PHH Insurance Blog

Stafford Springs, CT

Archive for the category “Uncategorized”

18 Oct 2012

Chimney Safety Tips

Knowing BEFORE prevents tragedy AFTER: Chimney Safety Institute of America offers tips for fire safety

• Keep chimney clear and capped. Make sure tree branches and leaves are at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney. Contagious flames or sparks can jump from the fire source, quickly igniting other close objects, which can spread to neighboring premises. Installing a chimney cap can help prevent debris and animals from blocking the opening.

• Choose the right fuel. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose well-seasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months to one year and stored in an elevated, covered location. Never burn Christmas trees, treated wood or wrapping paper in your fireplace or wood stove.

• Keep the hearth area clear and remove ashes. Combustible material too close to the fireplace or a wood stove, can easily catch fire. Be sure to keep furniture at least 36” away from the hearth. When you clean the fireplace, discard ashes in a closed metal container and place it away from the house until they have fully cooled.

• Install smoke detectors. Place detectors throughout the house and check batteries in the spring and fall. When you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time, remember to check your batteries.

• Be on the safe side. Before using your fireplace, woodstove or furnace each season, the Chimney Safety of America recommends an inspection by a professional to ensure that your chimney’s interior has not suffered damage or significant creosote build-up that would allow heat or hazardous gases to invade your living space.

• Hire a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®. When in doubt, ensure your home and family’s safety by hiring a chimney professional. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps® have earned the chimney and venting industry’s most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. This knowledge allows them to expertly diagnose and solve chimney and venting problems.

source information: http://www.csia.org/

 

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12 Sep 2012

Regular Maintenance on your home will help prevent future losses.

Regular Maintenance on your home will help prevent future losses. 

Fall is always a great time to start preparing your home for the colder months ahead.

A few things to keep in mind to help prepare your home.

Check your gutters – clean any debris from them now, so they are able to work properly throughout the season

Check your windows- check to be sure the seal around your windows is still good.  A good seal will save you money throughout the heating season.

Check your roof- see if there are any broken shingles or holes that need repair.  Fix these now before the snow settles in.

These simple maintenance tips can help you save money on heat, as well as help prevent future damage to your home.

Posted in Home, Uncategorized, Weather and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
31 Aug 2012

What is the True Mean of Labor Day?

What is the meaning of Labor Day?

 We all tend to look at Labor Day as a celebration of a long weekend, cookouts, parades and the end of summer vacations.  Many consider this the official end of summer and the beginning of the fall season.

But there is a true meaning and background to Labor Day.

Here’s how the U.S. Labor Department describes the holiday: “It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.”

The Central Labor Union held the first Labor Day celebration in 1882 in New York City. The AFL-CIO, which represents about 12.2 million members, says that first holiday was marked by a march to demand an eight-hour workday and other labor law reforms. About 20,000 workers made their way up Broadway carrying signs that read “Labor Creates All Wealth” and “Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for Recreation.” (The AFL-CIO site offers a chronological look at such events via a timeline.)

 Who was the Founder of Labor Day?

 Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

 But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic. (http://erstarnews.com/2011/08/29/what-does-labor-day-mean-to-us/)

 So while we are enjoying our three day weekend, cookouts and last summer vacations stop and think about the true meaning of this holiday.  Labor Day directly affects each and every one of us.

Enjoy your weekend and take a minute on Labor Day to remember the true meaning of the day.

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29 Aug 2012

Welcome our Newest Team Member

We would like to welcome our newest team member to Penny-Hanley & Howley Insurance.

Renee Goodwin will be our full time Marketing Manager.  Renee has a background in Small Business Marketing, including Social Media, Advertising, Sales, Networking and Small Business ownership.  You will see Renee around town and Tolland County working with our small business clients, along with attending local networking meetings and other social media events. Renee is part owner of Stained Glass Creations and Beyond in Stafford.  Her passion for Small Businesses and Social Media Marketing will be a great benefit to our agency.

We look forward to having Renee increase our online presence through social media, networking and other social events along with promoting our Commercial Clients Businesses.  If you see her around town, say hi.

Renee can be contacted at renee@pennyhanley.necoxmail.com or 860-458-9360.

 

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08 Nov 2011

When to Cut Back on Web Habits

Would you consider yourself addicted to facebook or twitter or forums or chat rooms or just the internet in general? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With major breakthroughs in technological advancements, it’s only natural for people to be addicted to the net.

We all know how easy it is to get caught up in social media, to the extent that you’re spending hours on Facebook every day. Maybe not all at once, but throughout the day, those minutes have a tendency to accumulate into big chunks of time. Maybe Twitter is your thing, or instant messaging, or watching silly videos on YouTube, playing games, or maybe even checking your email a hundred times a minute, whatever you’re doing on a regular basis to avoid work, I would consider a “web habit”.

