STAY SAFE & TOASTY WARM this Holiday Season
It’s especially easy to get pulled away from the stove around the holidays, when family and friends gather to celebrate. So if you’re cooking this year, check out these tips recommended by the Home Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to prevent fires and burns. COOK UP SAFELY Always stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Use a timer to remind you that you have food simmering, baking, roasting or boiling. Keep things that burn (dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, paper towels and curtains) at least 3 feet away from the stovetop. Keep your cooking area clean. Do not let grease build up on the range top, toaster oven or in the oven. Check your outlets. Kitchen electrical outlets should have ground-fault circuit
interrupters (GFCIs).This can prevent dangerous shock and some electrical fires by interrupting the flow of the electric current, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you don’t have them, contact an electrician to install them in your home. CHECK YOUR COVERAGE As a basic precaution, purchase a home, tenant or condominium insurance policy.These usually come in two coverage varieties. Named perils policies specifically list the perils for which they provide coverage. A peril is a specific risk or cause of loss covered by the policy, such as a fire, windstorm or theft. Open perils policies provide coverage for all perils except those specifically listed as being excluded. There are also two main settlement varieties. Replacement cost settlements pay today's cost to rebuild or replace a structure with materials of like kind and quality. Actual cash value settlements will deduct for depreciation due to age and condition of the property. For more information about coverage and protecting your home from a devastating fire, contact an Erie Insurance Agent. TIPS FOR SAFE AND COST EFFECTIVE HOME HEATING Checking your furnace can lower operating costs, protect your family against fire hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning and prevent your furnace from quitting at an inopportune time, such as in the middle of a dark and snowy night. FURNACE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST Try these steps to help your heating system operate safely,
efficiently and economically all season long: Turn off the electricity or gas to the furnace and replace the filter. If you haven't regularly cleaned or replaced the filter, do it now and check it throughout the heating season. A clean filter will operate more efficiently. If you have a central air conditioning system that operates with the furnace blower, count on replacing the filter more often. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Remove dust from the furnace. Get all the crevices cleaned of dust.Vacuum the base and grills. And be sure to clear obstacles to the vents so air can freely flow. Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home at set times throughout the week. A properly programmed thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs, according to ENERGY STAR. Check for carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide can be detected with an inexpensive test badge or battery operated alarm. Call the pros.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends scheduling a professional inspection each year for your furnace and all fuel-burning home heating systems, including boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents. IS IT TIME FOR A NEW FURNACE? READ ON... If your furnace is more than 15 years old, ENERGY STAR recommends replacing it. However, if the furnace is in good working condition, you may want to live with it for a while longer unless you have a large house, lots
MARISCOTTI INSURANCE AGENCY 324 Third St., California (724) 938-9302 A commitment of spirit, pride & service in our community
www.mariscottiinsurance.com
of windows, high heating bills or a combination of all three. High-efficiency furnaces are 15% more efficient than conventional furnaces. WE’RE HERE TO HELP Just as you would schedule a professional furnace inspection each year, you should also meet with your local ERIE Agent for an annual insurance review. Your Agent will help ensure that your home is insured properly and your family is well protected. Contact your ERIE Agent today. This information provided courtesy of Mariscotti Insurance Agency, 324 Third Street, California. Need coverage? Have a question? Call us at 724-938-9302. Merry Christmas to you and yours from all of us at Mariscotti Insurance!