Had to break down and turn on the heat last night. I enjoy the colder weather, but the family was complaining that it was too cold. It's a good thing that I had the furnace serviced a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, many people let their service go because they need to save some money, but that can lead to a major hazard, the oil burner puff back!
What You Need to Know
A puff back can be caused by a malfunction of the combustion chamber inside the oil burner. Explosions can be caused by the oil vapors which build up inside the oil burnerThis may seem like a harmful and frightening situation. However, if the fumes made by the malfunctioned gas burners revert back to the vents and air ducts in your home, it can cause damage to the home and will lead to poor indoor air quality and can heavily affect the air circulation as well.
Anything that comes into contact with the fumes will be covered in petroleum based particles and soot when that malfunction happens. There is a misconception that puff backs basically mean that dust is being blown back. However, the proper definition is that it is a release of oil-based particles that can do much more damage compared to dust.
When it comes to puff backs, there are primarily two ways they can spread: either they spread rapidly or they can spread gradually. Often times, puff backs appear as dark circles on your ceilings, walls and furniture. This makes it hard to notice there is actually an on-going problem happening. You might even think that they are just dirty finger prints. It may seem like only dirt or dust but when you try removing it you will realize that it is actually oil-based and cannot be removed easily.
On the other hand, there are also times when puff backs are extremely rapid. In just a short span of time, this may cause severe damage to your property and your house as well. When this happens, you will notice that everything will start to get covered by soot and you should take the necessary precautions since a potential explosion can occur.
How to Handle Puff Back Situations
Keep in mind that you need to act quickly so that you can minimize the damage if you notice any sort of puff back. When it comes to restorations in terms of what has been damaged by puff back residue and soot, the best thing to do is to hire a restoration service professional. However, if you don’t have the means to hire a professional restoration service, there are still a few ways you can handle the situation yourself. Always remember to wear a protective mask and the right disposable clothing so you can prevent direct contact with the toxic soot.
Checking the furnace and the oil burner is the very first thing you should inspect. Testing should be your priority since this may very well be the primary source of the problem. It is highly recommended that you seek the help of a professional technician. Eliminating the source of the problem before treating its effects should be one of the first things you should do. The malfunctioning oil burner is the main source of the problem.
If you have a gas leak inside your house, it can lead to higher levels of carbon dioxide that can be extremely hazardous to your family’s health. This situation may also be considered as a puff back. The carbon dioxide levels must be tested if you are experiencing dizziness or nausea when you are inside your house.
Installing carbon dioxide monitors is advisable so that the carbon dioxide levels can be tested frequently. When you notice carbon dioxide levels increasing slowly, this is a clear indicator of a gradual puff back and this need to be addressed until it worsens. Make sure you take the initiative and inspect if there are any problems with your oil burners or if there are any gas leaks when you start seeing that the levels of carbon dioxide in your house are rising.
Puff Back Restoration Services
Professional puff back restorations offer various services, including specialized vacuuming services. Since ordinary vacuums cannot clean puff backs, professional services use a heavy duty vacuum to remove the soot from the surface and store it instead of allowing it blow out into the air. Another service would be structural cleaning, which restores your house to its original state if the whole house or parts of it is affected by puff backs. The extreme options would be demolition or a complete shut down if the majority of the property is affected.
Upholstered furniture and carpets are prone to soot since it is an oil-based material. Hence, this will make it difficult to remove on your carpets and upholstered furniture. Restoration services should be able to remove the soot using their specialized methods. Moreover, since a smoky odor may be emitted by puff backs as well, puff back restoration services apply odor removal processes to eliminate the odor from the affected areas. If a puff back adheres to your clothes, the best thing to do would be to ask restoration services to wash and dry clean them so they can be restored to their original state. Even if you think you can wash the clothes on your own, you may not have the cleaning agents and the necessary appliances to clean the clothes well.
Preventive Tips on How to Deal with Puff Backs
When it comes to puff backs, the best thing to do is to implement preventive measures. To be able to make sure that you won’t fall victim to puff backs, it is highly advisable to make routine checks on your oil burners and furnace. Acting immediately by getting in touch with a restoration service as soon as possible to minimize the extent of the damage is another important thing to do if you find yourself in a dire puff back situation.
