Morgan Insurance Blog

Preparation for Extreme Weather

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:09:28 GMT

Extreme weather events are becoming more common across the United States. These events can be a threat to your home and its inhabitants if you don’t take precautions. Follow these nine essential tips to stay safe and minimize the risk of danger to your residence when bad weather strikes.

Service Your HVAC System Regularly

In the spring and fall, have your HVAC system serviced professionally so it’s ready for the coming weather season. In the fall, check over the furnace and replace old filters. In the spring, make sure the air conditioning is working properly and trim back any plants encroaching on outdoor compressor units.

Prevent Burst Pipes

Burst pipes can result in huge plumbing expenses and interior water damage. You can prevent this by ensuring your pipes are properly insulated against freezing and by knowing what to do in a cold snap:

Apply insulation to pipes in cold areas of the home.
Use insulation in walls where pipes run.
Know the signs of pipes subject to freezing, such as condensation or frost on their exterior.
Open under-sink cabinet doors during deep freezes to allow room heat to warm pipes.
Never turn off the heat when temperatures approach freezing, even if you won’t be home.
If your power goes out and you worry about freezing pipes, open your taps to a slight drip to help keep them from freezing completely.

Sign Up for Power Outage and Other Emergency Alerts

Whenever possible, enroll in your area’s alert system for power outages and other emergencies. Many regions now have mobile device apps and alerts for when power will be cut due to fire risk, for example, or when a serious storm is approaching.

Keep Your Electronics Charged

During times when extreme weather is likely, it is a good idea to keep your devices and flashlights fully charged. Consider investing in a lithium battery pack to charge them when the power goes out. A battery-powered radio is also great to have around for emergency broadcasts.

Have a Safe Emergency Lighting Option

While candles used to be the old standby for power outages, there are safer options if you need light. The battery pack chargers mentioned above often come standard with an LED light, which you can supplement with flashlights. Most smartphones also have a bright flashlight feature. Electric candles and battery-powered camping lanterns are other smart choices.

Store Food, Water, and Essential Personal Items for Emergencies

Don’t forget to keep emergency supplies on hand for times when the power goes out. Stock up on these items in advance:

Nonperishable food items
Foods you can eat without cooking if you don’t have a gas stove you can light manually
An extra can opener
Batteries in the sizes you need
Drinking water, including enough for pets
Extra water for washing and cleaning (wipes and dry shampoo are handy, too)
Personal care and essential household items
Medications and first-aid supplies
Battery-powered fans and cooling bandanas
Emergency heat blankets or sleeping bags
Hand and foot warmer packs

Understand Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risks

Every year, during extreme weather events, Americans suffer tragic deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning. This is usually due to using things like using outdoor grills inside or trying to provide heat by turning on a gas stove, both of which are dangerous and should never be done.

Combustion of gas, wood, and charcoal without the proper ventilation can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) in the air, which can be fatal if inhaled, as it replaces oxygen in the bloodstream. Signs of CO poisoning include sleepiness, loss of consciousness, confusion, and blue hands, feet, and lips. Call 911 immediately if you or a family member experience these symptoms.

Never use outdoor grills or camp stoves indoors, and never use your oven for heat. Make sure your fireplace and chimney are clean before using them in cold weather. Buy a few carbon monoxide detectors for your home to alert you if dangerous levels of CO are present.

Make Sure Everyone in Your Family and Community Are Safe, Too

Remember to check in on family members and others in your community during extreme weather emergencies. People who are especially vulnerable include folks who live alone, seniors, families with babies, and those who are disabled.

Have an Emergency Plan If You Must Leave Your Home

Finally, develop an emergency plan in case staying in your home isn’t feasible due to extreme temperatures or storm damage. Know ahead of time where you can head for shelter and heating or cooling, such as public libraries, schools, and other facilities designated for assistance. When you plan in advance, you’ll stay safer and worry less, no matter when bad weather visits your town.

4 Important Tips to Help you Choose the Right Home Repair Professional

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:09:28 GMT

Your home is in need of some repairs, but you don't want just anyone in your home. Hiring a home repair professional can be stressful since it's crucial that you find one that you can trust. But finding the perfect home repair professional doesn't have to be a headache. Before hiring, you should be sure that your home is insured in case of a covered loss.

Check out our three tips to help you find the perfect one.