I’m not saying these are “bad habits”, because there’s nothing wrong with adding some fun to your day since you don’t exactly have work colleagues you can talk to, but just like anything else, you have to create priorities and manage your online activities because it all impacts your time, and time = money when you’re in the service industry.

Here are some hints on when you should cut back on web habits:

  • When you start referring to family members as @theirtwittername
  • When you start thinking about what hashtags would be applicable to live conversations
  • When you don’t remember the last time you spent a day free from internet access
  • When you stay up too late/ignore other responsibilities because you are obsessed with reviewing everything in your feed reader

Instead of staying glued to the computer or your cell phone, go outdoors to hike to just to take a fresh breath, NOT to find more bars so you can check your updates or send an email. When was the last time you went without your cell phone or being online? If the answer is more than a year, you have an addiction problem. It’s good to enjoy some time to yourself once in a while. If you are starting to look a little pastie…even in this Buffalo winter, its time to walk away from the computer and restructure your day and your web habits.

What have you done to implement your own web restrictions?

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07 Nov 2011
1 Comment

What to do When Power Goes Out

Power outage can be caused by a number of things, especially during winter time when the weather is brutal and it could be wide-spread.

Here are a number of things to help you cope with the sudden loss of power.

1. Food Safety

If the power is out for less than 2 hours, then the food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to consume. While the power is out, keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold for longer.

If the power is out for longer than 2 hours, follow the guidelines below:

  • For the Freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.
  • For the Refrigerated section: Pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.

2. Safe Drinking Water

When power goes out, water purification systems may not be functioning fully. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Here are some general rules to help you remember:

  • Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added.
  • If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe source. If you do not know that the water came from a safe source, you should boil or treat it before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe.
  • If you don’t have clean, safe, bottled water and if boiling is not possible, you often can make water safer to drink by using a disinfectant, such as unscented household chlorine bleach, iodine, or chlorine dioxide tablets. These can kill most harmful organisms, such as viruses and bacteria. However, only chlorine dioxide tablets are effective in controlling more resistant organisms, such as the parasite Cryptosporidium.

3. Weather Conditions

If power goes out during summer time, be aware of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and fainting. To avoid heat stress, you should:

  • Drink a glass of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes and at least one gallon each day.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine. They both dehydrate the body.
  • Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Take frequent cool showers or baths.
  • If you feel dizzy, weak, or overheated, go to a cool place. Sit or lie down, drink water, and wash your face with cool water. If you don’t feel better soon, get medical help quickly.
  • Work during cooler hours of the day when possible, or distribute the workload evenly throughout the day.

If it goes out during winter, be aware of hypothermia. Hypothermia happens when a person’s core body temperature is lower than 35°C (95°F). Hypothermia has three levels: acute, subacute, or chronic. Here are some things to help prevent hypothermia.

  • Everyone, especially the elderly and ill, should have adequate food, clothing, shelter, and sources of heat.
  • Blankets can help, even in poorly heated rooms.
  • Wear layers of clothing and a hat, which help to keep in body heat.
  • Move around. Physical activity raises body temperature.

4. Power Line Hazards

If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local utility company and emergency services.

The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away, with both feet on the ground.

As in all power line related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911 or call your electric utility company’s Service Center/Dispatch Office.

Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.

Remember, accidents can be avoided if you are better prepared. Make sure you have an emergency plan that includes a disaster supply kit. This kit should include enough water, dried and canned food, and emergency supplies (flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, prescription medicines, and a digital thermometer) to last at least 3 days. Use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns, or torches (to minimize the risk of fire).

For more information, click here. Coutesy of CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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27 Oct 2011
2 Comments

Napping, important part of day?

For years, naps have gotten a bad rap, derided as a sign of laziness, weakness, or senility. But lately napping has garnered new respect, thanks to solid scientific evidence that midday dozing benefits both mental acuity and overall health. A slew of new studies have shown that naps boost alertness, creativity, mood, and productivity in the later hours of the day.

A nap of 60 minutes improves alertness for up to 10 hours. Research on pilots show that a 26-minute “NASA” nap in flight enhanced performance by 34 percent and overall alertness by 54 percent. A Harvard study published in 2008 showed that a 45 minute nap improves learning and memory. The body benefits too. Napping reduces stress and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and excessive weight gain. Naps make you smarter, healthier, and safer. But to understand how you can nap best — when, for how long, to what end — you need to understand your body.