Some home insurance policies protect you from the puff backs, so the cost of the cleanup should be covered. But it is better to avoid the situation by taking the time to have a routine check of your heating system every year. Call us now to see if you have this valuable coverage.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
More Rain, water damage and flooded basements
We had a break on Wednesday, but the rain is really coming down today. We have been getting many calls about water damage and basements being flooded. The questions always come out as to what to do, so here are some helpful hints as to what is covered and what is not:
Water Damage: Most home policies will cover from water damage, except from a flood. So if you have water in the basement that is seeping in, this is normally excluded. If you have a roof leak, you need to determine where the leak is coming from.
We had some pretty powerful winds last night, so you might be missing shingles. If that is the case, then the shingles and water damage should be covered. If there is evidence that there has been a leak for a long period of time, then it wouldn't be covered.
Home insurance covers an event. This is know as "Sudden and Accidental" damage. If you have mold or rot, then the damage has been there over a long period of time, which is caused by maintenance. So if your roof is old and leaky, the new water damage should be covered, but not the roof.
Basement Flooding: The amount of rain we are having is causing the ground to be so saturated, that the water is looking for a place to go. Basements are usually the first place to have a problem. Some people have French Drains or Sump Pumps because this is common in their area. If you have water back up coverage, and the drain or sump pump gets backed up, the damage would be covered.
If you have Flood Insurance, damage to your home and mechanical equipment in the basement would be covered by ground water. Contents aren't covered, so furniture and personal belongings won't be covered. Just the walls, electrical outlets and wires, washer, dryer, refrigerator, a/c, heating, and other permanent part of the house would be covered by flood.
What to do: The first thing to do if you have water damage is to stop further damage. Get someone to patch the roof, or get a pump to get the water out of the basement. Then you need to get someone to clean up the damage. Mold can be a problem, so you need to minimize it. There are companies that specialize in water damage cleanups out there. Many insurance companies will send one out just to stop further damage.
If the damage is minimal, you might not want to file a claim. Home insurance rates in New York have been climbing because of all of the recent storms that we have had over the past two years. On Long Island, it is getting tougher to get coverage, especially on the South Shore. Fortunately, I have several companies who have great rates to help. If you have any questions, give us a call. 888-900-2173
Water Damage: Most home policies will cover from water damage, except from a flood. So if you have water in the basement that is seeping in, this is normally excluded. If you have a roof leak, you need to determine where the leak is coming from.
We had some pretty powerful winds last night, so you might be missing shingles. If that is the case, then the shingles and water damage should be covered. If there is evidence that there has been a leak for a long period of time, then it wouldn't be covered.
Home insurance covers an event. This is know as "Sudden and Accidental" damage. If you have mold or rot, then the damage has been there over a long period of time, which is caused by maintenance. So if your roof is old and leaky, the new water damage should be covered, but not the roof.
Basement Flooding: The amount of rain we are having is causing the ground to be so saturated, that the water is looking for a place to go. Basements are usually the first place to have a problem. Some people have French Drains or Sump Pumps because this is common in their area. If you have water back up coverage, and the drain or sump pump gets backed up, the damage would be covered.
If you have Flood Insurance, damage to your home and mechanical equipment in the basement would be covered by ground water. Contents aren't covered, so furniture and personal belongings won't be covered. Just the walls, electrical outlets and wires, washer, dryer, refrigerator, a/c, heating, and other permanent part of the house would be covered by flood.
What to do: The first thing to do if you have water damage is to stop further damage. Get someone to patch the roof, or get a pump to get the water out of the basement. Then you need to get someone to clean up the damage. Mold can be a problem, so you need to minimize it. There are companies that specialize in water damage cleanups out there. Many insurance companies will send one out just to stop further damage.