Talk to them on the phone. With nearly everything online these days, it's easy to check out a company's website and want to hire them on the spot. The only problem is, reading their website isn't the same as talking to them over the phone or in person. Before signing on the dotted line with your home repair professional, you should call them on the phone to talk over details of your project like what they can do for you, how much they'll charge, and more. You'll also be able to get a feel for their personality and determine if they're someone that you'd like working on your home.
Check out their reviews and testimonials. Reviews and testimonials are a great way to determine the quality of a home repair professional. Testimonials are extremely effective because they're unsolicited comments on the company - and they're all positive comments. Customers aren't forced to give testimonials, and when they give them, you know that it's because the service was amazing. You'll also want to check out reviews to see if the positive ones outweigh the negative ones.
Determine your budget and stick with it. To find the right home repair specialist for you, they have to fit within your budget. If they don't you could find yourself in financial turmoil when there are plenty of options out there that do fit your budget. Be sure to get a quote before you sign on with a specific repair company, and have your budget in mind when you talk to them. If you go into a conversation with an open budget, you're much more likely to overspend.
Make sure they are properly insured. Independent contractors should have the proper insurance coverage in place before they start work on your home. It is always a good idea to double check proof of insurance to ensure the repair professional and your property is covered.

Follow these four tips to help you find the perfect home repair professional that fits your needs.

Simple Household Pest Control Methods

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:09:28 GMT

No one likes the thought of having pests in their home, whether they be rodents, cockroaches, ants, or any other common household pests. If pest activity is common in your area, it is important to take steps to prevent them from infesting your home. Try these tips to help keep pests at bay over the years.

Seal Off Access Points

The best way to prevent pest infestations is to stop the pests from ever getting inside your house in the first place. To do this, you'll need to ensure there is no way for them to gain access. Check the weather stripping around your doors and windows, and ensure all vents are covered with screens. This includes in the eaves around your roof, as attics are common homes for pests.

Store Food Properly

Pests typically come inside looking for sources of food, so your goal is to make that task as challenging for them as possible. Once you have opened a package of food, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container rather than leaving it in the package. Pantries are the most common areas for pests to look for food, so make sure everything is sealed up tightly. The same goes for pet food. Invest in a storage container or choose pet food that comes in a resealable bag. If possible, keep it inside the house rather than in the garage.

Use Natural Deterrents

Before you resort to chemical pest control substances, try planting some natural pest deterrents, such as mint, basil, and lavender. Your local nursery or garden store can help you select varieties that are appropriate to the climate in your area, so don't be shy about asking. They can also advise you as to how to properly care for the plants to maximize their pest-deterring properties.

Know When to Call in the Professionals

Despite your best efforts, you may still end up with pests in your home. Particularly with wood borers, such as termites and carpenter ants, time is of the essence in getting rid of them to prevent damage. You generally won't be able to get rid of these types of pests on your own, so be sure to call in a pest control expert right away if you suspect you have an infestation. Regular visits from your pest control service can help keep most other common pests away as well, so you may wish to consider investing in an ongoing service if pests are a constant problem in your home.

Keep your Home Safe While You're Away with These 5 Tips

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:09:28 GMT

Are you planning your next big family vacation? Maybe you’re traveling for business, or need to be away from home for a few days. Although we don't like to think about the possibility of our home being damaged or burglarized while we're away, it's something to consider to ensure that it stays safe - and in one piece for your return.

Check out our five tips for ensuring that your home is safe while you're away.

Be sure to check all outlets before you leave. This may sound like a no-brainer, but checking all of the electrical outlets before you leave your home is a must. If you leave something that creates heat plugged in, like a curling iron or coffee pot, it could result in a fire. Taking a few minutes to do a once-over before you leave to ensure that all appliances are unplugged before you leave will give you peace of mind.
Lock all doors and all windows, even the ones that you don't think are easily accessible. One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is not checking all of their doors and windows before they leave. You want to be sure to check even the doors that you don't think are accessible from the outside - like the doors to your home from your attached garage, and other internal entrance points, like from your basement to your main level. This will ensure that you have various levels of protection in the event of a break in.
If you normally leave the blinds open, do so. You want to leave things looking as normal as possible, and not leave any reason for passersby to think that you're gone. Keep your home safe by leaving some blinds open to give people the impression that someone is still in the home.
Stop the mail for the time period that you're gone. Like we mentioned in the previous tip, you want to give the impression that you're still home. If passersby see that your mailbox is bursting at the seams, they might get the idea that you're gone, which is exactly what you want to avoid. Stop your mail delivery for the time period that you're gone, so that you don't have to worry about people becoming suspicious.
Insure your home properly. With proper home insurance, you can travel in peace. Be sure to talk with Morgan Insurance about the right coverage for your home.

Now go enjoy a much-needed vacation!