Do you have a mouse in your house? If you’ve got one, you can be sure it’s got at least one friend along for the adventure. A pest-ridden house is a headache to many homeowners. Mice aren’t just troublesome, or frightening to some, like many rodents, mice carry diseases and are unsanitary to have in your home. Mice, more specifically their waste, can make allergies and asthma worse. They can also be quite destructive. Mice will gnaw through just about anything, even the wiring under the hood of your car, if they decide it’s a nice warm place to make a nest. Here are a few things you can do to get rid of mice that get into your home, and that will give you the best chance of keeping them from coming back.

How do I know if I Have Mice in my House?

The best time to actually see one, since they are nocturnal, is between dusk and dawn. Otherwise, you may notice the trails of little black droppings they leave behind. Another sign is rubbings. As they run along the baseboards, or backsplash in your kitchen, (yuck!) mice leave a smudge. Since mice don’t often vary their pathways between their food source and nest, you get these rubbings, and, of course, the droppings. You may also notice chewed food containers in your cabinets. As soon as you notice any of these, you know it’s time to take action.

Find Where the Mice are Getting in

The first thing to do is find where the mice are entering your home. Keep in mind that a mouse can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime, or even as small as the size of a regular pencil. Cracks under doors, and especially spaces around pipes or vents coming in from the outside should be checked. Don’t forget the attic and the basement. You can block these points of access with door sweeps, caulking, steel wool or mesh – whatever works that a mouse cannot gnaw through. Also, make sure you cut limbs away from your home to keep mice from traveling along them right to your house. Once you’ve closed off any and all access points to your home, it’s time to deal with those mice already in residence.

Should I Trap, or Should I Bait?

There are pros and cons to both type of remedy.

Trapping Pros

• • It’s considered the most humane method
  • You know you’ve caught the mouse, or mice, and how many
  • It’s inexpensive, depending on the type of trap you use (old-fashioned wooden snap-traps, newer heavy plastic snap-traps, electrocution traps)

Trapping Cons

• • It takes effort to set and re-set the traps
  • It takes patience to make sure you’re setting the traps in appropriate places (i.e. near entry points, along well used runways)
  • You are forced to deal with the unsightly image of the trap-killed mouse

Baiting Pros

• • It’s quick and easy

Baiting Cons

• • It can be dangerous for children and pets
  • The mice can die in your walls and leave you stuck with the odor
  • You may still have to deal with the sight of the dead mouse

If you feel you must bait, and especially if you have children or pets, it may be best to hire a professional exterminator to do it for you.

What do I do if I Decide to Trap?

Choose your trap style, then choose your bait. Choose food items mice love, like peanut butter, chocolate, bacon, oats, or even hazelnut spread. You can also use nesting materials, like bits of cotton balls. If you use something moveable, like a piece of chocolate, try tying it to the trap with dental floss or string to keep the mouse from snatching it without getting caught. Also, an often-overlooked precaution is to use gloves to set up your traps so your scent doesn’t get on the traps and deter the mice. Next, place several traps, even different types of traps, along the rodent’s route – where you’ve seen the trails of droppings or smudges. Put them at right angles to the wall with the bait side in, so the mice have to pass over it to get where they are going. If you haven’t caught any mice in an area for two days, move your traps.

What can I do to Keep Mice from Coming Back?

Mice tend to invade during the fall and winter when they are looking for warmth, food and water. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to feed or water a mouse and they’ll eat almost anything, though they tend to prefer grains. The best way to keep mice out, after you’ve sealed off the entry points to the best of your ability, is to keep up good sanitation practices in your home. Don’t leave food out overnight. This includes the dog or cat’s food. You also don’t want to leave your produce out on your counters either. Sweep and vacuum frequently to get up any errant crumbs. Really, it doesn’t take much to attract mice. Also, keep your trash can clean and tightly closed. Keep cereals and grains in tight glass or other gnaw-proof containers.

So, to sum up, getting rid of mice in the house is more than just trapping or baiting. It’s stopping up all the little holes where they might be entering your home to start with. Then, you have to make sure your home is not inviting to the little scavengers by keeping it as free of temptations as possible.

The post How to Get Rid of Mice in Your House appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Fleas are an annoying pest that can hitch a ride into your home on your pets or with people, who may track them in from outdoors on their shoes or clothes. Once they move in, they lurk, feed, nest and lay eggs. According to Healthline, the fleas you see on your pets are only about 5 percent of the fleas that are lurking in your environment. The rest may live their busy little lives in your home – in carpets, couches, dog beds or human beds, or nearly any other dark, sheltered area – or in your yard, mostly in moist, shady areas.

A few fleas can turn into an infestation very quickly, so if you have seen fleas in your home, you’ll want to get rid of them fast. Doing so means using a combination of solutions to eliminate them from your pets, your home and your yard.

Treating Your Pets

In most cases, fleas in the house land there from pets that live there or visit frequently. Those pets don’t just give fleas a ride into your home, they also provide them with a food source – the adult fleas hopping on them to feed, then hopping off to nest in your home and yard.

Getting rid of fleas on your pets can be done in several ways. Bathing them with flea shampoo is one way to go about it, but you’ll need to do this at least once a week for a couple of months. That’s because flea shampoo typically only kills adult fleas, which means that you’ll need to keep at it to ensure that new fleas are addressed as they hatch from the eggs the first batch left behind. A flea comb can help control them between baths – just comb through your pet’s fur and drown any fleas that get caught in the comb in a bowl full of soapy water.

Flea medications are another good option. These may be topical medications that are absorbed through the skin, or oral medications, such as pills or medicated chews. While many flea medications are available over-the-counter, prescription medications provided by your vet are typically more effective. Flea medications generally must be used for several months to eliminate a pet’s flea problem.

Getting Rid of Fleas Indoors

Getting rid of the fleas that have moved into your home will mean taking several steps to address the problem. These may include:

• Washing all bedding – yours and your pet’s – in hot water and drying it on the highest dryer setting. If you have a serious flea problem, this may need to be repeated every few days for several weeks, especially for pet bedding.
• Vacuum floors, carpets, furniture, mattresses and pet beds, paying special attention to cracks, crevices and other tight spaces that provide good hiding places for adult fleas, larvae, cocoons and eggs. Once you have vacuumed your home thoroughly, empty your vacuum into an outside trash can. Repeat this process every two or three days for at least 3 to 4 weeks to ensure that newly hatched pests are eliminated.
• Use a steam cleaner to get rid of fleas in carpets, upholstery and pet beds. The heat and cleaning fluids these machines use in cleaning work to kill fleas in all stages of life, making them very effective in combating these pests.
• Apply insecticides to infested areas. Sprays are generally better than bug foggers, since they can be applied in a targeted fashion. The best products will include chemicals that kill adult fleas as well as ingredients, called growth inhibitors, that kill eggs and larvae.

Eliminating Fleas Outdoors

Treating your outdoor environment is important to keeping your home flea free. That’s because fleas nesting in your yard will lie in wait for a meal, hopping on your pets or even you every time they get a chance, hitching a ride back into your home. Steps you can take to get rid of fleas in your yard include:

• Keeping lawns mowed, since fleas like to hide in tall grass.
• Raking up leaves and other debris that can provide cover for fleas.
• Trimming bushes and trees to allow more sunlight on problem areas.
• Using cedar chips in problem areas to help deter fleas from lurking/nesting.
• Using insecticides, sulfur granules or nematodes to reduce or eliminate fleas, eggs and/or larvae.

It is important to note that to get rid of fleas in your home fast, you will need to treat your home, your pets and your yard all at the same time. Neglecting to treat any of the three can make it very difficult to eliminate these pests, allowing your home to be repeatedly re-infested.

Finally, if you haven’t been able to eliminate your flea problem with these methods, or simply do not have the time, ability or patience to treat all these areas on your own, calling in a professional exterminator to treat your home and yard is another good option for getting rid of fleas quickly. Keep in mind that you may need more than one visit to eliminate these pests.

The post How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House Fast appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

A Refinanced Home Loan

If you’re looking for a big chunk of cash to cover major home renovations, consider refinancing your mortgage for the additional funds. If you can take advantage of a lower overall interest rate on the mortgage, refinancing can offer a solid financial move all the way around. Consider whether you can increase your monthly payments to accelerate payoff despite the added balance on your loan.

If you have good credit, your lender may let you borrow 80 to 90 percent of the home’s equity. Keep in mind that refinancing does come with closing costs. If you can’t afford to pay these right now, look for a lender who’s willing to roll them into the costs of the loan.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan locks you in to a fixed interest rate, which is extremely helpful if you need a stable number to plug into your budget. You’ll borrow a set amount and pay it back over a period of years with fixed monthly payments. You can get a home equity loan with a term as short as five years or as long as 30, depending on who you’re working with.

FHA Title I Loan

Insured by the federal government, an FHA Title I Loan is a helpful option if you don’t have equity in your home. Homeowners can take a loan of up to $25,000. There are some limitations on what you can use the money for. This loan is intended for improvements that will improve livability or functionality. You can use it for new roofing or an additional bedroom for a growing family, but you cannot use this loan to fund your swimming pool or other luxury updates.