If the damage is minimal, you might not want to file a claim. Home insurance rates in New York have been climbing because of all of the recent storms that we have had over the past two years. On Long Island, it is getting tougher to get coverage, especially on the South Shore. Fortunately, I have several companies who have great rates to help. If you have any questions, give us a call. 888-900-2173
Friday, September 17, 2010
No Hurricanes, but a Tornado?
Here we are in the peak of Hurricane Season, and we get hit with a nasty wind and hail storm, and possibly a tornado! If this doesn't make you question if you have the right coverage on your home insurance, then nothing will.
Most home policies have some kind of wind or hurricane deductible today. Usually there is some kind of a starting point, such as a specific wind speed, or a certain level of a hurricane. The wind and hurricane deductibles will mean that you have a separate deductible for wind damage. So if you have a fire, which is a lower probability, you will have a $500 or $1000 deductible for example. But if there is wind damage, it could be $1000, or a percentage of the insured value of your home.
So if your house is insured for $200,000, and you have a 5% deductible, you will pay for the first $10,000 of damage before your insurance company pays to fix your home. That is a lot of money! It is important to know what you have before you need it. If your company or broker haven't told you, you need a new company.
Why are companies doing this? Because the "reinsurance" that they used to buy either isn't available, or has these types of clauses in their policies. That's right, most insurance companies buy insurance themselves. They make most of their money on the "reserves" that they invest, but can't keep enough aside to cover a major catastrophe.
Homes cost a lot more to repair, and in NY, the population is so dense, that most companies can't handle the potential payout of a major storm. One major company just took a 30% increase in rates because of the possibility of a major storm hitting, and them having to pay out on wind damage. Others have restricted where they will write business. They are all relying on some kind of a deductible to help spread their risk.
What can you do? Call me, or fax me a copy of your policy. I will decipher the insurance language to tell you what you have. Many companies want you to deal directly with them because they know that you won't be able to understand or read the fine print. So they cut their rates, and leave you high and dry when you have a claim.
So act now before the next storm hits, and you have to decipher what is covered, and how much you are out of pocket on a claim! 888-900-2173
Most home policies have some kind of wind or hurricane deductible today. Usually there is some kind of a starting point, such as a specific wind speed, or a certain level of a hurricane. The wind and hurricane deductibles will mean that you have a separate deductible for wind damage. So if you have a fire, which is a lower probability, you will have a $500 or $1000 deductible for example. But if there is wind damage, it could be $1000, or a percentage of the insured value of your home.
So if your house is insured for $200,000, and you have a 5% deductible, you will pay for the first $10,000 of damage before your insurance company pays to fix your home. That is a lot of money! It is important to know what you have before you need it. If your company or broker haven't told you, you need a new company.
Why are companies doing this? Because the "reinsurance" that they used to buy either isn't available, or has these types of clauses in their policies. That's right, most insurance companies buy insurance themselves. They make most of their money on the "reserves" that they invest, but can't keep enough aside to cover a major catastrophe.
Homes cost a lot more to repair, and in NY, the population is so dense, that most companies can't handle the potential payout of a major storm. One major company just took a 30% increase in rates because of the possibility of a major storm hitting, and them having to pay out on wind damage. Others have restricted where they will write business. They are all relying on some kind of a deductible to help spread their risk.
What can you do? Call me, or fax me a copy of your policy. I will decipher the insurance language to tell you what you have. Many companies want you to deal directly with them because they know that you won't be able to understand or read the fine print. So they cut their rates, and leave you high and dry when you have a claim.
So act now before the next storm hits, and you have to decipher what is covered, and how much you are out of pocket on a claim! 888-900-2173
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Earl has passed, but Peak Hurricane Season is Here!
Recent heavy rains across the United States serve as another reminder that NOW is the time to protect your family, home and/or business with flood insurance. Late summer and early fall marks the beginning of peak hurricane season - the most active time of the year for hurricanes and tropical storms - and you need to be prepared should a storm hit your community in the upcoming months. Most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover flood damage and once purchased, there is typically a 30-day waiting period for a flood insurance policy to become effective.
