The summer months raise the risk of fire and the dangers that go along with fires rise. We get our share of questions, especially from homeowners, centering around fire safety. Below we answer some of the more frequent questions we receive in the hope of keeping your summer safe.

Grilling & Propane

It’s grilling time! But please, before you spark up the grill, stay safe by wearing loose-fitting clothes; never use a grill in any type of enclosed location; if using a gas grill, check the connections on the propane tank between the fuel line and the tank; and watch where you place your lighter fluid, as a stray flame can ignite this liquid in an instant.

Smoke Detectors

Even though the warm weather diverts your attention to the outdoors, remember to test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. We suggest having at least one smoke and carbon monoxide detector on every floor, including one in an attached garage and one in your basement. The more detectors, the better…placing them in bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, stairways, laundry rooms, and furnace rooms makes for better coverage and means better protection for your home and family. We also suggest changing the batteries twice a year, once when you “Spring ahead” your clocks and once again when you “Fall behind” on your clocks.

Air Conditioners

House fires can also be caused by air conditioning units. During the hot summer months, air conditioners can become overworked, overheated, and easily overlooked. Regularly cleaning the filter, occasionally changing the filter, avoiding extension cords or power strips, making sure the unit is clear of any surrounding combustible material and having your conditioner checked over at least once a year by a certified HVAC technician, will help ensure that your home and your family remain safe.

Appliances & Electronics

Consider that your stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, computer, and fan generate heat and pose a potential fire hazard. Look around these devices for loose connections, frayed wires, overtasked extension cords, and combustible material. A fire inside your home is anyone’s worst nightmare, and by simply being observant and proactive regarding your appliances, you can help avoid such a tragedy.

Fire Extinguishers

Fireproof your home by keeping fire extinguishers handy, by properly disposing of flammable material in your basement or garage, by having your furnace checked by a qualified professional, and by simply using good common sense and making good choices when it comes to candles, matches, and, once again, all electrical appliances.

Insurcomm Is Your One Point Of Contact

The bottom line is that these summer months present a wonderful and exciting time to bond with family, especially after our long New England winter! To get in touch with the Insurcomm fire team and learn more about fire damage cleanup and repair please visit our fire page. If a fire does occur please call us 24/7 at 844-424-9283.

When water freezes it expands. When this occurs pipes are likely to burst which can mean disaster for your home or business. Rarely, the best outcome from frozen pipes is the loss of water. More likely, once pipes freeze they split and burst – causing severe flood damage.

Water loss is a headache. Flood damage is a disaster. The best way to avoid the problem is prevention. A few easy tips can prepare your water pipes for the frigid weather to come.

6 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes

If you’ve heard the quote “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” it definitely applies to water pipes. Use these tips to protect your pipes from the winter weather freeze.

1. Keep your temperature up.

It’s not unusual to be away from your home or your business during winter holidays. If outside temperatures drop below freezing, your pipes are at risk. Keeping indoor temperatures above 55 degrees can make all the difference. When you are at home, don’t turn down the heat at night. A consistent temperature will help keep your pipes at a safe temperature.

2. Let the Faucet Trickle.

Fast flowing creeks and rivers don’t usually freeze. When they do, freezing begins where water moves slowly. The same thing applies to the water in your pipes. A slight trickle usually prevents your pipes from freezing. If ice does form, the open faucet will relieve pressure build-up. Water pressure is what usually causes pipes to rupture.

3. Open Cabinet Doors.

Most sinks have cabinets below them that hide water pipes. Open these cabinet doors when temperatures are colder than usual. This action can allow extra heat to reach the pipes. It’s also a good idea to leave all inside doors open to allow heat to circulate freely throughout the building.

4. Insulate Pipes.

Before the temperature gets too cold, consider adding insulation to your exposed pipes. Foam or other types of insulation can be fitted to pipes to help them stay closer to the temperature of the water. Pipes inside walls are often more protected from the existing insulation. Exposed pipes may be found in the basement, attic, or crawl-spaces beneath a home.

5. Seal the Gaps.

Gaps may occur around where pipes come into the building. Cracks and gaps let in cold air which may be restricted to the area where your pipes are most vulnerable. Seal these spaces with foam insulation or caulk. Repairs on both interior and exterior sides of the wall will ensure no cold air can enter the building. If there are cracked or broken windows in the attic or basement, they should be repaired as well.