Section 504 Home Repair Program

If your family has a very low income, you may qualify for a Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loan. You can only apply for this loan if you’re unable to get credit anywhere else. Your family’s income must be under 50 percent of the area’s median income. The median average income varies by location, so you’ll need to check the limits and requirements for the specific city in which you live. The maximum available loan amount is $20,000. You can repay this over 20 years with a fixed interest rate of just 1 %. You might also qualify for a home repair grant so check that out first.

Personal Loan

If you don’t want to use your home’s equity for a loan, and you don’t qualify for government programs, consider applying for a personal loan to cover repairs. You can obtain a personal loan from most banks and financial institutions if you have a solid credit score. Lenders offer a diverse range of loan products, so it’s important to shop around if you’re going this route. Consider whether there are any origination fees, what the APR is, whether you have a fixed or variable interest rate, and how soon you can access the funds. Depending on the lender and your financial situation, you may be able to use this financing for anything from a couple thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve your home.

If you’re concerned about how you’ll handle the cost of common home repairs, consider investing in a home warranty. This will pay for many routine home and appliance repairs for you. You can get coverage for your plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, kitchen appliances, and more. Planning ahead with a warranty may save you the hassle of applying for home repair loans if you’re facing these types of problems.

The post What Types of Loans are Available for Home Repair? appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Washer and Dryer Repairs

If your washer and dryer stop working, you’ll be left with the inconvenience of visiting a laundromat. A prompt repair will help you keep your laundry routine convenient. The average cost to repair a washing machine is between $120 and $500 depending on the issue. Common issues with washing machines include:

• Leaking hoses
• Drain clogs
• Worn or broken drive belts

Dryer repair costs are comparable to those for washers. If you have an electric dryer, you can expect to pay between $100 and $400 for your repairs. A gas dryer will usually cost between $150 and $550.

Common issues with your dryer include:

• Worn or broken belts
• Clogged vents
• Bad thermostat or timer
• Faulty fuses or heating coils

Refrigerator Repairs

A failing refrigerator can become an expensive prospect. If you don’t get the issue repaired promptly, you risk food spoilage for everything stored inside. The average labor cost for refrigerator and freezer repairs is between $200 and $400. Common issues with a refrigerator and freezer include (among others):

• Faulty compressor
• Broken icemaker
• Faulty defroster motor
• Broken evaporator fan motor

Oven, Range, and Cooktop Repairs

Without an oven, range, or cooktop, you have a limited range of cooking possibilities. The average repair cost for this appliance including both parts and labor is typically between $150 and $300. Most issues with the oven, range, or cooktop involve only one part and can be handled in an hour or less. Some of the most common repairs include:

• Faulty burner
• Broken door latch
• Faulty switch for the burner or indicator
• Broken ignitor
• Failing thermostat or temperature sensor
• Malfunctioning heating element

Appliance Repair Considerations

There are many different factors that come into play when you’re dealing with appliance repairs. Gas appliances are typically more expensive to repair than their electric counterparts. If you’re replacing an appliance and considering the expenses associated with a newer model, make sure you take this into consideration. The risk for carbon monoxide leaks and fires makes gas appliance repairs more hazardous.

With any repair, you’ll need to consider both the cost of the parts and the cost of labor. Your appliance brand will determine how expensive or rare the appropriate parts are. It’s usually easier to get parts for a newer appliance than an older one. As your appliances age, you should compare repair costs to those for a full replacement, as a replacement may be the more affordable long-term solution.

Appliance repair professionals typically charge hourly for their services. Expect to pay $30 to $100 an hour for appliance repair services. Local professionals from smaller companies usually have lower rates than those who work for national chains, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule.

How to Cover Home Appliance Repair Costs

You should always be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to appliance repairs. Maintain an emergency fund or other type of safety net so you always know what to do if an essential appliance fails. A home warranty offers an easy way to handle costly appliance repairs with a minimal investment. Pay for your warranty upfront and you’re covered for all associated repairs.

A Standard Plan from Choice Home Warranty covers your cooktop, oven, range, stove, built-in microwave, and dishwasher. Upgrade to a Total Plan for additional coverage that includes your refrigerator, clothes washer, and dryer.

Understanding the common expenses associated with appliance repairs will help you plan accordingly so you always have what you need when things aren’t working as they should.

The post The Average Costs of Home Appliance Repair appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Your air conditioner is an essential feature in your home. You need easy access to cool, comfortable air when the temperatures are rising outside. If your air conditioner stops working, you’ll suffer from more than just the heat and discomfort. Your air conditioner also helps to naturally dehumidify the home. A hot, humid home creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria. Keep your air conditioner in top condition however you can. Start with these DIY fixes, then call a professional technician if the problem persists.

Look for Tripped Breakers

If your home isn’t as cool as it should be, the first thing that you should check is whether the unit is running. If your air conditioner isn’t running at all, check your breaker box to see if a breaker tripped. Resetting the breaker might resolve your issue. However, if your air conditioner repeatedly trips the breaker, this is an issue that you should turn over to a professional technician.

Check the Air Filter

The air filter in your air conditioner should be changed at least once every three months. You should inspect the filter monthly to see if it needs more frequent attention. If you’re struggling to keep your home cool, a clogged filter could be playing a major role in the problem. If you haven’t changed your filter in the last month, try making this quick and easy swap first to see if it helps the problem.

Inspect Your Thermostat Placement

Check where your thermostat is located in the home. If your air conditioner isn’t maintaining the right temperature in your home, it could be that your thermostat isn’t reading the home’s temperature accurately. If you placed a new television or other piece of hot equipment near the thermostat recently, it may start reading your home as being hotter than it is, simply because it’s warmer in that particular spot.

You may also find that electronics, air flow, window placement, furniture placement, and other features make the home feeling warmer or cooler in certain areas. If you have a large television in your living room, but the thermostat is placed in a dark, cool, drafty corner of the house, you won’t get the cooling you need with standard settings. Rearranging your home may solve many of your problems.

Check the Thermostat Settings

It may seem obvious, but many people call a professional for AC repair before looking at the thermostat closely themselves. It takes only a moment for a small child to turn the air conditioning from “auto” to “off.” This makes it seem like your unit isn’t functioning when it’s simply not in the right mode. If someone accidentally switches the setting from “air conditioner” to “fan,” it will seem like your AC unit is running continuously yet blowing out warm air.

Double check your thermostat settings and make sure they’re correct before you go to the trouble of calling an HVAC technician. Your problem could be as simple as flipping a switch.

Examine the Outdoor Condenser Unit

Head outside and check your condenser unit. Make sure it’s clear of obstructions for at least two to three feet in all directions. If you have tall grass, leaves, underbrush, or debris that’s too close to the unit, it will obstruct the airflow, making it more difficult for your air conditioner to deliver crisp cool air to your home. Clear away blockages to restore better airflow to your system.

The condenser unit requires regular maintenance to stay in top condition. If you haven’t had your unit serviced in the last year, it could probably benefit from a thorough cleaning. Turn the unit off at the breaker. Take a garden hose and spray upward into the condenser unit to get rid of dust buildup on the condenser coil. Make your way around the unit, cleaning it from all sides. Finish by spraying downward to flush out the dust, dirt, and other debris down and out of the unit.

If these DIY fixes don’t resolve your problem, it’s time to turn to a professional HVAC technician. If you have a home warranty that covers AC, you can simply reach out to your provider to get in touch with a qualified local technician. Many home warranties cover issues with your air conditioner, so you won’t have to worry about the expense of a repair if something is wrong.

The post Air Conditioning Not Working? appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

With our home tragedy prevention guide, you can identify potential hazards in and around your house, and learn how to minimize the risk of accidents and tragedies at home.

Fire Prevention

Deaths from fires and burns are the third leading cause of fatal home injury, and on average in the U.S., someone died in a fire every 169 minutes. About 85% of all U.S. fire deaths happen at home. Most fire victims die not from burns, but from smoke or toxic gases. Minimize your home’s risk of fire by installing smoke alarms, practicing safety in the kitchen, and playing it safe with electricity.

• Avoid smoking at home. Smoking is the leading cause of fire related deaths.
• Practice safe cooking. Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires.
• Never smoke in bed, while drowsy, or while under the influence of medication or alcohol. Avoid lighting candles while sleeping.
• Use large, deep ashtrays, and allow them to cool carefully before disposing of them.
• Change your smoke alarm battery annually, and test monthly.
• Upgrade your smoke alarms to interconnected alarms, and be sure that you have smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including your basement. They should be located outside of bedrooms.
• Make sure children know what your smoke alarm sounds like and what to do, planning a family escape route that you practice together monthly.
• Consider installing a home sprinkler system.
• Keep a fire extinguisher at home, and learn how to use it.
• Teach children never to play with matches or lighters, and store these items away from young children.
• Limit distractions in the kitchen, and avoid leaving a hot oven or stove unattended.
• Hire a chimney sweep to inspect and clean flues and chimneys annually.
• Store flammable materials, especially liquids, away from flame sources.
• Avoid placing flammable objects near your stove.
• Never operate a damaged portable electric heater. Avoid using a heater while unattended or sleeping, and keep flammables including paper, beds, and clothes, at least 3 feet from all sides of a heater. Place your heater on a stable, level surface where it will not be knocked over.
• Don’t wear loose fitting clothing near ranges or ovens.
• Clean cooking surfaces to avoid grease and food buildup.
• Do not place curtains, pot holders, or towels near hot surfaces.
• Clean the lint screen or filter of your clothes dryer before or after you dry each load of clothing. You should also clean your dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
• Do not allow pets to approach cooking surfaces, as they may knock items onto burners.
• Use fire screens to keep fire in your fireplace.

