you don’t want to be left stranded on the side of the road consider adding roadside assistance to your policy!

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 19, 2016 11:52:02 AM

Owning a home is a big investment. Unfortunately, Mother Nature and Father Time can damage your roof and siding.

Theresa Meyer, senior personal lines underwriter shares this information about roofing and siding materials. Please consider this if it’s time to replace your roof or siding.

Composite shingles have improved and are better able to hold up to our Midwest weather. However, they are still susceptible to damage from severe storms. If your roof has been damaged by a storm or your roof is older and it’s time to replace it, consider installing a roof with a label UL2218 Class 4 or FM4473 Class 4. These classes of material are designed to withstand the impact of larger hail and resist damage to your roof. Steel roofs are also designed to withstand penetration from hailstones. Many insurance carriers offer a discount if one of these roof materials is installed. To learn more about these different roof types, visit the links below.

Roof Types

UL2218 Class 4

FM4473 Class 4

Metal Roofs 101

There are also new siding materials designed to resist impact from hail. Installing siding with cellulose fiber-cement siding and trim such as Hardie-Panel, Hardie-Plank, or LP Smartside can also provide a discount from insurance carriers.

Siding Options

Hardie-Panel/Plank

HardiePlank Siding: Gorgeous Stuff, But Is it Worth the High Cost?

In addition, you can install several types of protective devices that may result in a discount on your homeowner’s insurance. Most popular are the central station alarm systems in which a third party monitors your home for fire or theft and contacts the proper authority if an alarm is triggered. There are also alarms designed just for fire that report directly to the fire department. Another alarm system for burglary would report directly to the police department.

Installing improved building materials or an alarm system will help protect your biggest investments – your home and personal property.

Additional Information

Throwing good money away on bad contractors

Choosing a Roofing Company

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 12, 2016 9:32:09 AM

When visiting local businesses in your community, figuring out tips is easy. If you received great service at your favorite restaurant, a 20% tip is appropriate. If you’re visiting your favorite watering hole, $1.00 – $2.00 per drink or 10-15% for the entire bill is appropriate.

What about when you’re on vacation? The rules may differ depending on where you go.

So much planning goes into a vacation, including air travel, accommodations, rental cars, and tours. My wife and I, however, often drop the ball when it comes to planning tips.

Last year in San Francisco, we went on a fantastic bike tour that took us over the Golden Gate Bridge. Our guide was interesting, full of knowledge, and took family pictures at various stops. At the end of the tour, many people walked away. However, we wanted to give him a tip. So there we stood trying to “Google” what an appropriate tip would be.

Here are some “tips” to help you determine appropriate tipping when you’re travelling with your family this summer in the United States.

Hotel Suggested Tips

• Door attendants, bellhops: If they help you with your luggage, tip $1-$2 per bag.
• Housekeeping: Consider $2-$5 per day. If you start tipping them at the beginning of your vacation, their service level may increase. If you request anything extra, a tip is also recommended.
• Valets: Valets are usually paid at the time they bring your car to the front. The recommended tip is $3-$5.
• Concierge: A concierge can provide a wealth of knowledge when on vacation. If they book reservations for you, consider tipping them $5-$10.

If you’re at a five-star hotel, consider tipping larger amounts.

Transportation Suggested Tips

• Taxi driver: If you have a safe and uneventful ride, consider 10-15% of the cab fare.
• Uber or Lyft driver: If you’re using a service like Uber and Lyft, a tip isn’t required. They charge it directly to your credit card.
• Airport Shuttle driver: While parking costs can add up if you park at the airport, don’t forget about the shuttle drivers. If they help you with your bags, $1-$2 per bag is appropriate and appreciated.
• Trains: If you use the dining car, consider a 15% tip. If you have a sleeping car, tip the attendant $5 per person per day.

Tour Guide Suggested Tips

While a nice tour could be expensive, please remember that in most cases, tips for the guides aren’t included.

• Full day/half day tour: Tip your guide 10-20% based on the cost of the tour.
• Independent guides: If you’re hunting, fishing, or taking a guided tour of the Grand Canyon, 10-20% based on the cost of the tour.
• Driver guides: If you’re on a city bus tour and the driver is providing great commentary, tip 10-20% of the tour price.

Airport Suggested Tips

• Skycaps: $2 per bag.
• Electric car drivers: $2 per person.
• Wheel-chair assistance: If you or a family member is being taken from the gate to baggage, tip $5. If they offer additional assistance, consider a bit more.

