Home Safety Tips | Norcia Insurance Consultants

Fire Prevention Week 2022

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

Each year since 1922 during the week of October 9, the NFPA sponsors Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is held annually commemorating the Great Chicago Fire and is the longest running public health observance. This week is marked every year by a theme to keep people safe in case of fires. This year’s theme is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”

For the 100^th anniversary of NFPA sponsoring Fire Prevention Week, they wanted to focus on how to keep yourself and others nearby safe in case of a fire. Today’s homes burn faster than ever, so time is of the essence if a fire occurs. In some situations, you may only have two minutes or less to escape safely after the smoke alarm first sounds.

As timing is so important, there is truly no time to waste trying to figure out the best escape route. This Fire Prevention Week, sit down with your family and discuss a fire escape route and plan. Decide which exits make most sense based on where you are in the house and where you will meet up outside to avoid confusion about who escaped.

This is also a good time to discuss responsibilities. Who is in charge of calling emergency personnel? Do you have pets that you need to include in your plan – and can you do so without risking your own safety? Is there someone living in your house that won’t be able to escape without assistance? Who is expected to help them out?

The best escape plans include two possible exits from each room and are easy for everyone to remember. If it helps, draw a map to indicate exits and a permanent landmark for a meeting place close by (but far enough away to be safe).

Once plans are in place – practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable each member of your household will be in case of a true emergency.

Additionally, take the time each month to test your smoke alarms. With how little time there is to escape safely in case of fire, it is imperative that you have as much heads up as possible and your smoke alarms work effectively.

This week, take the time to make sure that you are prepared. The more prepared you are, the better the outcomes will be if an emergency occurs.

If you have recently experienced a fire and need a public adjuster to help you get the best-case scenario from your insurance company, trust Norcia Insurance Consultants. Call us at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or request a free consultation!

Important Summer Safety Tips from an Insurance Adjuster

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

All over the country, temperatures are rising. With summer just setting in, there are many hot weather hazards ahead of us. So as the trusted insurance adjuster for WI, we thought we would put together a list of some summer safety tips to help local residents stay safe all season long.

During the hot summer months, multiple appliances can be plugged in at a time. Additional strain from AC units can potentially cause outages, blackouts and even shorts. More appliances combined with soaring temperatures increases the chance for a short circuit, thus creating the danger of a house fire. Limit appliance use and make sure your circuit breaker is able to handle the extra strain.

Speaking of appliances, is your air conditioner safe to use? We all use air conditioners to help keep temperatures tolerable indoors. However, many units are either dirty or not up to date. This not only causes poor air quality but high energy costs and fire hazards as well. While your air conditioning many have already been running for a few weeks now, it’s still important to make sure your AC is cleaned or serviced to ensure safety. With an inspection you can ensure the electrical elements are safe to use and that your filters are replaced often.

This time of year, summer rains can also pose a big problem, causing flooded basements and damaged appliances. Floods can cause a lot of damage so keep your eye on the weather and make sure your home, including the roof and basement is prepared for heavy rains and that you have proper flood insurance.

Careless grilling or fire burning is something else to be avoided. Before you start cooking or burning wood outside, remember never step away from the fire, to check your gas tank for hose leaks, blockages and holes and if using a charcoal grill, wait for the coals to cool completely before disposing of it.

These are just a few of the important summer safety tips to keep in mind. In the unfortunate event that something does occur, call a public adjuster for assistance. Our public adjusters can help take away a lot of the stress you are experiencing. If one of these events were to occur and you need to make a claim with your insurance company, we can help you deal with the legwork associated with filing a claim.

Ready to learn more about how our insurance adjuster in WI can help you in the event of damages this summer? Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.

Home Safety Tips for a Cold Minnesota Winter

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

It is officially winter, bringing cold weather to Minnesota. And it isn’t just any winter. This winter, cooking at home and indoor activities are at an all-time high. With more time spent at home, there are a few safety tips you should keep in mind to help you, your family and your home stay safe this winter. The expert insurance adjusters for MN, Norcia Insurance Consultants, know just about every possible risk out there and here to discuss some of the most important safety tips for this year’s Minnesota winter.

wood stove with fire burning inside and logs underneath

Inspection of your heating system. Before your furnace begins working its hardest, it’s important to ensure it doesn’t have any major issues that could create a dangerous situation. Have your heating system professionally inspected in order to check the safety limits and burners for proper operation. An improperly working heating system can create carbon monoxide hazards as well as other dangers.

Chimney inspection. Another area of the home that has to do with heat and also requires inspection are your wood-burning fireplace chimneys. They should be checked and cleaned of soot buildup to ensure proper air flow and safe operation.