6. Locate Your Main Water Valve.

Before frigid weather occurs, find your main water shut-off valve. If a disaster occurs, you will need to turn off the water as quickly as possible. When you are out of town, you will need to be able to tell others where to locate the valve.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

If your pipes freeze, there are things you can do to get water flowing again. Turning on a faucet to only see a trickle of water can be worrisome but don’t panic. There is likely ice somewhere in the pipes. It’s important to be careful when thawing pipes. If a line has already burst, water can flood the home as pipes thaw. When you know a pipe is broken, shut off the main water valve.

Apply heat to the frozen section of pipe using a hair dryer or heating pad. (Never use an open flame since pipes could be damaged or a fire could result.) Apply heat until full pressure is restored. Don’t forget to check other faucets to ensure more pipes are not frozen.

Sometimes, the most careful planning cannot prepare you for what mother nature has in store. In the event you experience frozen and burst water pipes, it is important to take action immediately. Water damage begins quickly and continues long after the event that caused it. The professionals at Insurcomm will respond immediately to your water emergency to assess the damage and begin necessary repairs. As New England’s leading restoration company, we provide emergency services to commercial and residential clients in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

An ice dam can develop on the roof of any home when snowy or icy conditions are present. The damage from an ice dam can be significant, but the good news is that these dams can be prevented when proper precautions are taken. By learning more about what ice dams are and how they are formed, you can understand what it takes to prevent them and to deal with them if they do develop on your roof.

What Is An Ice Dam?

When you think about snow or ice accumulating on your roof, you may think about a relatively even layer of frozen precipitation over the entire surface. However, several factors may cause uneven heating on the roof. For example, internal heat from the home may not penetrate through the roof evenly. Sunlight and shading from trees, the chimney, and nearby structures may also result in uneven heating on the roof. Uneven heating may result in snow or ice melting in some areas of the roof and not in others. The water will run down the roof until it hits a colder space, and it may re-freeze. When this happens, thick ice will accumulate, and this creates pooling water just above the ice dam. Unfortunately, a roof is designed to be impermeable to water that is flowing downward. It is not impermeable to water that pools on the roof. Water leaks are one of the most significant types of property damage associated with ice dams. They may also result in damaged gutters, fascia, soffits and more.  

Preventing an Ice Dam

The good news is that you can prevent this type of damage from occurring if you take a few steps. Ideally, your entire roof will remain cold, and no internal heat will impact its surface temperature. To accomplish this, you need to have high-quality insulation evenly spaced throughout the attic. You may also need to reseal some areas. Improving attic ventilation can also be helpful. Before winter arrives, take a closer look at trees near the home. Trees can grow substantially during the warm weather season, so branches and limbs that were not a problem last year may result in uneven roof heating this year. Pruning and trimming before winter arrives is a helpful preventative step.

Removing an Ice Dam

If you notice signs of an ice dam forming, you may be inclined to grab an ice pick or another sharp tool and start chipping away at the ice. However, that can result in tremendous damage to the roof. Salt may be helpful, but it can fall off of the roof and harm your vegetation. There are a few safer and effective ways to deal with an ice dam. For example, you may place a box fan in the attic to promote improved circulation. You may also use a special raking device that is made specifically for this purpose. This special rake may change the temperature of the roof almost immediately. Another idea is to use calcium chloride as a deicer. Or, cat litter! An easy way to apply the calcium chloride or cat litter to the roof is to stuff it into a pair of nylon pantyhose.

Dealing with Water Damage

If you remove an ice dam quickly, you may not have to deal with the effects of water damage from a roof leak. However, if you are like many others, you may not realize that an ice dam has formed until it is too late. Insurcomm is your leading source for water damage repair from ice dams and other issues throughout New England. We provide our clients with a fast response and effective remediation and restoration services. Water damage may become more problematic over time, so it is best to address this issue head-on.

The best time to prepare for an ice dam is well before cold winter weather arrives. Spending time improving ventilation, and insulation throughout the attic and pruning tree branches are essential before each winter season arrives. You also need to be observant throughout the winter so that you can take pre-emptive steps if an ice dam begins to form. Reach out to Insurcomm immediately for restoration services if your home is damaged by water.

