Let’s talk about chimney fires
We’ve been discussing home improvement tips before the winter season come. We have discussed the importance of maintaining your home, cleaning out your gutter, and a general list of other to-do’s this fall. Now we are going to discuss about the importance of taking care of your chimney.
Why do I need my chimney inspected?
Creosote is what gets left behind after burning wood, and it’s highly flammable. Pine wood is notorious for leaving a lot of creosote behind. If your chimney has too much creosote (or under the right conditions) you could find yourself in the middle of a chimney fire.
How often should I get my chimney inspected?
It’s a good idea to get your chimney inspected annually. Most chimney sweeps will not only check for built up creosote, but will also check to make sure that everything is working properly. It’s not a bad idea to get your chimney cleaned out each year. It’s a good preventive measure to save you and your family.
By calling a chimney sweep and getting your wood stove, pellet stove, or fireplace inspected, you are maintaining your home and ensuring the safety of your family. Plus, you’re also meeting the maintenance requirements for your homeowner’s insurance policy.
For more information about your homeowner’s insurance policy, contact the friendly agents at Scurich Insurance Services.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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Comfort zones are there to tell us that we need to start to break out of our quicksand of comfortability. In your comfort zone there is no growth, no discovery, your journey gets stagnant, and routine becomes your best friend.
Now don’t get me wrong, stability is necessary, but boredom is not. It’s time to get a little uncomfortable. Not sure how? Check out these tips.
Go out and socialize, no matter how you feel. It’s Friday night and you’ve been invited out with your friends but after a long week all you really want to do is curl up on the sofa with a good movie. Stop right there. This is where you fight your initial urge to lay up and force yourself to make the move to go out.
Talk to someone you don’t know. You’re riding the bus or standing in line at the store. Stop and say hi and make small talk. You could be the sun that brightens their day and vice versa.
You know that thing that you’ve been avoiding because you’re terrified? Yeah? Do that. The point is, don’t let fear get the best of you. You go out and get the best of fear.
Try new things. When you keep doing the same things over and over again, life can get pretty boring. It’s time to break the habit of your tuna sandwich for lunch and head out to that new restaurant.
Break out of your funky, old stagnant life and find the excitement that is ready to meet you. Your future self will thank your present self. I guarantee it.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15436/5-ways-to-live-a-bolder-happier-life.html
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Your homeowner’s insurance policy probably won’t cover any damage from your pipes if investigations prove negligence or poor maintenance. We have a few tips for you to use to winterize your pipes this fall.
- For all outdoor watering hoses and sprinklers, disconnect them and drain out the water. Store them in a dry place.
- Make sure your shutoff valve is working properly.
- Check for broken windows or cracks where your pipes are located. If cracks and/or broken windows are found, seal them up to prevent your pipes from freezing up.
- Make sure heat can evenly circulate throughout the house, especially around the pipes and water meters.
- If you have interior pipes, wrap them up with insulation.
- Don’t close your cabinet door. Leave the cabinet doors open that are home to pipes so the heat can get to them.
- You may want to consider allowing your water run a little slower this winter. It may cost a little more on your water bill, but when you compare the cost of repair your pipes, you’ll find that it’s worth it.
This winter, make sure that your pipes are well maintained and taken care of. For more information about your homeowners insurance policy, feel free to contact Scurich Insurance Services.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Source: http://www.mainewater.com/Customers/~/media/Files/Bill%20Inserts%20and%20Fact%20Sheets/Winterizing%20Tips.pdf
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It’s the beginning of fall and apple picking season is in full effect. And the place to be is Clearview Orchards.
Organic Fuji and Gala apples are specialties of Clearview Orchards, although they also offer a number of other apple varieties.
Bring your family and your picnic basket. Once you are done enjoying a picnic on our lawn, feel free to pick your own apples. Other delicious items you can pick up at Clearview:
- Honey.
- Pumpkins (we have red, white, or pink)
- Dried lavender
- Apple cider
- Apple pops
Want a getaway? We can do that too. We offer a luxury yurt that boasts such amenities such as a queen bed, a full kitchen, sofa, and full bath with shower. The yurt is centrally located amongst lavender fields, flower gardens, avocado, and Fuji trees. An array of wildlife including deer, coyotes, raccoons, and hawks can be viewed from the yurt. This would be a perfect getaway for you and your partner looking for a romantic country getaway.
What: Clearview Orchards for picnicking and apple picking
Where: 646 Trabing Road in Watsonville
When: Saturday and Sundays from 10:00 am-5:00 pm through Sunday, October 26th.
Cost: $2 a pound for apples
Who: Everyone!
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Sources: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3111208?s=QpQT and http://www.clearvieworchards.com/index.html
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How important is cyber-security business insurance?
With every passing moment technology is advancing. That’s great for your business because it allows you to be more dynamic and more productive in your day-to-day online operations. Technology also helps you keep track, store and access vital company information. Your company’s stats and assets, as well as your employee’s and client’s personal identification information, is most likely stored on a computer somewhere.
That’s the good news. The bad news is this; with every technological advancement that the business world makes, hackers are also hard at work, and often successful, in breaking into computer networks and accessing personal and confidential information.
It pays to be prepared and stay ahead of the hackers. One thing that you can do to secure your business is to ensure that you have the most up-to-date security software and protocols on your computers and internal business network. However, this is still no guarantee that you will not get hacked.
The most common ways to get compromised, according to Verizon, are as follows: network “break-ins” or weak/stolen credentials, hacking (52%!), malware, and misuse of privileges by those who already have access to information.
Cyber-Security Liability Insurance is a crucial part of your protection plan and is a vital part to protecting yourself, your business, your clients, and your employees. Remember, it is ultimately the business’ duty to protect all of this data and to keep it secure.
There are many cyber-security insurance options and plans available today. With some plans, you can add it on to a current commercial property insurance term while other plans are available as a stand-alone.
Regardless of the size of your company, you need some form of cyber-security insurance. Whether you collect personal contact and identification information or credit and debit card payments, the threat of cyber-attack is real.
Don’t be left out in the dark. Ask about some of the better cyber-security insurance programs so that you can ha
ve peace of mind that your business, customers and employees will be protected.
Source: http://www.verizonenterprise.com/solutions/security/
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It happens all the time. You go to the grocery store to load up on vegetables only to find when you cut into them, that they are rotten. Do you wanna know how to avoid that from happening again? Follow these simple tips when buying vegetables.
Asparagus is best purchased in the spring. The tips should be closed and compact. The stems should go be green.
Beets are one of the vegetables that you can get all year around. Good beets would be rich in red color and be firm and round.
Brussel Sprouts are best between October and December, but you can still find good ones 10 months out of the year. Good ones won’t have any bruising or blemishing, be firm, and rich in green color.
Carrots are available all year long. A firm carrot will be smooth and well formed. The tops should be green in color.
Celery is available all year long. A glossy surface and green leaflets are tell-tale signs of healthy celery.
Corn is available all year long with the best time for corn is May-September. Green husks and plump kernels are the best way to tell if your corn is going to be good.
There are no bad times to buy lettuce, mushrooms, or onions. But in order to get the cream of the crop you have to look out for healthy and vibrant leaves on lettuce, Caps should be white or brown consistently throughout the mushroom, and onions should be firm with dry necks.
Next time you are at the grocery store, you’ll know what to look for when purchasing your favorite vegetables.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15388/how-to-pick-out-perfect-vegetables-infographic.html?utm_campaign=recommendation&utm_medium=popular&utm_source=feature
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