Poison Prevention

Each year, more than 60,000 children visit emergency rooms due to medication poisoning. Common poisonings include medications, personal care products, and cleaning products. Medications and other hazards can be found on countertops, tables, in purses, cabinets, or even the floor. Poisoning can also come from carbon monoxide and other chemicals in the air. In 2009, poison control centers reported more than 3,500 cases of carbon monoxide exposure in children 19 and under. Avoid poisoning from medication, household products, and chemicals by following this checklist.

• Use medications and vitamins with safety caps, and listen for the click to make sure the cap is locked.
• Store medicines and vitamins out of reach of young children. They should not be able to climb to reach your medication storage area.
• Always put medications and vitamins away, even during regular use. They should not be left on a counter or near a child’s bed, even if you plan to give them another dose soon.
• Avoid telling children that medicine is candy. Explain to them that you should always be the one to give it to them.
• Avoid storing medicine in purses, bags, or coats, or store these items out of reach of children.
• Keep the number to poison control in your cell phone and next to home phones: 800-222-1222
• Read and follow the directions before taking any medication.
• Turn on the lights when you take medications to be sure of what you’re taking.
• Dispose of expired or unused medications if you don’t need them anymore.
• Always keep household chemicals in their original containers. Never use food containers to store chemical products.
• Store food and chemicals in separate areas.
• Never mix household products, and read and follow the directions on products before use.
• Direct spray nozzles away from people, and turn on fans or open windows when using household chemical products.
• Keep batteries out of reach of children, especially button batteries. Keep button battery controlled devices out of reach as well, including remote controls, calculators, singing greeting cards, and children’s toys and books.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
• Have your furnace inspected before every heating season.
• Avoid using grills, generators, or camping stoves inside your home, garage, or near a window.
• Ventilate the room if using a kerosene space heater.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Avoid leaving vehicles running inside your garage.
• Store household products out of reach and sight of children. This includes bleach, detergents, laundry packets, and cleaning solutions. A cabinet that children can’t reach is better than a cabinet with a safety lock.
• Check your home for lead-based paint.
• Examine outside vents for obstructions and proper sealing. Remember to recheck during and after a snowstorm.

Slip and Fall Prevention

Young children and older adults are prone to injury and death from slips and falls. Items in the home may fall on family members, or family members may fall on floors, stairs, or even out of windows.

TVs and furniture are in every home, making them a hazard that every family lives with. Each week a child dies from a TV tipping over, and over the past 10 years, a child visited the emergency room every 45 minutes due to a TV tipping over. Further, thousands of young children are killed or injured each year falling from windows.

Slips and falls are behind approximately 8.9 million emergency room visits each year, and are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities. Adults 55 and older are especially prone to slips and falls, and the number of deaths from falls is four times higher in adults 65 and older. Practice safety from slips, falls, and tip overs in your home to avoid tragedy.

• Remove clutter from stairs and walkways. Toys, clothing, shoes, and other items are tripping hazards and should be put away properly for safety.
• Clean up spills immediately to avoid slipping on wet surfaces.
• Avoid using small throw rugs, or secure them with non-skid mats to avoid slipping. Be sure that rugs lay flat to avoid tripping.
• Secure phone and electrical cords away from traffic areas.
• Check walkways and stairs for damaged steps.
• Avoid standing on chairs, tables, or wheeled surfaces. Use a safety ladder instead.
• Install hand rails on all staircases, ideally on both sides.
• Install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have a baby or toddler in the home.
• Ensure that your television sets are stable. Flat screen TVs should be mounted on a wall. Large CRT TV sets should be placed on a low, stable piece of furniture and secured to a wall if possible.
• Secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to walls with brackets or wall straps.
• Install nonslip decals or a mat in your tub, as well as grab bars.
• Make sure there is adequate light at the top and bottom of your stairs and in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways.
• Create a clear path to light switches, and store flashlights in easy to find places.
• Remove loose carpets or floorboards to avoid trips.
• Install window guards or window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches.
• Never use screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
• Avoid placing furniture near windows to discourage climbing.
• Encourage older adults to get exercise, which can increase strength and improve balance.
• Ask a doctor to review medications for side effects and interactions that may increase falling risk.
• Ensure older adults are seeing clearly with a vision checkup.
• Move frequently-used items to cabinets that can be easily reached without a step stool.
• Wear shoes inside and outside of the home instead of going barefoot or wearing slippers.

Burn and Cut Prevention

In 2010, about 128,500 children aged 19 and younger were injured due to fire or a burn. Since 1999, nearly 500 children aged 14 and under have died annually due to fire or burn related injuries. Many burn and cut incidents are preventable, especially if families practice safe cooking procedures.

• • • Avoid holding children while cooking on the stove. Place them in a high chair nearby instead.
    • Discourage children from reaching on to the stove by using the back burner and turning pot handles away from the edge. Always keep hot foods away from countertop edges.
    • Enforce a kid-free zone of 3 feet around the stove unless children are actively helping you cook.
    • Do not hold a child while cooking or carrying hot foods.
    • Teach children that hot things, including food and burners, can burn.
    • Teach children safe cooking procedures when they are old enough.
    • Avoid using deep fryers when children are present.
    • Store matches, gasoline, and lighters out of children’s reach, and avoid using lighters that look like toys.
    • Adjust your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent accidental scalding.
    • Turn on cold water first when filling the bathtub, and mix in warmer water carefully.
    • Check water temperature by moving your hand rapidly through the water.
    • Place your child as far away from the tub faucet as possible.
    • Always use oven mitts or potholders when handling hot food. Do not use wet oven mitts or potholders, as they can cause scalding. Mitts that cover both hands and wrists are best.
    • Hot steam escaping from food containers may cause burns. Open food containers away from your face.
    • Stir and test food that has been heated in the microwave, as foods may heat unevenly.
    • Do not leave hair curlers or curling irons unattended.
    • Store sharp knives out of reach of children.
    • Pay attention while cutting.
    • Never attempt to catch a falling knife.

Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation Prevention

Choking is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death in children under the age of 1. Hazards can include food or household items, including balloons, coins, and lights. Window coverings are also a concern: about once a month, a child under 10 years old dies from window cord strangulation. Choking is also the third leading cause of home injury death for adults aged 76 and older, most often from choking on food. Protect your family from the dangers of choking, suffocation, and strangulation by taking steps to minimize the risk in your home.

• • • Avoid leaving small objects within reach of small children, and keep latex balloons away from children.
    • Adult supervision is the most effective way to avoid choking, strangulation, or suffocation.
    • Cut food into bite sized pieces and encourage children to sit still while eating.
    • Do not allow children to eat while walking, playing, or riding in a car.
    • Encourage older adults to chew foods slowly, and avoid laughing, talking, or drinking too much alcohol while eating.
    • Keep cords and strings, especially on window blinds, out of the reach of children. Cribs, chairs, and other furniture should be moved away from windows to discourage climbing.
    • Consider installing cordless window coverings.
    • Install tension devices to keep window shade cords taut.
    • Practice Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) safety. This includes laying your baby on his or her back and avoiding soft bedding such as stuffed animals, blankets, and bumpers. Never place infants to sleep on adult beds, couches, or other soft surfaces.
    • Ensure that crib slats are no wider than 2 3/8 inches.
    • Never tie a pacifier around your baby’s neck or tether it to your baby’s clothing.
    • Young children should not sleep with parents or older siblings.
    • Take care to avoid giving your child access to jewelry, plastic bags, electrical cords, small objects, and magnets.
    • Do not allow your child to wear scarves or clothing with drawstrings. Children should not wear clothing items with small buttons or snaps that could loosen and be swallowed.
    • Follow age recommendations when buying toys, and check toys for loose or broken parts.
    • Do not put necklaces or headbands on your baby, especially while sleeping.
    • Avoid hanging diaper bags, purses, and other items on cribs.
    • Choose toy chests without lids, or choose one with a safety lid.

Drowning Prevention

Home drowning accidents resulted in 1,000 deaths in 2011. Drowning is also the third leading cause of death among children, and the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old. Protect your family, and especially young children, from death or injury by drowning by ensuring proper supervision and layers of protection.