Born to Nap

Most mammals sleep for short periods throughout the day. Us humans, however, have consolidated sleep into one long period, but the biological vestige remains. Our bodies are programmed for two periods of intense sleepiness: in the early morning, from about 2 to 4 a.m., and in the afternoon, between 1 and 3 p.m. This midday wave of drowsiness is not due to heat or too many fries at lunch (it occurs even if we skip eating). Rather, it arises from an afternoon quiescent phase in our physiology, which diminishes our reaction time, memory, coordination, mood, and alertness.

What’s in a Nap?

There are five stages that occur during sleep.

1. Falling asleep, 2. Light sleep, 3 and 4. Deep, slow-wave sleep, 5. REM (Rapid Eye Movement, dreaming stage)

A short afternoon catnap of 20 minutes yields mostly stage 2 sleep, which enhances alertness and concentration, elevates mood, and sharpens motor skills. Sufficient amount of nap is at least 90 minutes. Many of us get about an hour to an hour and a half less sleep per night than we need. A new study shows that the sleep deprived brain toggles between normal activity and complete lapses, or failures, a dangerous state of slowed responses and foggy inattention. Naps of 90 to 120 minutes comprise all stages, including REM and deep slow-wave sleep, which helps clear your mind, improve memory recall, and recoup lost sleep.

The Perfect Nap

Once nap time and length are settled, you need some preparations for the rest. Find a safe, quiet, comfortable place, preferably one where you can lie down (it takes about 50 percent longer to fall asleep sitting upright). Darken the room or use eye shades. Calm your body by breathing slowly and deeply. Concentrate on relaxing your muscles one group at a time. If noise is an issue, put in earplugs or turn on some white noise. Quiet your mind by repeating a mantra, taking a mental walk at a relaxing place like the beach, or counting sheep or floating z’s.

If you want to be your best all day long, plan on napping.

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24 Oct 2011
1 Comment

Fall Clean Up Checklist

Autumn is here!

Days are getting shorter which signal winter’s approach. Time to wrap up summer’s outdoor areas while the weather is still brisk and breezy. Here’s a list of fall cleaning chores that will help you prepare your home for the coming winter:

Outside The House

Summer is over and its left marks for you to attend to. Here are some tips to help you be prepared for outside.

  • Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, children’s summer toys.
  • Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
  • Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
  • Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.
  • Wash exterior windows.
  • Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior faucets. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
  • Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cable to prevent ice dams.
  • Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

Inside The House

With holidays near, everyone wants the inside of their house looking nice and clean. Now is the perfect time to get those chores done. After all, there is nothing better than a clean house.

  • Focus on public rooms: living room, family room, entryway, guest bath.
  • Clean from top to bottom. Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards andcorners.
  • Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.
  • Wash interior windows.
  • Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
  • Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters. Tuck the family into a warm and cozy winter bed.
  • Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month! Warm October afternoons speed carpet drying. Carpet cleaning firms get busy by the end of October, so schedule now for best service.
  • Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking. Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, paying particular attention to baking supplies, pans and equipment.
  • Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week. Clear counters look cleaner–and provide more room for holiday cooking.
  • Pull refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
  • Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.
  • Inspect each appliance. Does it need supplies? Stock up on softener salt now, and avoid staggering over icy sidewalks with heavy bags.
  • Check and empty the central vacuum’s collection area.
  • Clean electronic air cleaner elements monthly for most efficient operation. Wash them in an empty dishwasher (consult manual for specific product recommendations).
  • Clean or replace humidifier elements before the heating season begins.
  • Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
  • Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds’ nests! Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
  • Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don’t wait for the first cold night!
  • Buy a winter’s supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort. When the right filter is on hand, it’s an easy job!
  • Drain sediment from hot water heaters.

Check out the Clean House Guide for more information on how to clean fast and furious.

Source: Organized Home

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19 Oct 2011
1 Comment

High Gas Prices, Fewer Auto Accidents?

As gasoline prices rise, Americans drive fewer miles to save a few bucks. According to a study by Mississippi State’s Social Sceince Research Center, rising cost of gas has resulted in a decline in traffic accidents which includes alchohol related accidents.

Not only that, gas prices also have a short-term impact and intermediate-term impact. Short term refers to immediate effects, such as how a current month’s average gas prices affect the same month’s traffic accidents, whereas long term refers to effects over a one year subsequent time period.

Despite all that, there is still good news. By driving less, you’re saving money on gas and fewer auto accidents will even help lower your auto insurance premium.

Learn more about the study by visiting the full article at ClaimsJournal.

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18 Oct 2011

Auto Theft: Is You Car Safe?

Car Theft Statistics
Source: CarBuzz.com

Courtesy of Car Buzz

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