Vacant Buildings - Winter

Many insurance companies do not like to cover vacant buildings. Also, many insurance policies have exclusions for certain losses if the building is vacant/unoccupied. Here are a few tips to help you prevent a loss:

Remember to maintain heat throughout your building, including unoccupied portions. Failure to do so could result in no coverage for a claim.

You should also drain water from pipes or systems that are not needed in order to prevent freezing pipe claims, which may not be covered under your insurance policy.

If you have a vacant building and you want to make sure you are covered right, please call us at 435-674-2221 or visit our website at www.msiagency.com.

Wood Stove Safety Tips

When the colder temperatures start to set in, many homeowners will turn to their fireplace, wood or pellet stoves as an additional heat source. While these heating tools can provide warmth and comfort, if you are not careful, they can also be a hazard. Keep in mind the following precautions to help ensure a safe winter season.

Keep your fireplaces and wood stoves clean

• Have your chimney, fireplace, wood or pellet stove inspected and cleaned by a licensed chimney specialist. They should be maintained annually to help ensure they are functioning safely and efficiently. 
• If you have a wood burning, insert or pellet stove, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for additional guidance related to operation and venting.
• Be sure to keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations and any other combustible materials.

Keep fires burning safely

• Be sure the flue is open before lighting your fire to help ensure the fireplace will vent properly. Do not close your damper until you are sure the fire is out.
• When starting a fire, only use a match or commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Glass doors of a fireplace should be kept open while burning a fire. This allows the fire to receive enough air to complete combustion and help reduce creosote build-up in the chimney.
• Metal mesh screens should remain closed whenever your fireplace is in use to help keep embers in the fireplace.
• Only use dry wood in your fireplace. Wet wood can increase creosote buildup that can lead to chimney fires.
• Do not burn plastic because it can release toxic chemicals as well as cause damage to your chimney, fireplace or wood stove.
• Never burn a Christmas tree in your fireplace as the sparks from the burning needles can increase the risk for a chimney fire. Also, do not burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or trash in your fireplace.
• Never leave a fire in a fireplace unattended. Before leaving the house or going to bed, you should make certain to fully extinguish the fire.
• Allow ashes to cool completely before disposing of them, and never empty them directly into a trash can. Place ashes in a covered metal container located at least 10 feet* away from your home and any other building.

Keep the outside of your home and your chimney safe

• Firewood should be stacked at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Your roof and chimney should be kept clean of leaves, pine needles and other debris. Prune trees and branches to keep well-away from your chimney.
• Install a chimney cap with spark arrester to help keep debris, leaves, branches and animals out, and to help prevent burning embers or sparks from escaping and creating a fire hazard.

Keep the inside of your home safe with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

To help make your winter even safer, we recommend that you take the time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A smoke detector is the most effective way to detect smoke from a fire and signal an alarm so that you can get you and your family out safely. A carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the buildup of this dangerous odorless and colorless gas. Make sure you test the detectors monthly, and after you change the batteries to ensure they work properly.

Call Main Street Insurance Agency at 435-674-2221 for more safety tips or to get a free quote.

Have Fun, Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Whether your holiday plans take you to the road, the skies or the sea, or keep you at home, there are some steps you can take to ensure safety doesn't take a back seat to fun.


We hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Give us a call at Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 to get a free quote. We write home, auto, business, workers compensation, bonds, life, health, and more.

Prevent: Pipe Freeze - Breakage - Water Damage

$3.4 billion in property damage from winter storms in early 2014

According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, 25% of businesses involved in a major property disaster do not reopen. Watch the video below to learn PHLY's POINT strategy for protecting your organization from freezing conditions.

Look at this video that gives some good ideas on how to prevent water damage:

Call Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 for more risk management ideas or contact us on our website at www.msiagency.com.

Know Your Policy

We don't want you to suffer a loss and not be covered properly. When things change in our lives (buy new furniture, children get married, etc.), we often forget to call our agent and update our policies to match the changes in our lives. Give us a call at 435-674-2221 and we can review your policy (even if it is not with our office) and make sure you are covered correctly.

Submit for a new quote at www.msiagency.com

Fireworks Safety

200 people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the mount around the 4th of July.

Before you heat out and celebrate, read the #fireworks safety tips from The National Council of Fireworks Safety: http://ow.ly/y8rC1

Main Street Insurance Agency 435-674-2221.
Click here to get a free auto/home quote!

Don't Leave Kids/Animals Alone in Car

Summer is here in Southern Utah. We have to take precautions to help protect our children.

Here are some risks involved:

• It only takes 10 minutes for the temperature to increase 20 degrees.
• Cracking windows does little to keep the car cool.
• With temperatures only in the 60s, your car can heat to well above 110 degrees. Since our outside temperature in Southern Utah can be 110 degrees imagine how hot it can be in your car.
• A child's body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult's.
• Heatstroke can happen when the temperature is as low as 57 degrees outside.
• A child dies when his/her temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Please keep these risks in mind when you think about running into the store for only a few minutes and thinking about leaving your child in the car. For more ideas go to www.safecar.gov.

Main Street Insurance Agency www.msiagency.com 435-674-2221.

Quickly enter your information here to get a home or auto quote.