• • • Always give children your full attention when they are near water and stay within arm’s reach. Children should never be unattended around water, even as little as one inch of water.
    • Never leave a baby or child unattended in the bath.
    • Keep your phone poolside so that you do not have to leave the pool to answer the phone.
    • Do not trust children to watch over others. Always designate a responsible adult to supervise, and never assume someone else is watching your child unless you have explicitly discussed that they will do so.
    • Teach children that they must always ask for permission to approach water.
    • Watch children even around containers that may collect water, including buckets, ice chests, and aquariums.
    • Store pool toys away from the pool and out of sight, as toys may attract children to the pool. Do not use floating chlorine dispensers that look like toys.
    • Never use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
    • Enroll everyone in your family in age-appropriate swim courses. Never assume that children are drown proof because they’ve had swimming lessons.
    • Store tubs, buckets, and containers empty and upside down. They should always be emptied immediately after use.
    • Consider installing toilet seat locks to prevent drowning, and keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed to discourage access.
    • Consider fencing in your pool with a child proof gate. Avoid placing chairs, tables, bins, and other equipment near the fence to discourage climbing.
    • Consider installing a pool safety net.
    • Consider installing door, window, gate, and surface alarms to alert adults to water access.
    • Lock pool ladders when not in use. Ladders should not be accessible without adult supervision.
    • Only use safety covers that meet ASTM standards.
    • Avoid alcohol use while swimming.
    • If a child is missing, always check the pool first.
    • Ensure that all house doors with access to the swimming pool are self, closing and self latching.

Electrical Safety

An estimated annual average of 47,820 home structure fires per year involve electrical failure or malfunction. These fires are dangerous, causing 455 deaths, 1,518 injuries, and $1.5 billion in property damage. Often, the fires are preventable with proper maintenance and inspection of electrical systems. Find out how you can practice electrical safety at home.

• • • Have your electrical system inspected every 10 years, or more frequent if your home displays warning signs such as power outages, dim or flickering lights, sparks, buzzes, or odors.
    • All unused outlets should be covered with safety plugs.
    • Check for frayed wires, and repair or replace damaged wires on electrical devices.
    • Major electrical appliances should be grounded.
    • Long cords should be fastened to walls with cord holders.
    • Consider adding electrical outlets instead of relying on extension cords. Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis.
    • Never place cords or wires under rugs or over nails.
    • Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, basement, and in outdoor areas. Protect electrical outlets with arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs).
    • Avoid overloading your electrical system. Be sure to follow manufacturer directions for wattage and outlet requirements. Avoid plugging more than one high-watt appliance into a single outlet.
    • Watch appliances for warning signs including overheating, unusual smells, shorts, and sparks.
    • Check for faulty systems by feeling outlets and plugs for warmth. If you discover warm outlets or plugs, call an electrician.
    • Do not use ladders near overhead electrical wires.
    • Store electrical tools indoors.
    • Place lamps on level surfaces away from flammables. Be sure to use bulbs that match recommended wattage.
    • Ensure that electrical equipment is in a dry location.

Firearm Safety

Many families decide to keep a firearm in the home for protection reasons, but without proper storage and safety, guns can be a major threat. Every seven and a half hours, a child or teen is killed by a gun. Prevent gun related tragedy in your home with safe firearm storage, and by teaching children about gun safety.

• • • • All firearms should be stored unloaded and in the uncocked position in a locked case or safe out of the reach of children.
      • Store ammunition in a separate, securely locked container away from firearms.
      • Children should not know where the keys to firearms or ammunition are stored.
      • Talk to kids about gun safety. Children should know that real guns can injure or kill a person. Never assume a child knows the difference between real and toy guns. Teach them to avoid touching a gun, leave the area, and tell an adult right away if they come into contact with a gun.
      • Lock up gun cleaning supplies.
      • Never leave a gun unattended, especially while cleaning or handling.
      • Consider purchasing child safety or trigger locks for individual guns.

Sources:

National Safety Council
Safe Kids Worldwide
Real Simple Home Safety Checklist
Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Education
WebMD Home Safety
American Red Cross Water Safety
FEMA Home Fire Prevention and Safety Tips
FEMA Burn and Scald Prevention
American Association of Poison Control Centers
CDC: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults
Mayo Clinic Fall Prevention
Shriners Hospital for Children Burn Awareness and Prevention
New York State Health Choking and Suffocation Prevention
KidsHealth
National Drowning Prevention Alliance
National Fire Protection Association
Washington Department of Health and Safety: Gun Safe

The post Home Tragedy Prevention Guide appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Plumbing problems can quickly add up to large repair bills if you neglect your system until the last possible moment. In fact, plumbing repair is one of the most frustrating and expensive home repairs. Taking preventive measures now to care for your system before there’s a major issue can help you trim your costs significantly. Try these tricks to avoid serious plumbing repairs and keep your system in shape for as long as possible.

Schedule an Inspection

You should have your plumbing system inspected regularly for signs of pending problems. If you’re moving into a new home or you’ve never had a professional inspection in your current home, now is the time to schedule a visit. A qualified inspector or plumber can properly inspect your pipes, drain lines, and water fixtures. He or she will alert you to issues like flawed pipes, hazardous tree roots, or areas that are prone to clogging and other issues. A prompt inspection now can help you identify potential problems early.

Locate the Main Water Valve

In the event of a leak, broken pipe, or other plumbing problem, it’s crucial to shut off your water as soon as you can. Make sure you know where the main water valve is located in your home. Don’t wait until you have water rushing into the house to scramble about looking for it. Show this valve to others in the home as well, so everyone knows how to turn off the water and minimize damage if something goes wrong.

Check for Leaks Often

Inspect your plumbing system for leaks on a regular basis. Keep a watchful eye out for water stains or puddles anytime you’re getting items out of a cabinet beneath the sink. Once every few months, place a few drops of food coloring in the back of your toilet tank before you go to bed at night. Check the water in the bowl when you get up in the morning. If it’s colored, there’s a leak in the toilet that you should service promptly before the issue worsens.

Purchase a Home Warranty

A home warranty is an effective way to handle the potential expenses associated with plumbing repairs. Plumbing systems and plumbing stoppages are included in both basic and total plans from Choice Home Warranty. Optional additional coverage is available for sump pumps, well pumps, and septic systems. With a home warranty, eligible repairs and replacements are included, so all you need to do is contact your provider to set up necessary repairs.

Prevent Major Clogs

Take preventive measures to stop major clogs from forming in your pipes. There are several small, easy actions that will help to protect your pipes from hazardous clogs.

• Use a drain screen in the bathroom to stop hair, jewelry, and other items from falling down the shower drain.
• Dispose of used cooking grease in an empty jug or can. Don’t pour it down the drain.
• Once a month, sprinkle half a cup of baking soda in the drain and follow with a cup of vinegar to clear buildups.

Clean Aerators Regularly

Faucet aerators add air to your water stream, so you’ll use less water in your everyday activities. Though they’re very useful for managing your water use, aerators can clog over time. If you’re struggling with little or no flow from your sink, remove the aerator from the faucet head and scrub it thoroughly to remove buildup. Soaking it in vinegar can help remove scale from hard water.

Insulate Your Pipes

If you live in an area with freezing temperatures in the winter, add insulation to your pipes to prevent freezing. It’s easy to slip foam pipe insulation over exposed pipes throughout the home and it also makes your home more energy efficient. Foam covers can be added to outdoor spigots too. Ensure that your pipes are in a safe, warm area by caulking any cracks in the walls and carefully sealing all windows and doors to prevent drafts. In winter, leave the faucets to drip in freezing weather. Leave cabinet doors open to allow warm air to get to the pipes when it’s cold out.

Watch Out for Your Washing Machine

Your washing machine uses a lot of water, and can lead to costly home repairs if it’s not maintained properly. Install a hose screen over the hot and cold water hoses leading to your washing machine to stop sediment from getting to the pumps and valves. Inspect the water hoses for your washer often, looking for cracks, blisters, and other signs of damage. If possible, upgrade from rubber hoses to steel models that are more durable.

Taking smart steps now can help you protect your budget from expensive plumbing repair in the future. Invest in maintenance, upgrades, and a home warranty early so you’re ready for anything that may come down the road.

The post 8 Ways to Avoid Costly Plumbing Repair appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Home repairs never come around when you expect them to. You’ll typically find that your appliances work well one day and are suddenly out of service the next. You don’t want to wait long when you’re stuck without a major convenience like a dishwasher or washer and dryer. Other appliances, like a refrigerator or HVAC system, are more than just an inconvenience when they’re broken. They can leave your family without essentials like safe food or a warm home.

If you’re in need of home or appliance repairs, it’s important to find a reliable professional as quickly as possible. You don’t want to waste time in the effort, but you don’t want to give your hard-earned money to a disreputable provider, either. Try these sources for valuable connections to quality home repair services in your area.

Your Home Warranty Provider

When you have a home warranty, the complex process of finding a reliable home repair service is handled for you. Customers who are covered by a home warranty have carefully vetted repair services at their fingertips.

