Downey Insurance Group Blog | Great Insurance People

As the mercury begins to drop and the snow begins to blanket our roof tops, a quiet cause of property damage may be forming: ICE DAMS.

Cause:

1.The build-up of a heavy snow pack on a roof top.

2.Roof temperatures which vary and hover at or near 32° F.

3.Pooled water in the mid-region of the roof.

4.An ice dam at the lower portion of the roof.

Effect:

An ice dam will likely form when the roof temperature hovers near freezing. The warmer portions of the roof will begin to melt snow allowing water to flow down to the lower roof elevations. The snow melt will re-freeze as it encounters the cooler portion of the roof, thus forming an ice dam. The remaining water will be trapped between the higher elevation snow pack and the frozen run-off in the lower ice dam.

The pooled water may begin to seep through tiny cracks in the roof top. The water can penetrate into the attic space, walls, ceilings and insulation of a structure. This may result in excess moisture, dampness, mold and mildew.

in addition, damage may be seen as gutters and down spouts are compromised under the weight of an ice dam.

Prevention:

Roof top temperature regulation through quality and appropriate attic insulation. This will prevent the warm air of the common areas from penetrating into the attic and heating the roof top.

Proper seals for vents, chimneys and duct work to eliminate hot/cold air ventilation variables.  The cooler the attic space, the better!

Removal of a heavy snow pack from a roof top. It is not recommended that a church employee or volunteer remove the snow. We strongly encourage using a licensed and insured roofing professional who is properly trained and equipped to handle the slippery roof-top conditions.

Thank to our friends at Church Underwriters, Inc. for this timely information.

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As you warm up your car to go out today or fire up your wood stove or gas fireplace to stay toasty warm, please take a moment to assess your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.   It is possible for excessive snow to block or partially block a chimney in your home, also large piles of plowed snow can block your vehicle’s exhaust pipe causing your vehicle to fill with dangerous CO.   In your home installing and regularly checking carbon monoxide detectors is your first line of defense.  Always make sure to check your vehicle’s exhaust pipe before warming up your vehicle.  All of us at Downey Insurance are urging all of our valued clients to read these recommendations regarding CO poisoning posted by the EPA:

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly

You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe. Practice the DO’s and DON’Ts of carbon monoxide.

CO Poisoning Symptoms

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

Play it Safe

If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning:

	DO GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house.
	DO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM and tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning. If CO poisoning has occurred, it can often be diagnosed by a blood test done soon after exposure.
	DO Be prepared to answer the following questions for the doctor: Do your symptoms occur only in the house? Do they disappear or decrease when you leave home and reappear when you return? Is anyone else in your household complaining of similar symptoms? Did everyone’s symptoms appear about the same time? Are you using any fuel-burning appliances in the home? Has anyone inspected your appliances lately? Are you certain they are working properly?

Prevention is the Key to Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

	DO have your fuel-burning appliances — including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves — inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.
	DO choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
	DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.
	DO call the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) at www.cpsc.gov for more information on how to reduce your risks from CO and other combustion gases and particles.

	DON’T idle the car in a garage — even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
	DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
	DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors — even in a fireplace.
	DON’T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
	DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
	DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.

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A recent commercial by a leading insurance company had a slogan “Do you love your insurance agent?” This is a great question to ask yourself and if the answer is no, maybe it is time to find a better agent. Everyone has different expectations of an insurance agent. While it is not reasonable to expect your insurance agent to be at each accident, ( although some of us here at Downey Insurance have driven and picked up claimants from accidents and fires, etc.),  it is reasonable to expect professional service. How do you define professional service? Professional service includes:
• Timely response to questions or claims
• Easily accessible throughout the business day
• Knowledgeable with insurance products
• Ethical business practices
• Caring about the customer’s needs
. Outwardly Focused

It can be difficult to find an insurance agent that fits all of these criteria but you should not settle for any less.Most people find their insurance agent through a referral from a friend or family member – ( truly approx 63% of our new business written at the Downey Insurance offices have been from existing clients and referrals) – That’s a number consumers should ask any prospective new agent. The other Number consumers should ask is “” what is your retention rate”?  – that is – how many customers renew with you? – (throughout the Downey Insurance office we track with the national best averages of 96% and above). There are many resources online that offer you the ability to see if an agent meets your criteria. You can access his or her website. These days, their web site should reflect who they are. There is even a department of insurance for each state which will tell you if that insurance agent has had any official complaints. It may be harder to know if a particular agent will be caring about your needs but a great way to test this is to Talk and Listen to them. Do they Sound Interested? Some people only care about the price of insurance because they think it is a waste of money, that is until something happens and they need to file a claim. Rule number one when shopping for insurance is to judge a book by its cover. Do not disregard an agent by price alone. remember You most always get what you pay for. If the agent shows interest in helping you understand the policy this can be worth it’s weight in Gold. remember what you’re buying. a “promise to pay”. Call us at any of Downey Insurance offices and put us to the test. and feel free to personally let me know your results if they are anything but exemplary! Charlie Downey

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