Bicycle Safety

Adjust your bicycle to fit: 1-2" between you and the top tube (bar) for a road bike and 3-4" on a mountain bike. #BikeSafetyMonth Read more: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pe dbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/

Give us a call at 435-674-2221 or contact us on our website at www.msiagency.com to learn other safety tips for personal and business operations.

Protect Your Home From Wildfires

As warmer weather approaches, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is encouraging homeowners to take steps now to help protect their homes from wildfires.

A prolonged drought in the West has some fire officials worried that 2014 could bring an increase in wildfires after a drop in such activity last year. In 2013, 47,579 reported wildfires burned 4.3 million acres, compared to 67,774 wildfires affecting 9.3 million acres in the prior year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

While California and neighboring states have experienced some of the largest wildfires, the destruction is not confined to the West. In 2013, large wildfires erupted in Colorado, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, among other states—and not just during the driest and hottest months.

“At one time, wildfires were more likely to start in the late summer and early fall—and you could warn homeowners about the approaching ‘wildfire season,’” said Christie Alderman, new products and services manager for Chubb Personal Insurance. “Now, we see wildfires threatening homes throughout the year, and it means homeowners must be more vigilant.”

Alderman said that changing weather patterns may contribute to the unpredictable wildfire season, but it’s also because more people are building homes in the woods to enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. “The downside of living amid nature is that homes are exposed to nature’s wrath, including wildfires,” she said.

Alderman said homeowners who live in high-risk wildfire areas should assess whether their properties are adequately protected from a wildfire. Some steps they can take include:

• Replacing cedar roof shingles with ceramic tiles or other non-flammable materials;
• Replacing flammable shrubs and bushes with fire-resistant plants;
• Covering the chimney and open vents with wire mesh to prevent embers from entering the house;
• Moving propane tanks away from the home;
• Removing debris from gutters and beneath decks; and
• Replacing landscaping mulch with stones or other fire-resistive materials.

Alderman also encourages homeowners to sign up for a wildfire defense service, which could help protect their property in the event of a wildfire. In 14 states, Chubb offers its own Wildfire Defense Services at no charge to policyholders. In addition to providing wildfire education and property risk assessments, the program responds to wildfires through a network of certified wildfire fighters that takes various measures, including moving lawn furniture indoors, setting up temporary perimeter sprinkler systems and, if necessary, applying a highly effective fire-blocking gel to the house. Since its inception in 2008, Chubb’s free loss-prevention service has helped save dozens of homes. Chubb homeowners in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and portions of Texas who have not yet registered for the service can do so online at www.chubbwildfiredefense.com.

For further questions please contact Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 or www.msiagency.com.

Do you know what is on your homeowners policy?

Do you know what's covered in your homeowners policy? Call Main Street Insurance today 435-674-2221!

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Stay Alive - Think and Drive

Every day approximately 92 people lose their life in motor vehicle crashes and don't make it back home. Four out of every five fatal injuries involved a passenger vehicle or a non-vehicle occupant. The most recent full year data shows an increase in the number of fatal injuries and the fatal injury rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

The use of motor vehicles is essential to almost every business operation. A business may not transport their own goods but has people which use motor vehicles to conduct company business or transport workers. Transportation is the leading cause of workplace fatalities and has significant human and financial costs for business, the public, employees and society.

At Main Street Insurance we have resources to help you control the risk of your business auto fleet. 

Give us a call at 435-674-2221 for a free evaluation.

Visit our website www.msiagency.com

Keep Your Children Safe During This School Year

Ensuring a child’s safety is a number one priority. Whether your child walks to school, takes the bus, rides a bike or is driven to school, the National Safety Council offers tips parents can use to make sure their child arrives safely. Here are some of those tips:

Walking

Walking to school is a good way for kids to socialize with their schoolmates and become familiar with the neighborhood. If your youngsters are old enough to walk to school, plan a safe route with the fewest street crossings. Practice the route with them several times until you’re confident they can make the trip safely on their own. If possible, have them walk with friends, since there’s safety in numbers. Don’t forget to discuss traffic safety with your kids and stress the importance of walking on sidewalks.

Biking

Biking to school is great exercise, but accidents can happen. Before letting your kids ride on the streets, be sure they’re familiar with traffic signals and street signs. Instruct them to ride on the right-hand side of the road with the flow of traffic, rather than against it. To help reduce head injuries, have them wear approved bike helmets – regardless of how short the trip. And if they must ride at night, make them visible with proper lighting and reflective clothing.

Taking a Bus

Riding a bus can be a fun and convenient way to get to school. Since most injuries occur while getting on or off the bus, teach your kids school bus safety. Have them wait for the bus on the sidewalk, rather than in the street. When the bus arrives, wait for it to completely stop before boarding. Tell them to follow the bus driver’s instructions and remind them not to push or shove. Exit the bus holding the handrails to avoid slipping and falling. Lastly, remind them to walk 10 steps in front of the bus so they can see the bus driver before crossing the street.

Getting a Ride

While it may seem safe to drive your kids to school, there are measures you can take to help prevent car injuries. If your children are too young to wear seatbelts, place them in age and weight appropriate car seats or booster seats. Allow enough travel time so you don’t have to speed. Never text or use your phone while driving. There will be children going to school along your route that may cross the road unexpectedly. As you approach a school, slow down and watch out for kids darting into the streets.