The technicians that work with us at Choice Home Warranty are highly trusted. We screen local service providers to connect customers with top-quality service professionals who are knowledgeable and affordable. The obvious benefit of working with a service technician through a home warranty is the ease of access. There’s no research or comparison shopping involved, which is perfect for those with a busy schedule. You simply call your home warranty provider and a service provider will contact you shortly after to make an appointment.

Though you’ll sacrifice a small measure of control in the selection process, the ease of use is well worth it for most customers. Keep in mind that your home warranty not only helps you find a service provider, it also helps pay for their services, so your out-of-pocket expenses are minimal.

Friends and Neighbors

Recommendations from friends and neighbors are the most popular source of information for today’s consumers. If you’re in need of home repair services, consider asking your neighbor who they used for their admirable tree-trimming service, or see if your sister was satisfied with the plumber she had to call last month.

Personal recommendations can clue you in not only to good providers, but to those that you need to watch out for as well. A warning to stay away from a particular company is just as valuable as a recommendation about who you should use.

Be careful about who you ask for recommendations so you don’t end up with a personal referral to a disreputable friend of a friend. Not only that but if you have to fire your neighbor’s cousin, it could cause bad feelings in the neighborhood. Choose friends and neighbors who are known to be smart, honest, and reputable.

Social Media

The social media landscape offers an open forum for customers to share their service experiences with one another. If you have a few top choices that you’re considering for service professionals, check out their mentions on social media or even post a request for recommendations. Just like with personal referrals, recommendations from friends and neighbors on social media can lead to disputes if the recommendation doesn’t work out so take care to check neutral sources as well.

Some popular social media sites that are particularly valuable for home service technician references are:

• Next Door – private network for neighborhoods
• Facebook – friends network but can include larger community
• Twitter – social network generally including a wider audience than Facebook
• Yelp – social network of reviewers
• Foursquare – local directory site that makes a game of sharing activities and reviews with friends

If you see a slew of negative reports on a home repair service that follows a common trend, you should probably steer clear of them. Keep in mind that people are more likely to post about a company when they’re upset, and upset customers may exaggerate their experiences. Satisfied customers who find the service perfectly adequate often neglect to post a review at all so even bad reviews can tell you a lot about a service.

Consumer Review Sites

Consumer review sites like Angie’s List are another popular source of recommendations, with 66 percent of consumers in the Nielsen survey saying they trust online consumer opinions. Like social media posts, these reviews give you an idea of what others are saying. Though they’re not as reliable as people that you know personally, these reviewers will give you a larger sampling of opinions than what you’re likely to get with family and friends. Some popular consumer review sites include:

• Angie’s List – members-only business directory with reviews and recommendations
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) – national business directory gives trust scores to businesses based on complaints
• Home Advisor – contractor search engine connects you with contractors and provides reviews
• Porch – contractor search engine connects you with contractors and provides reviews

One benefit of consumer review sites over social posts is that they vet their reviewers more strictly so you’re more likely to get authentic information.  This service comes at a cost. You may need to sign up for a membership and pay a fee to read the posts. Free sites exist but since contractors pay to be listed, your choices may be limited.

Home Appliance and Supply Stores

Home appliance and home supply stores often have working relationships with local service providers. If you drop by the customer service desk, you might get a handy list of local professionals who can help you out. Major stores that offer referrals include:

• Lowes
• Home Depot
• Sears
• Amazon
• Support Departments of most Appliance Brands such as
  • GE
  • Samsung
  • Frigidaire

The problem with this type of list is that the companies often buy their inclusion. The home appliance store may recommend them not because they provide top-notch service, but rather because they refer business back to the store or pay an advertising fee to get business through this marketing relationship. This doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the company – just that you should look for reviews or ask friends before hiring them.

Another good way to get recommendations while you’re in a home appliance store is to ask an assistant who’s working on the floor. Strike up a friendly conversation and ask the individual for their personal recommendations.

If you want to minimize the complexities and hassle of finding a good home service provider, sign up for a home warranty so your repairs are easy to handle as soon as they pop up. With a comprehensive home warranty plan, you can rest easy knowing the expense and challenge of arranging home repairs is already taken care of.

The post Home Repair Services: 5 Ways to Find the Best appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

But not every home repair has to be frustrating. There is good news: there’s always a way to fix it — and we will show you how. In this article, we share some of the most frustrating home repairs that can happen, explaining why they’re such a problem, what you can do to fix it, and how you can stop it from happening in the future, too. Often, good maintenance habits, regular inspections, and staying on top of warning signs are all that’s needed to prevent some of the worst and most frustrating home repairs from happening.

Read on to learn about frustrating home repairs, how you can fix them, and which maintenance tasks you should stay on top of to avoid running into one of these home repairs that are tough to deal with.

Photo by Flickr user usdagov

The most frustrating home repair: A dead oven on Thanksgiving Day

Denise Supplee, cofounder of SparkRental.com, experienced the classic home repair horror story: a dead oven on Thanksgiving Day. “It was Thanksgiving Day, I put my turkey in the oven, and after several hours went by, I realized there was no scrumptious turkey cooking smell,” says Supplee. “Opening the oven door, I realized the oven was not on.”

She discovered that the oven had in fact died. Fortunately, one of her guests lived close by and they were able to use their oven. Dinner was delayed, but it was all good. Supplee ended up having to replace the oven.

Why it happens: Ovens can fail for a number of reasons. It could be that the heating element is burned out, your electronic control board is not working properly, the safety valve is not working, your temperature sensor is malfunctioning, or the igniter has failed.

How to fix it: If your oven is dead on Thanksgiving Day, you’re probably out of luck unless you can find a nearby oven like Supplee did. A broken oven will need repair or replacement to get back in working order, but a repair professional will be hard to come by on Thanksgiving Day.

How to prevent it: You can do your best to avoid a Thanksgiving oven mishap by testing your oven out in the days before the big holiday. If you don’t use your oven daily, make sure to turn it on and check to see that it is heating up properly. If you notice issues, get in touch with a repair professional immediately so they can fix the problem well before the big day.

If your oven is dirty, resist the urge to run a self cleaning cycle on it before major holidays. Self cleaning cycles can be really hard on your oven, sometimes burning out heating elements or even your control panel. Doing so can leave you with a broken oven just before you really need it. If you absolutely must clean it right before the holidays, use elbow grease instead of the self cleaning cycle.

Photo by Flickr user 18284386@N02

The most frustrating home repair: Damaged and leaking roof

Lauren Haynes, home maintenance expert at Star Domestic Cleaners says a damaged and leaking roof caused by clogged gutters is one of the most frustrating home repairs. It often happens in the winter and can cause serious damage, as parts of your roof and the trim of your home rot, break away, or otherwise let moisture into your home.

Why it happens: This problem happens often when gutters are clogged due to leaves and rain, causing a water backup. If temperatures turn freezing, those water backups can become ice dams and damage your roof, allowing water and moisture to get inside.

How to fix it: Once the damage is done, you’ll have to call a roofing company for a professional fix. Roof leaks are difficult to diagnose and repair properly, so it’s best to call for help from an experienced professional who can get the job done correctly and prevent further damage to your home.

How to prevent it: Gutter cleaning may not be the most enjoyable home maintenance task you can think of, says Haynes, but it is essential for keeping the property well protected from water and moisture. Without a proper gutter system that directs rainwater away, the ceiling, walls and foundations of your house can be easily damaged. A regular gutter cleaning and inspection helps prevent such problems in the long run.

Haynes recommends a close inspection that can reveal broken, cracked, or otherwise failing rivets or seals. You should check the fascia boards for rotting areas or any panels that have come away from the walls. All trouble spots should be repaired or replaced.

After inspection and repair, Haynes encourages home owners to clean gutters and downspouts so that they’re clear of falling debris and leaves. She recommends scooping it out into a bucket and using a stiff brush to wash away and clean up the remaining dirt inside the top to ensure thorough gutter cleaning.

For a thorough clean, use plumbing rods or a long pole to check that there are no further blockages of wet leaves or debris. Using a hose, or, if you have one, a pressure washer, clean out the guttering by letting the water release in the direction of the downspout. If the water doesn’t directly come out at the bottom of the downspout, then you’ll know that you have some debris blocking the pipe, which you’ll have to push out to clear the obstruction.

Photo by Flickr user zombie

The most frustrating home repair: Plumbing surprises

Elizabeth Dodson, cofounder of HomeZada says plumbing repairs home owners don’t know how to handle can be incredibly frustrating. For example, an overflowing toilet or a burst pipe may require the help of a plumber to fix. And plumbing issues can quickly get out of hand, flooding your home and causing serious (and expensive) damage.

Why it happens: Plumbing can fail due to clogs, slow leaks, or simply old pipes. You can even have faulty fixtures, frozen pipes, and other problems. A plumbing failure is nothing to ignore, as it can become serious very quickly.

How to fix it: Dodson says that while the average home owner may not know how to fix a burst pipe or broken toilet, it is good to know how to shut off your water at your toilets and your main water supply. If you’re able to do this, you can stop damage from water in your home, potentially saving thousands of dollars in repairs.