The Risk is Real
Hurricanes and tropical storms bring drenching rains and high winds that can cause significant damage to a home or business and its contents. The largest amounts of rainfall from hurricanes are often produced by slow moving storms that move inland. Some of the worst damage from recent hurricanes has occurred hundreds or thousands of miles from the coast - as far north as New York in the case of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and through much of the Midwest and into Pennsylvania because of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Earl passed by with a lot of publicity, but no punch. However, all it would take was a change in course of a few miles to the West, and it would have been a different story. We are way overdue for a major storm to hit, and all it would take is a tropical storm to cause local flooding. Look at Riverhead, NY earlier this year. Those people still aren't back in their homes, and are waiting for the government to bail them out! (Pun intended)
Costly Consequences
Eight of the top ten most expensive federally-declared disasters have been caused by hurricanes. Just inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage and last year, the average individual flood insurance claim was nearly $28,000. Without flood insurance protection, many property owners may have to absorb the financial losses on their own, potentially draining their savings.
Protect Your Home or Business Now!
You need to get covered before a storm could impact your community and home. Flood insurance has a 30 day waiting period, and is more affordable than you may think. The average flood insurance policy is around $579 a year and in moderate-to-low-risk areas, Preferred Risk Policies start as low as $119 a year (that's equal to $10 a month or 33 cents a day
Call now to see how you can get this valuable coverage - 888-900-2173
The Risk is Real
Hurricanes and tropical storms bring drenching rains and high winds that can cause significant damage to a home or business and its contents. The largest amounts of rainfall from hurricanes are often produced by slow moving storms that move inland. Some of the worst damage from recent hurricanes has occurred hundreds or thousands of miles from the coast - as far north as New York in the case of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and through much of the Midwest and into Pennsylvania because of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Earl passed by with a lot of publicity, but no punch. However, all it would take was a change in course of a few miles to the West, and it would have been a different story. We are way overdue for a major storm to hit, and all it would take is a tropical storm to cause local flooding. Look at Riverhead, NY earlier this year. Those people still aren't back in their homes, and are waiting for the government to bail them out! (Pun intended)
Costly Consequences
Eight of the top ten most expensive federally-declared disasters have been caused by hurricanes. Just inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage and last year, the average individual flood insurance claim was nearly $28,000. Without flood insurance protection, many property owners may have to absorb the financial losses on their own, potentially draining their savings.
Protect Your Home or Business Now!
You need to get covered before a storm could impact your community and home. Flood insurance has a 30 day waiting period, and is more affordable than you may think. The average flood insurance policy is around $579 a year and in moderate-to-low-risk areas, Preferred Risk Policies start as low as $119 a year (that's equal to $10 a month or 33 cents a day
Call now to see how you can get this valuable coverage - 888-900-2173
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Your homeowners policy and storm damage-what's covered?
Here is a little Q&A about home insurance and storm damage in general. These are the types of questions that we get, so I figured that I would answer them here.
Q. Generally, how does my homeowners policy respond to storm damage to my property?
A. Your homeowners policy covers most losses that may occur to your dwelling and personal property. Commonly, losses resulting from theft, fire, wind, vehicles and vandalism are covered.
Q. What if there is damage because of a storm?
A. A standard homeowners policy covers storm damage to the dwelling, its contents and other structures such as garages and fences, up to the policy limit. Such damage also acts as a trigger for coverage of other consequential losses and expenses including removal of debris and loss of use.
Q. What if my family and I cannot live in our home because of the damage?
A. When storm damages make it necessary to leave your home temporarily, your home-owners policy covers the additional costs necessary to maintain your normal standard of living for such things as meals, lodging, laundry, transportation, entertainment, etc. You will need to present receipts for all of your expenses to be reimbursed.
Q. What clean-up expenses can I expect to recover following a storm?
A. Your homeowners policy will cover costs for removal of debris when covered property is damaged. This includes the removal of trees that fall on covered structures, but this coverage for trees usually is limited to $1,000 for a single storm.
Q. Am I covered for protecting my property from damage?
A. Your policy obligates you to protect your property from further damage following a loss as a condition to payment of your claim. You can expect your policy to pay for such expenses to board windows and make emergency repairs. Also, property removed from your home to protect it from an impending storm receives more comprehensive coverage than what is provided at your home—for a limited period of time, it covers flood, earthquake and any direct damage to your dislocated property without exclusions. However, the expenses to remove the property from harm’s way is not a covered expense.