There are times that you must use a generator for power at your home or business, so it is essential to have this equipment available when you need it. Here are the most common reasons for using a generator: 

• Requiring power for essential medical devices 
• Requiring power for space heaters or an air conditioner 
• To provide power for security equipment 
• Preventing food spoilage 
• Removing water from a basement 
• Coping with power outages 

If you are going to use a generator, then safety has to be a top priority. Here are 12 tips to follow when using a generator. 

Tip 1: Keep a Generator Outside 

Never use a generator inside because it emits dangerous fumes. Avoid using a generator on a covered porch or close to trees where there isn’t enough ventilation. 

Tip 2: Plug the Generator into the Inlet Box or Transfer Switch 

You can’t plug a generator into a regular wall outlet because it won’t have any protection from surges. Doing so can both damage your generator as well as the electrical system in your home. It is always best to have a licensed electrician perform all hookups and walk you through how to operate the unit.   

Tip 3: Turning On the Generator 

Make sure to turn on the generator first before plugging in other equipment or appliances. Don’t overload the generator with too many devices because it can harm the equipment. 

Tip 4: Keep the Generator Dry 

It is dangerous to use a wet generator, so you must place the equipment on a dry surface, and also, protect it from rainwater or snowmelt. 

Tip 5: Add Fuel to the Generator Correctly 

If you have a fuel-operated generator, then turn the machine off until it cools completely. Add the proper fuel carefully to avoid any problems from explosions or flames. 

Tip 6: Read the Generator’s Manual 

Always read the generator’s operating manual before using the equipment, and also, make sure to read it again if it has been a while since you last used the device. 

Tip 7: Turn the Generator in the Proper Direction 

Make that the exhaust gases from your generator are not entering a home or any other structure. These gases are often lethal for animals and people. 

Tip 8: Choose the Right Type of Extension Cord for Your Generator 

When you need an extension cord for your generator, make sure to buy the right type. A flimsy extension cord that you would use for a lamp at home isn’t suitable for a generator. Instead, make sure to get a higher gauge extension cord. 

Tip 9: Stay Near the Generator 

Don’t leave a generator alone while it is in operation, especially when you have children or family pets. Teach your children to stay away from the generator at all times. 

Tip 10: Wear Gloves While Working with the Generator 

A generator gets hot quickly, so you should make sure to wear gloves while handling the device. Look for gloves that have heat-resistant material. 

Tip 11: Store Generator Fuel Safely 

When you use fuel for a generator rather than using electricity, you must store it safely. Use the proper containers for the fuel and place the containers in a proper storage area. 

Tip 12: Don’t Use a Grill or Cookstove Near the Generator 

The flames and gases from a cookstove or barbecue grill can combine with the heat and exhaust from the generator, leading to dangerous fumes or potential explosions. 

When you need emergency services due to inclement weather conditions or a disaster such as a flood, call Insurcomm. Our knowledgeable staff understands proper generator safety. Insurcomm is available 24/7 for any emergency situation to help you when you need it most. 

SOMERSWORTH — A veteran whose home was nearly destroyed by fire, received a very meaningful gift Wednesday because someone asked the right question.

Willie Little lost his three dogs in a fire on Oct. 9, 2015. The two-alarm blaze nearly destroyed his home and all of his possessions.

Members of the 1-800-BoardUp team that came to the scene that day learned that Little was a veteran and called on New Hampshire Vet to Vet for help.

Ken Stanley, of NH Vet to Vet, is also an outreach specialist for “Ask the Question,” an initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services to help veterans get the services they need.

Stanley said the program urges emergency responders, medical personnel, and human services professionals on intake to ask, “Have you or a family member ever served in the military?”

According to Stanley, that one question can open the door to much-needed services.

In Little’s case, it led to an emotional reunion with a fellow unit member from his time in Iraq and replacement items for those lost in the fire.

Dennis Cote and John Cunningham of 1-800-BoardUp asked Little if he was a veteran, then contacted Stanley. At the time they had no idea that Stanley and Little had served together.

Please see the full article on Fosters.com: http://www.fosters.com/news/20160601/veterans-military-mementos-replaced-after-fire