How to prevent it: The best way to prevent plumbing surprises is to carefully maintain your plumbing system. Insulate your water heater and pipes and inspect faucets inside and out to make sure water is flowing freely. Don’t allow unflushable items to be flushed in the toilet, like paper towels, wipes, sanitary napkins, cotton swabs, or floss. Pull hair out of shower drains and use a metal drain cover to catch hair in the tub as it’s drained. You can also snake your own drains to bust up small clogs regularly so that they don’t become big problems.

Photo by Flickr user chefmattrock

The most frustrating home repair: Electrical problems

Modern homes simply don’t run without electricity. Your refrigerator, air conditioning, TV, none of it runs if your electrical system isn’t working. So if your electrical system is having problems, your home essentially shuts down. And unfortunately, electrical repairs are the most difficult to DIY, as they can be incredibly dangerous to handle if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Why it happens: Wiring can get old, so do breaker boxes. Other problems are caused by loose wires, electrical malfunctions, or improper wiring or installation.

How to fix it: Fixing electrical issues is definitely left the professionals, says Dodson. The worst thing that can happen is you get electrocuted or shocked from trying to fix something that is not in your wheelhouse or your experience.

How to prevent it: If you notice problems like losing power to only part of your house, flickering lights, switches or outlets that don’t work, frequent tripping of circuit breakers, popped fuses, large or frequent sparks when you use an outlet, feeling a mild shock or tingle when you touch an appliance or plug something into an outlet, or even a strange electrical smell or warmth on your walls near outlets or ceiling fixtures, you could have an electrical problem. The best way to prevent surprises with your electrical system is to stay aware of signs of problems and get help from an electrician right away if you notice them.

Photo by Flickr user wwworks

The most frustrating home repair: Deck collapse

With a deck collapse, the floor falls right out from under you. It can be devastating and even deadly. And unfortunately, they are not an uncommon occurrence. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors estimates that of the 45 million existing decks, only 40 percent are completely safe.

A deck collapse can happen at any time, but they are especially likely to happen during parties or any other time when more people put extra weight on your deck. It is almost impossible to avoid injury during a deck collapse.

Why it happens: Decks can only hold so much weight. They may be built to last and properly support a certain amount of weight, but if too many people stand on the deck or there is otherwise too much weight placed on the deck, it can fail. This is especially true if the boards or posts of the deck are old, rotting, or the hardware needs to be tightened or replaced.

How to fix it: If your deck has collapsed, there’s only one thing to do: scrap it and start over with a new deck. A deck that has fallen is not fit to be used again in the future and you’ll need to build a deck that is safe to adequately support weight.

How to prevent it: Heather Stegner with the American Wood Council encourages home owners to use a building inspector to make sure decks are built to code. You can also review the American Wood Council’s deck guide.

But even if you’ve built a safe deck, you’re not done. You’ll need to maintain and inspect your deck. Look for missing or rusted nails or fasteners, identify and fix splinters, loose boards, discolored areas, rotted wood, and other signs of deterioration.

After 15 years, consider replacing, repairing, or reinforcing your deck, as most decks are only built to last about 15 years.

Photo by Flickr user nancyhugo

The most frustrating home repair: A broken built in microwave

Microwaves are not typically a major concern for repairs. In many homes, if your microwave is broken, it’s easy enough to just get a new one. But things get complicated if you have a built in microwave oven. Often, they are specifically sized to the cabinetry and it can be difficult to repair or replace a built in microwave oven without also working on the surrounding cabinetry.

Supplee knows this problem all too well, as her built in microwave oven broke. She discovered that fixing her built in microwave would be costly after she got several quotes.

Why it happens: A small appliance, many microwaves just aren’t built to last. Some problems are caused by abuse, like running the microwave empty or placing metal objects inside. Sometimes, buttons stop working after they’ve been used for a long time.

How to fix it: In Supplee’s case, she remembered that she had a home warranty policy and was able to get her built in microwave repaired for the cost of a call fee. It’s a good idea to have a professional come out to evaluate the problem, as it may make more sense to have your built in microwave repaired rather than replacing it and having to adjust the cabinetry.

How to prevent it: Microwave ovens are not a major appliance, but they do require some maintenance to keep them running well. You should keep it clean, avoid using metal, never run it on empty, and prevent door damage. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the vents are not blocked. This makes it easy for the microwave to vent air as needed and prevent damage.

Photo by Flickr user tabor-roeder

The most frustrating home repair: A dead air conditioner in the heat of summer

If your air conditioner stops working in the heat of the summer, your home can quickly reach high, even dangerous temperatures. And of course, the summer is when most air conditioners fail. After all, high temperatures can push air conditioning units to the limit — and beyond. When an air conditioner fails, it puts you in a really uncomfortable position. You may not be able to sleep or function in your home until it’s fixed, so you’ll have to stay with friends or family or even at a hotel until you’re able to complete repairs. Or, you can sweat it out at home. Either way, it’s a frustrating situation to be in, so it’s best to stay on top of air conditioning maintenance to avoid failure if at all possible.

Why it happens: Air conditioners can have trouble keeping up with the heat if they’re low on freon. Other problems are caused by mechanical parts weighing down. Dust and dirt can be a factor, as outside air conditioning units can get clogged with debris. Or, ducts and air filters that need replacing can make the air conditioner work harder than it should have to.

How to fix it: Air conditioning fixes are rarely at the DIY level. Your air conditioning trouble may be due to low freon, which always requires a licensed professional to fix. Other issues may require specific parts that are difficult for the average home owner to get quickly, but that an air conditioning professional may have on hand or be able to access within hours instead of days. It’s almost always best to consult a professional if you need help fixing your air conditioner.

How to prevent it: Maintenance is the best way to avoid air conditioning problems. Practice good air conditioner maintenance by performing tasks including replacing air filters, cleaning ducts and vents, cleaning air conditioner coils, preventing debris, creating shade for the unit, combing coil fins, and more.

Photo by Flickr user goldberg

The most frustrating home repair: Broken hot water heater/p>

Just as a hot house in the summer is frustrating, a broken hot water heater can leave you feeling cold in the winter. There’s nothing worse than a cold shower on an already cold day. But that’s the least of the problems you could run into with a failing water heater. You could have leaks, damage, and more as a result of a broken water heater.

Why it happens: Often, the problem with hot water heaters is sediment. Over time, sediment builds up in hot water heaters, causing leaks and other damage.

How to fix it: Hot water heater issues usually require the help of a professional, but the problem may be simple enough to DIY. For example, your hot water may be out for something as small as a blown out pilot light. Or, you may need to simply adjust the thermostat to make water hotter or cooler. If you hear noises coming from your hot water heater, there may be sediment built up in the tank causing problems. You can flush your tank to remove the sediment. Or, the noise could be a sign of the heating element burning out.

How to prevent it: Maintenance including flushing and insulating your hot water heater can help extend its useful life. It’s also a good idea to watch for signs of a hot water heater that is past its prime and should be replaced before it has a chance to fail and potentially cause damage. Water heaters more than 10 years old should be considered for replacement. Rusty water, especially coming from the hot side of faucets, rumbling sediment, and water around the water heater are warning signs that you shouldn’t ignore.

Photo by Flickr user greencolander

The most frustrating home repair: A dead refrigerator

A broken refrigerator is one of the absolute worst home repairs to have pop up. It’s usually a surprise, leaving you scrambling to find refrigeration for food before it goes to waste. A refrigerator repair can leave you without a working refrigerator for your food for days, adding to the cost of simply repairing the refrigerator.

Why it happens: Refrigerators fail for a number of reasons. It could be a blown fuse or circuit breaker, the compressor may be failing, you could have a buildup of dust or hair on condenser coils.

How to fix it: Some refrigerator problems require the help of a professional, others can be diagnosed with DIY skills. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may want to call in a professional. Or, if your refrigerator is old and on its last leg anyway, it may be time to upgrade to a new and more efficient model.

How to prevent it: Your refrigerator is probably one of the most used but least maintained appliances in your home. You can help it work properly by keeping it clean, keeping doors closed, using the correct temperature setting, and letting food cool down before you put it in the fridge. Refrigerator maintenance tasks include keeping vents clear, clearing out ice, cleaning door gaskets and condenser coils, and replacing water filters.

Photo by Flickr user outofideas

The most frustrating home repair: Clogged garbage disposal

Your garbage disposal is probably taken for granted, but a clogged garbage disposal can leave you feeling helpless. Your sink will back up with water and you’ll be left unable to do dishes, rinse your hands, or otherwise use your kitchen sink.

Why it happens: Garbage disposals often run into problems when you put things down the disposal that really shouldn’t go there. Animal fat, coffee grounds, egg shells, and more can all cause issues with your garbage disposal.

How to fix it: Some garbage disposal clogs can be DIY fixes. You’ll just need to open up the drain trap and check for obstructions. You may need to use an auger to clear it. If you’re not able to take care of the problem on your own, you’ll need to call a plumber for help.