The tip amounts are suggestions. If you receive poor service, let them know through a tip or a conversation. A tip is never a guarantee.

Depending on what part of the country you’re in, tips may be a bit higher. Do your research ahead of time.

Additional Information

Etiquette 101: Your Guide to Tipping Around the World
Tipping Etiquette: A Guide for Travelers

Source:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g191-s606/United-States:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
http://www.affinitygrouptours.com/travel-tourism/tips-on-tipping-tour-guides-and-drivers/

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 5, 2016 10:40:55 AM

Have you ever come out of a store or restaurant and noticed your car has a new look? No, I’m not talking about your spouse or significant other surprising you with a new car. I’m referring to a large dent or scratch that wasn’t a part of your car before you parked it.

If so, you’ve experienced a hit-and-run accident. Hit-and-run accidents can involve cars, pedestrians, or other property.

So does auto insurance provide coverage for a hit-and-run? The answer to this question is, “It depends.”

Two insurance coverages that provide protection are comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision.

Collision coverage pays for damages to your car caused by a collision with another car or object, or by turning upside down.

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your car because of fire, falling objects, wind, hail, earthquake, explosion, or vandalism.

If your car is parked in a parking lot and is hit by another car, collision will provide coverage.

Kids vandalizing your car while parked outside your home or in a parking lot is covered under comprehensive.

As your car ages, and your loan is paid off, it may seem like a good idea to drop or reduce coverage from your policy. While this will reduce your premium, it does transfer the risk back to you. Therefore, in the parking lot scenario mentioned above, you may be responsible for the costs to repair your car.

Tips on how to handle a hit-and-run accident

1. Stay calm. Seeing your damaged car can be shocking and upsetting. Take a moment to collect your thoughts.

2. Capture information about the car that hit your car. If you see the car that hit you and it sped off, try to record the make, model, and license plate number.

3. Identify possible witnesses. If you see other people around your car, ask if they witnessed the accident. Also, look around for surveillance cameras. Surveillance footage may be able to show what happened.

4. Collect information at the accident scene. This information can be helpful when talking to the police and your insurance company. It should include:

• Date, time, and location;
• Pictures of your car; and
• Pictures of the accident scene.

5. Don’t chase the driver. Chasing the driver who hit your car is never a good idea as it can put you and others in a very dangerous situation. Contact the police immediately. A police report can help the claim filing process.

Source:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jun 21, 2016 9:39:18 AM

Our friends recently purchased a new home. For those who’ve gone through the process, you know how time consuming and stressful it can be. You have to:

• Decide if you’re selling yourself or signing a contract with a realtor;
• Pack your belongings;
• Rent a storage unit;
• Prepare the house for showings; and
• Have a home inspection.

Having a home inspection of your dream house is an important step in the process. While you may love the master suite or the in-ground pool, you need to know if there are any problems lurking around the corner.

Some things that are covered by a home inspection:

• Yard – drainage, landscaping, sidewalks, and railings;
• Structure – fascia board, doors, and windows;
• Exterior surfaces – siding, masonry veneers, and paint;
• Roof – shingles, flashing venting, and chimneys;
• Basement – no major cracks or stains on the foundation; and
• Mechanicals such as furnace, water heater, etc.

An important piece that was missed in my friend’s home inspection was the dryer vent. Dryer vents can be hard to inspect. Vents can have long runs through the house which could make it difficult to see if there’s lint buildup. At my house, our laundry room is on an outside wall so the vent is very short and easy to inspect.

Shortly after my friends moved in, they noticed it took a long time for their clothes to dry. Luckily, they bought a home warranty. The warranty company sent out a professional and found the dryer was fine. Lint build up was the problem.

Your home and family may be at risk if:

1. Dryer ducts have not been inspected or cleaned each year. Since my dryer duct is short, and on the side of the house, I usually take a peak when I’m doing yard work.
2. The dryer duct is more than 25 feet long. The longer the dryer duct, the harder it is for the dryer to push the lint to the exit.
3. You have a flexible foil duct that’s kinked, creating lint buildup.

Warning signs that your dryer duct is clogged:

1. Clothes are damp after a completed drying cycle.
2. The outdoor flapper on the vent doesn’t open when the dryer is running.
3. It takes significantly longer to dry your clothes.

Here’s a video that shows how to clean out your dryer vent.

Dryer Vent Cleaning – This Is How We Do It.

Other resources

Frequently Asked Questions on Home Inspections

Total Home Inspection Checklist

Source: WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jun 14, 2016 11:17:49 AM

Dryer Vent Cleaning