Q. What damages are not covered by my homeowners policy?
A. Trees, shrubs and gardens damaged or destroyed by the storm are not covered. The spoilage of food due to an inoperative refrigerator or freezer resulting from a utility line power outage is not covered by many policies, unless the appliances are inoperative because the damage to power lines or other utility equipment occurred on your property; for example, lightning damage to your circuit box or a tree falling on power lines connected to your home.
* It is important to note that unless it has been added to your policy, there is no coverage for any damage that is a direct result of flood, surface water or water that backs up through sewers or drains that is caused by an act of nature (a storm).
Q. How can I find out what is covered in my specific circumstances?
A. The information provided here includes general guidelines for storm damage coverage. You should contact our agency for definite answers and further advice.
Q. Generally, how does my homeowners policy respond to storm damage to my property?
A. Your homeowners policy covers most losses that may occur to your dwelling and personal property. Commonly, losses resulting from theft, fire, wind, vehicles and vandalism are covered.
Q. What if there is damage because of a storm?
A. A standard homeowners policy covers storm damage to the dwelling, its contents and other structures such as garages and fences, up to the policy limit. Such damage also acts as a trigger for coverage of other consequential losses and expenses including removal of debris and loss of use.
Q. What if my family and I cannot live in our home because of the damage?
A. When storm damages make it necessary to leave your home temporarily, your home-owners policy covers the additional costs necessary to maintain your normal standard of living for such things as meals, lodging, laundry, transportation, entertainment, etc. You will need to present receipts for all of your expenses to be reimbursed.
Q. What clean-up expenses can I expect to recover following a storm?
A. Your homeowners policy will cover costs for removal of debris when covered property is damaged. This includes the removal of trees that fall on covered structures, but this coverage for trees usually is limited to $1,000 for a single storm.
Q. Am I covered for protecting my property from damage?
A. Your policy obligates you to protect your property from further damage following a loss as a condition to payment of your claim. You can expect your policy to pay for such expenses to board windows and make emergency repairs. Also, property removed from your home to protect it from an impending storm receives more comprehensive coverage than what is provided at your home—for a limited period of time, it covers flood, earthquake and any direct damage to your dislocated property without exclusions. However, the expenses to remove the property from harm’s way is not a covered expense.
Q. What damages are not covered by my homeowners policy?
A. Trees, shrubs and gardens damaged or destroyed by the storm are not covered. The spoilage of food due to an inoperative refrigerator or freezer resulting from a utility line power outage is not covered by many policies, unless the appliances are inoperative because the damage to power lines or other utility equipment occurred on your property; for example, lightning damage to your circuit box or a tree falling on power lines connected to your home.
* It is important to note that unless it has been added to your policy, there is no coverage for any damage that is a direct result of flood, surface water or water that backs up through sewers or drains that is caused by an act of nature (a storm).
Q. How can I find out what is covered in my specific circumstances?
A. The information provided here includes general guidelines for storm damage coverage. You should contact our agency for definite answers and further advice.
What to do with Earl heading our way?
It looks like the worst of Earl will stay to the East of Long Island. If the storm takes a turn towards us, or for those of you on the East End, and in Connecticut, this is what you should do during a Hurricane
- Listen to the radio or TV for information.
- Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
- Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
- Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
- Moor your boat if time permits.
- Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
- If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
- If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.
- If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
- If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
- If you feel you are in danger.
- Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
- Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.
- Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again.
- Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
- Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Hurricane Earl Heads towards New York
The last thing anybody wants it to have the Labor Day Weekend washed out. But the potential of Hurricane Earl hitting us hear in New York is real. It is important to make sure that if we do get hit, even just by the outer bands, that you are ready. Putting together an emergency kit is a good idea. You don't have to go out and buy one, you can make one yourself. Here are some things that you should get according to Ready.gov:
Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - PDF, 277Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from http://www.ready.gov/
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/
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