How to prevent it: Often, garbage disposal problems are caused by putting the wrong things down your garbage disposal. Egg shells and coffee grounds create granular waste that sticks to sludge in the pipe. Potato peels and banana peels form a starchy paste. Fat and other food waste can also clog up a garbage disposal. The best way to avoid a clog is to avoid putting these items down your garbage disposal. It’s also a good idea to use plenty of water as you’re using the disposal, continuing to flush the pipe with water for about 30 seconds after you’re done using it. You can keep your garbage disposal in good working order by grinding up ice cubes and lemon peels as well.

Photo by Flickr user 49364825@N02

The most frustrating home repair: Broken garage door opener

A broken garage door leaves you stuck in the driveway — or even stuck inside the garage. It’s frustrating to be unable to move your car in or out of the garage as planned. And to make matters worse, garage door issues, particularly problems with garage door springs, can be difficult and dangerous to resolve.

Why it happens: Garage door coils can get old and need replacing. Or, electrical elements may have problems. It could be as simple as batteries that need replacing in your electronic transmitter.

How to fix it: A problem like dead garage door transmitter batteries is an easy fix anyone can handle. All you’ll need to do is just replace the batteries, and you’re back in business. But more complicated issues like photo eye or track alignment, the garage door limit settings, or even the springs are best left to the professionals. Garage door springs can be extremely dangerous to work with, so you should never attempt to fix them yourself.

How to prevent it: You can maintain your garage door by performing regular maintenance. Look and listen for jerky movements, unusual noises, and asymmetrical movement and get help if needed. Tighten up roller brackets and bolts, test the balance, lubricate moving parts, check the cables, clear the tracks, and more to keep your garage door moving smoothly.

Another great way to avoid the frustration of these particularly maddening home repairs is to purchase a qualified home warranty service contract. With a home warranty, home repair problems including air conditioner failure, clogs, broken hot water heaters, appliance failure, and more are covered simply for the cost of a service call fee.

The post The 11 Most Frustrating Home Repairs appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Homeowners’ insurance is necessary coverage for every home. But this necessary coverage can also be unnecessarily expensive if you’re not careful. Insurance rates can be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including your credit score, the local fire station, even the pool or trampoline in your back yard. And you could be paying too much for your homeowners’ insurance if you have factors that raise your insurance rates.

In this resource, you’ll learn everything you need to know about homeowners’ insurance rates. You’ll find out how much most homeowners pay for their insurance, common claims and how much they usually cost insurers, and how often homeowners submit claims. But more importantly, you can learn what insurers look at when determining your insurance rates, including factors that can raise your rates. Plus, you’ll find tips for what you can do to reduce the cost of your homeowners’ insurance rates.

Homeowners’ Insurance By the Numbers

Homeowners’ insurance is a $70 billion dollar premium industry in the United States. Nearly every American home has a homeowners’ insurance policy and most homeowners will pay about $1,000 per year for insurance coverage. Want to know more? Check out these statistics on homeowners’ insurance.

• Almost every home in America is insured. 95 percent of homes in the United States are insured. Mortgage companies typically require that homeowners maintain a quality home insurance policy for the life of the loan. (Enhance Insurance)
• On average, Americans pay $1,096 in annual homeowners’ insurance premiums. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Florida home owners pay the highest homeowners’ insurance premiums at an annual rate of $2,115. In fact, most of the Gulf Coast region pays higher homeowners’ insurance premiums than the rest of the country. Texas homeowners pay an average of $1,837 (ranked second), Louisiana homeowners pay an average of $1,822 (ranked third), and Mississippi homeowners pay an average of $1,395 (ranked fifth). (Insurance Information Institute)
• Homeowners in northern states and the Midwest tend to pay less for homeowners’ insurance. Idaho homeowners pay the lowest at $561, Oregon homeowners pay an average of $568, and Utah homeowners pay an average of $609. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Homeowners that live in an area with significant storms will pay more for home insurance. Areas with significant storm activity pay about 2 percent more on average for homeowners’ insurance. (Peachstate Insurance)
• Homeowners’ insurance rates typically go up each year. In recent years, they have increased by five percent or more. In 2012, rates increased 5.6 percent, while they went up 6 percent in 2013. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Even as rates go up, homeowners may not be paying enough. 64 percent of homes are underinsured. (Enhance Insurance)
• Most homeowners do not file a claim on homeowners’ insurance in any given year. In 2014, only 5.3 percent of insured homes had a claim. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Property damage is the most common type of claim, accounting for 97.3 percent of homeowners’ insurance claims in 2014. This figure includes theft. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Fire, lightning, and debris removal is the most severe claim, averaging $39,791 per claim. Bodily injury and property damage is the next most severe at $20,453 per claim. Wind and hail, water damage and freezing, and all other property damage are typically well under $10,000. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Wind and hail claims are the most often submitted claims with a frequency of 3.13. Water damage and freezing have a frequency of 1.86, and all other property damage has a frequency of .99. (Insurance Information Institute)
• About 2.1 million burglaries occur in the United States each year and 74.5 percent of them are residential. Burglaries typically have an average property loss of $2,230. (Ameriprise Financial)
• About one in 15 insured homes has a claim each year. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Lighting strikes are not as rare as you might think. About one in 265 homes has a property damage claim related to fire and lightning each year. (Insurance Information Institute)
• State Farm, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual are the top three writers of homeowners’ insurance by direct premiums written. Combined, these three insurance companies make up more than 35 percent of the market share. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Poisoning is by far the leading cause of unintentional injury death at home, making up 51.4 percent of claims. Falls (29.4 percent) and flames or smoke (3.5 percent) are the next highest. (Insurance Information Institute)
• Hail storm damage can reach up to $1 billion annually, though a particularly damaging Kansas City hail storm in 2001 caused $2 billion in damage. Homeowners who live in locations where hail storms and tornadoes are prevalent pay more for their home owners’ insurance coverage. In face, in Colorado, about half of homeowners’ insurance premiums go to coverage against hail and tornadoes. (Insurance QnA
• Most fire-related homeowners’ insurance claims start in the kitchen. Each year, an average of 154,7000 homes are damaged by fires using cooking equipment, adding up to $724 million in damages each year. (Insurance QnA
• Water leaks in homes account for about 23 percent of all property losses suffered by homeowners. Leaks and water damage are primarily caused by freezing pipes and plumbing failures. Up to 93 percent of damage caused by leaks could be avoided with a system in place to detect leaks. (Insurance QnA

How Insurers Determine How Much You Should Pay for Homeowners’ Insurance

When determining your rate for homeowners’ insurance, insurance companies look at a number of different factors that can indicate the potential for loss, cost to remedy losses, and more. These include:

• The size of your home, specifically square footage, as well as any additional structures such as a garage
• Home construction, materials, and home features including roof type
• Age of the home including the age of home systems including plumbing, HVAC, and electrical
• Number of people living in the home
• Location of the home factoring in the likelihood of damage due to a disaster such as hurricane, tornado, hail, wind, or wildfire
• Neighborhood crime rates
• Coverage level
• Replacement cost including local building cost
• Fire protection
• Pets

Factors That Can Increase Your Homeowners’ Insurance Rates

While basic factors look at pretty broad information, there are other factors that may seem insignificant, but can dramatically increase your homeowners’ insurance rates. And while something like the breed of your dog or the trampoline in your backyard may not seem like a factor that can make you pay more for homeowners’ insurance, they can be important.

Filing a Claim

It hardly sounds fair that you could be asked to pay more for your insurance simply for using it, but that’s the reality of homeowners’ insurance. Insurers know that policy holders who have made a claim in the past are likely to make another claim in the future.

A history of frequent insurance claims can raise your homeowners’ insurance premiums significantly. You may be subject to an increase or even a non-renewal or cancellation of your policy if your insurer determines that you represent too much of a risk.

This shouldn’t scare you off from filing an insurance claim if you truly need it. Dealing with $20,000 in hail damage is tough to swallow and you shouldn’t fear making a claim for major losses, especially if you rarely file claims at all and you’re an otherwise upstanding policy holder. But think twice about making multiple claims, especially small ones, within the same year or even few years. Insurers typically raise rates in policy holders with a history of frequent insurance claims, not those who infrequently make claims when it’s really worth it.

Calling About a Claim

Homeowners may not be surprised to find out that filing a claim can raise insurance rates. But even if you simply call and decide not to file a claim, your rates could go up.

Consider this situation: your home is damaged and you’re not sure whether it’s covered on your policy. You call your insurance company to find out, but decide not to file a claim because your coverage is lower than your deductible. You may consider the matter closed, but your insurance company does not.

The query is likely to be recorded with details of the damage, even if you make no claim. The damage will likely be reported to your Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report, which is similar to a credit report for insurance. Queries typically stay on your CLUE report for seven years.

While a single phone call should not cause a problem for your insurance rates and ability to obtain insurance, more than a few can be troublesome. If insurers see a number of queries on damages, you could face a higher premium at renewal or even a non-renewal of your policy.

Owning an Expensive Home

It should be no surprise that owning an expensive home will cost you more when it comes to homeowners’ insurance rates. Everything costs more in an expensive home, and that means insurers will have to pay more to repair or replace your home than they would a more modestly priced home. The more expensive a home is, the more it will cost to insure.