Roof inspection. Winter can be hard on roofing, your home’s #1 defense against the elements. So, now is the time to contact your roofing contractor to come out and inspect your roofing and gutters. Overlooked simple repairs, such a missing or displaced shingles, lose or leaky gutters, damaged flashing or caulking, cracked flanges can lead to more costly damage.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspection. With a winter spent mostly indoors and the constant running of your heating system, it is important to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also make a habit of changing their batteries. Home fire alarms should last about 10 years, but it is important to check on them consistently to ensure they’re working as they should to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Professional dryer vent cleaning. An often neglected task that is very important this time of year. Bulky clothing and blankets can put extra strain on your dryer so clothes dryer vents should be checked for a buildup of lint or blockage. If drying times are getting longer, it means the vent may be getting restricted and not allowing the proper airflow through the appliance.

Did you know that dryer fires occur in the thousands every year? That is why it is so important to do what you can to keep your home’s dryers running safely. And, it helps to hire a professional dryer vent cleaning company to ensure a thorough job. But, if a fire does occur and causes damage to your home or property, be sure to contact the fire department right away. And, when you need help filing your insurance claim, seek assistance from our experienced public adjusters.

These are just some of the most important safety tips to follow this winter. Are you interested in learning more about how our public adjusters in MN can help you in the event of a fire or other damages this winter? Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.

Holiday Home Safety Tips

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

The holidays are just around the corner! With all that the next few weeks will bring, the experts here at Norcia would like to discuss some of the most important safety tips to keep in mind this season. With cooking at home, indoor activities, vacations and decorations there are a few safety tips you should keep in mind to help you, your family and your home stay safe. And, in the event something does happen at your home, be sure to enlist the help of a trusted Wisconsin public adjuster to help with all of your insurance needs. But first, be sure to take these essential holiday precautions:

Tree Safety

For one, it is important to place your Christmas tree away from fireplaces and heaters, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Live trees are highly flammable, especially a dried-out tree. Check the water level every other day to ensure proper hydration. Starting with a green tree is one way to keep it from drying out so quickly.

Lights

When stringing lights and decorations above your normal reach, make sure you use a proper ladder with someone supporting the base.
Replace any lights with frayed wires, broken sockets and loose connections.
Don’t mount lights in a way that might damage the cords, and avoid using nails or tacks. Use hooks or insulated staples instead. And, don’t plug in too many lights to the same electrical outlet.
Turn off all lights before you go to bed and before leaving the house to avoid a short that could start an electrical fire.

Heating

A major aspect of the annual maintenance of your home heating system is to check the safety limits and burners for proper operation.

Chimney Inspection

Another area of the home that requires inspection are your wood-burning fireplace chimneys. They should be checked and cleaned of soot buildup to ensure proper air flow.

Home Security

Unfortunately, this is a common time of year for break-ins. Take the time to prepare for winter security and avoid the mess of a break-in, especially if you plan to go on vacation. If you do have a break-in, it is important to contact the authorities right away. Our public adjusters can help with the next steps.

Are you interested in learning more about how our public adjuster serving Wisconsin can help you in the event of a fire or other damages? Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.

Summer Safety Tips from Your Trusted Insurance Adjuster

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

Last week’s massive heat wave that baked the Midwest reminded many of us of the dangers high temperatures can bring. While the weather has cooled down here at bit, the summer heat is most definitely not over. So, as the trusted public adjusters for Minnesota, we’ve put together some important summer safety tips to keep in mind for the remainder of the season.

First of all, is your air conditioning safe to use? We all use air conditioners to help keep temperatures tolerable indoors. However, many units are either dirty or not up to date. This can not only cause poor air quality but high energy costs and fire hazards as well. Make sure your AC is cleaned or serviced at least once a year, the electrical elements are safe to use and that your filters are replaced often.

And remember, a lot more appliances are plugged in at a time during a heat wave. Additional strain from AC units can potentially cause outages, blackouts and even shorts. More appliances combined with soaring temperatures increases the chance for a short circuit, thus creating the danger of a house fire.

Careless grilling can cause burns or fires. Before you start cooking outside, remember never step away from the grill while it’s on, to check your gas grill for hose leaks, blockages and holes and if using a charcoal grill, wait for the coals to cool completely before disposing it.

If a fire does occur and cause damage to your home or property, be sure to contact the fire department right away. And, when you need help filing your insurance claim, seek assistance from our experienced public adjusters.

This time of year, summer rains can also be a problem; causing flooded basements and homes and even damage appliances. Floods can cause a lot of damage so keep your eye on the weather and make sure your home, including the roof and basement is prepared for heavy rains and that you have proper flood insurance.

And, in the unfortunate event that something does occur, call a public adjuster for assistance. Our public adjusters can help take away a lot of the stress you are experiencing. If one of these events were to befall your home, and you need to make a claim with your insurance company, we can help you deal with the legwork associated with filing such a claim.

These are just some of the things to keep in mind to keep your home safe this summer. Ready to learn more about how our public adjusters in Minnesota can help you in the event of damages this summer? Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.