Calling all Homeowners – Fall is in the Air

Get your pumpkin spice and scarves ready. Fall is just around the corner. You are probably ready for cooler temperatures and a change of season, but is your home? Changes in season require you to prepare your home in different ways. Fall can have different types of weather throughout the entire season. Here are a few things that you can do to prepare your home.

Clean Out Your Gutters

With fall, there are leaves constantly falling. It is important to assure that there are no clogs in your gutters. Clogs can be cause for water not to drain properly and could cause damage to your roof and/or cause damage to your foundation if the water is running straight down the side of your home.

Get Your Chimney Swept

It is best to have your chimney swept during the seasons that you are not using it. With being in Tennessee, it is hard to make time with the fluctuations of temperature. Early fall is a great time to have your chimney swept. You never know what kind of blockages could have occurred since you last used it during the winter. Even within a year, animals could have been nesting or natural buildup could have taken place causing your fireplace to be unsafe to use.

Get Your HVAC Ready for Heating

Turning your heat on for the first time can be somewhat nerve racking. There can be a slight smell that accompanies the heat being turned on for the first time, but you need to be prepared for what steps you can do to assure that it is just a smell and not a fire.

Checking your filters and cleaning the area around your HVAC are great preventive measures to take to assure that everything goes smoothly while transitioning to heat for the first time in a few months.

Avoiding Homeowners Insurance Claims

By following these suggestions, you may be able to avoid damages that could result in a large homeowners insurance claim. For more information on protecting your property, get in touch with the team at Farmers Mutual of Tennessee.  Since 1913, they have provided quality insurance coverage at an affordable price to residents throughout the state of Tennessee.  Their local independent agent will be happy to help you find the right coverage for your home, mobile home, rental dwelling, or farm at a price that suits your budget. Give Farmers Mutual of Tennessee a call today at (800) 824-9555, and visit them online for more information.

Do You Need A New Roof?

One of the questions I get asked most often on the radio is “How do I know if I need a new roof?”  Here’s a quick top-ten list of things to look for on an asphalt shingled roof:

1. Water spots on interior surfaces.
2. Shingle wear or missing shingles.
3. Raised shingles.
4. Loose flashing.
5. Inadequate ventilation.
6. No drip edge.
7. Multiple roof layers.
8. No fireplace cricket.
9. Wavy deck surface.
10. Mold or mildew.

Let’s break it down.

If you have any of these top-ten issues, it’s time for a new roof.  Here are steps and questions to ask so ‘you don’t let do it yourself, become do it to yourself!’

1. Reach out to the professionals you know for recommendations.
2. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations.
3. Ask for warranty options in writing.
4. Know who stands behind the warranty.
5. Never put good over bad. Remove all roof layers to the deck and start from scratch.
6. Ask for synthetic deck underlayment.
7. Ask for a complete system from one company to validate warranty.

In the next article, we will discuss metal roofing!

Rick Allen is the host of Rick’s House Home Improvement Show which is heard each Saturday morning 8-10AM on Talk Radio 92.3FM / AM760. This article is provided by Rick’s House Home Improvement Show with expert input by East Tennessee Exteriors, a Diaz Company.

Prepare Your Home for Winter and Prevent Claims

Fall in Tennessee is a wonderful time of the year. At the same time, the beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves on the trees remind us that winter is just around the corner. Freezing temperatures, ice, and snow can cause major damage to your home and other property. Fortunately, you can avoid much of the hassle and expense of damage by performing some basic maintenance before winter arrives and avoid a homeowners insurance claim.

5 Home Maintenance Tips to Prepare for Winter

1. Have the Furnace Checked

A furnace that operates inefficiently consumes excess fuel and produces dangerous gases like carbon monoxide. To reduce utility bills and keep your family warm and safe, change filters regularly and schedule a service check-up with a reliable HVAC company before the temperatures drop. Also, if you have a wood burning fireplace or stove, it is a good idea to have your chimney flue professionally cleaned and maintained to get rid of dangerous, combustible creosote build-up.

2. Remove Dead Trees and Overhanging Limbs

Dead or dying trees and overhanging limbs paired with heavy snow or ice and high winds are a home insurance nightmare. If a branch falls, it could cause serious injuries or property damage. Before a limb plummets onto the neighbor’s car or crashes through your garage roof, have a professional arborist examine the tree and remove the threat.

3. Bring Hoses in From Outside

Garden hoses are not durable enough to withstand freezing temperatures and harsh elements. Also, leaving them attached may cause damage to inside pipes from freezing. Detach the hoses from the exterior faucets, drain them of water, and store them in the basement or garage until spring.

4. Winterize Exterior Faucets & Pipes

After removing hoses, shut off the water lines inside the house that feed exterior faucets and pipes and open the valves to drain any remaining water. Apply winter covers—available at any hardware store—to the knobs and faucets, and insulate any pipes that run along exterior walls or through unheated areas of the house.

5. Clear Gutters

Rain gutters should be free of leaves and debris so melting ice and snow does not find its way into your home. Otherwise, water can accumulate in the congested troughs and form dangerous destructive ice dams. Clean the gutters and make sure downspouts are not clogged. While you’re checking and cleaning your gutters, look for and repair any missing shingles or nails sticking up that may also allow melting ice and snow to leak into your home.

By following these suggestions, you may be able to avoid damages that could result in a large homeowners insurance claim. For more information on protecting your property, speak with your local independent agent or contact Farmers Mutual of Tennessee online or call (800) 824-9555 to speak with one of our representatives.

Since 1913, Farmers Mutual of Tennessee has been providing quality insurance coverage at an affordable price. 

Water Damage: How to Prevent It

Homeowners Inspection Checklist

Each year, our policyholders suffer from thousands of dollars in water losses due to rusted out water heaters, worn out washing machines and dishwasher hoses, and bad ice maker connections. Many of these losses can be prevented by making a few quick and simple checks around the home.

One of the main sources of water leaks is the water heater. Look around the case of your water heater for rust spots and seepage. If you have a drip pan, make sure it is properly installed and is not full.

Another area to keep an eye on is your washing machine. Check your washer hoses and their connections. The rubber should be soft and the connections should show no signs of seepage. To be safe, we recommend that you replace your washer hoses every six years.

The kitchen also has appliances prone to leak. Check for seepage or leakage around your dishwasher and ice maker connections. Most of these are found under the sink. Look behind the refrigerator at the ice maker lines. Check for leaks, good connections, and the condition of the plastic lines. If the lines are discolored or cracked, then it needs to be replaced. Look under your kitchen sink to make sure nothing appears to be leaking.

For added protection, consider investing a little extra money in high PSI braided stainless steel hoses as well as water leak detectors. Also, keep an eye on your water bill. If your usage increases without explanation, it may mean that there is a leak somewhere in your home.

6-Month Inspection Checklist:

✅  Look at water heater for rust spots or seepage
✅  Check washer hoses and connections
✅  Check dishwasher connection for seepage and leakage (usually under the sink)
✅  Check ice maker connection (usually under the sink)
✅  Check the ice maker line behind the refrigerator

If you do incur water damage, please contact your FMT agent as soon as possible or call us at 800-824-9555. Please note that not all policies have coverage for water damage and coverage will depend on the type of loss (repeated or continuous damage is probably excluded). Check out upcoming articles for more information about types of water damage and what to do if you have a water damage loss!