Your Credit Score

In most states, insurance companies are allowed to use your credit history when determining rates for homeowners’ insurance. Your credit score reflects your responsibility and how well you pay your bills. Insurance companies know there is a strong connection between people who responsibly pay their bills and those who make a claim. Typically, homeowners with a good credit score are less likely to make a claim, while a policyholder who is behind on bills may be more likely to file a claim. Homeowners with bad credit scores may pay rates that are double that of homeowners with good credit scores, so this factor can be significant.

The Age of Your Home and Materials

As your home gets older, particularly your roof, materials can become more susceptible to damage and deterioration. Newer homes are often easier to repair and less subject to damage. And new homes have newer systems, such as plumbing that’s less likely to break down and cause water damage. They may also be built to higher construction standards than older ones. Older homes may be more costly to repair not just because they’re more susceptible to damage, but because they may need to be repaired with materials that can be difficult to find. Insurers know that this may make replacement costs go up, so your homeowners’ insurance premiums will rise as well.

Home Remodeling

Improving your home adds to the value of your home. And when the value of your home increases, so does the cost to replace it. Homeowners’ insurance companies will take into account that after a major renovation project, it will be more expensive to rebuild your home to its current state in case of a loss. This can lead to an increase in your homeowner’s insurance premium, but your home won’t be underinsured.

Recreational Equipment

Owning a pool, treehouse, or trampoline is fun, but these pieces of recreational equipment can also be dangerous. You may be held liable if anyone is injured or dies while using the equipment on your property. Simply owning this equipment can make your homeowners’ insurance premiums increase.

Home-Based Businesses

Typically, homeowners’ insurance coverage is limited to personal property with very limited coverage for business equipment. If you work from home or have a business based out of your home, you may need additional coverage. And if you have customers come to your home to conduct business, you could have liability and property loss risks not covered by your home owners’ policy. This may require you to add an endorsement or separate business policy for your home.

Ownership of a Potentially Aggressive Dog

In the first half of 2012, one out of three homeowners’ insurance liability claims was for a dog bite. Due to rising medical costs related to the treatment of dog bites, the cost of this claim continues to rise. Insurance providers may hesitate to provide homeowners’ insurance coverage, or raise rates, for homeowners with dogs including wolf hybrids, huskies, malamutes, German shepherds, chows, rottweilers, and pit bulls. However, some states prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on the breed of pets.

Living Too Far from a Fire Station

Insurers want to know that if there’s a fire in your home, the fire department can get there quickly to put it out before your home becomes a total loss. If you live more than five miles from a fire station, you may be subject to higher homeowners’ insurance rates. Insurers also want to know how well your local fire department can handle emergencies, so they’ll look into whether you have a professional or volunteer department as well as fire district ratings when determining your homeowners’ insurance rate.

Owning a Vacation Home

Vacation homes are typically more expensive to insure. It hardly seems fair, but insurance companies know that if you’re not spending a lot of time in your home, you’re less likely to be able to spot problems before they become serious issues that would warrant a claim. Burglars are more likely to hit a mostly unoccupied vacation home, and water leaks may go unnoticed for weeks or months. If you’re renting your home out with a service like AirBnB, don’t plan on renting it out for more than 90 days a year. Once you cross that threshold, your vacation home is considered a business and you may not be covered for claims on the property under your personal homeowners’ insurance policy.

Neighborhood Crime

If you live in a high crime area, or your neighborhood has been recently targeted by burglars, your insurance company will probably be justifiably nervous about potential burglaries in your home. Property damage claims related to theft are one of the most common homeowners’ insurance claims, and if you show an increased risk of this claim, your rates will be increased accordingly.

Lapses in Policy

If you don’t renew your insurance coverage and let your policy lapse, insurers could see that as a sign of risk and subsequently charge you more for your homeowners’ insurance premiums. It’s a good idea to pay your premiums on time and keep your insurance coverage current.

How to Reduce Your Homeowners’ Insurance Rates

While some factors that raise your homeowners’ insurance rates are beyond your control, like burglaries in your neighborhood, or the age of your home, there are some factors where you can make smart changes to save on your rates. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your homeowners’ insurance premiums, try out these tips.

• Maintain a good credit rating: Insurance companies typically use credit information when determining rates for homeowners’ insurance. If you have a poor credit rating, you could end up paying more for your homeowners’ insurance. Protect your credit by paying bills on time, only using the credit you need, and keeping balances low. It’s a good idea to regularly check your credit report to identify problems and report any inaccuracies that may be taken into account with insurers.
• Don’t file small claims: Homeowners’ insurance is for major incidents, not wear and tear. If your deductible is $500, don’t bother filing a claim or even calling about $750 in property damage. It’s just not worth the potential increase in rates. Save your claims for when you really need them, like a hail storm that takes out your brand new roof.
• Make your home as fireproof as possible: Add a fire sprinkler and fire alarm to your home and be sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy. It also helps if you live near a fire station, and it’s best if the fire service is professional rather than volunteer staffed.
• Install disaster-resistance measures: Installing storm shutters, retrofitting your home for an earthquake, or buying stronger roofing materials can better prepare your home to stand up against serious disasters. Some insurance companies will lower your premiums if you make these improvements to your home and lower their risk.
• Get a home security system: Burglaries and fires make up a significant portion of claims home insurance companies have to pay out every year, so if you take steps to mitigate losses from fire or burglary, you may be rewarded with a significant discount. Using a burglar alarm, smoke detector, or dead bolt locks can result in a discount of up to 20 percent on your homeowners’ insurance premiums. Additional discounts may be available for homes with an alarm that is connected to police, fire, or other monitoring stations.
• Ask about special discounts: Homeowners’ insurance companies may have discounts available that you’re not aware of, such as special rates for retirees of employees of certain companies.
• Update your home’s systems: Older homes are often charged more for homeowners’ insurance because their systems are more likely to break down and cause a problem, such as a roof that is significantly damaged during a hail storm, or old pipes that burst and flood your home with water. If you update systems including your air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and roof, be sure to tell your insurance company, as you may get a break on your homeowners’ insurance rates.
• Get a security inspection: Many insurers will offer you a discount if you work with your local police department or constable to make security improvements to your home. An officer can come out to your home, inspect it, and make recommendations for improving your security. You can then make those changes and get another inspection and submit the report to your insurer for a discount.
• Carry a higher deductible: Homeowners’ insurance is really just for significant losses, even disasters. That means you probably shouldn’t go through your insurance company to handle a $500 window fix, for example. But a major leak that causes $10,000 or more in damage is worth a claim. If you’re able to raise your deductible to $1,000 or higher, you will typically save on your monthly homeowners’ insurance premium. And you’ll also be less tempted to file small claims that could put you at risk of a higher premium in the future.
• Stay current on premiums: Pay your premiums on time and maintain continuous coverage, avoiding lapses in coverage, to indicate to insurers that you’re a responsible homeowner.
• Shop around annually: When it’s time to renew your policy, consider your coverage, property value, and current situation. It’s a good idea to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. And by shopping around and asking for quotes from multiple insurance companies, you could save significantly on your premiums. Be sure to compare apples to apples, looking at the same coverage and deductible levels. And don’t forget to ask about multi-policy discounts and other ways they can help you lower your premiums for homeowners’ insurance.
• Investigate prior losses before you buy a home: If you’re in the process of purchasing a home, you should know that claims made before you buy the home can influence your rates. A home with multiple claims within a few years may be labeled as risky regardless of who is living in it. And if there are unresolved issues, you could be stuck paying higher rates. When buying a home, ask for a copy of the home’s loss history report with disclosure statements to get a record of the claims filed within the past five years.
• Talk directly to an agent: It’s convenient to apply for coverage online, but an insurance agent can really help you get the best deal. Speak with a licensed insurance agent to discuss your needs. They can help you get the right amount of protection and even identify discounts that you might not have been aware of otherwise. You can also talk to them about potential scenarios you want to investigate, like how much you might save if you update aging home systems like a roof that’s more than 15 years old.
• Take advantage of multi-policy discounts: While it’s a good idea to shop around for the best rate on your homeowners’ insurance policy, keep in mind that it can pay to combine your auto and home insurance, even life insurance. Most companies will take up to 15 percent off of your premium for buying two or more policies from them. Of course, you should make sure that the combined price of your policies including discounts will be lower than getting each coverage from separate companies.
• Maintain your policy: Insurance companies love loyal customers and often reward long-term policy holders with a reduction in premiums. Loyalty discounts typically kick in around three years and may increase after six years or more.
• Complete a home inventory: While a home inventory may not help you save on home owners’ insurance premiums, it can help you to more accurately recover losses. Only about 50 percent of home owners have prepared an inventory of their possessions to document losses. Your home inventory should include a list of your belongings along with video or photo evidence. Record model or serial numbers, keep receipts for purchases of value, and remember to record upgrades to your home as well.

Photo by Flickr user statefarm

The post What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Homeowners’ Insurance Rates appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.