Some causes of household fires are rather obvious, but others? Not so much. Many of us knowingly keep flammable items in our homes, carrying on with our day to day lives and thinking to ourselves, “It won’t happen to me.” But a household fire can occur in literally any home with the right conditions and cause massive destruction. It only takes a bit of foresight to protect your home from the most common flammable items, so keep reading to hear about some flammable items to handle with care in your home.   Your dryer You’ve probably heard it before -- your dryer, specifically, the lint, is a major fire hazard. If it builds up, backs up into the exhaust, and overheats, it’s a quick recipe for a house fire. In addition to being diligent about cleaning out your dryer’s lint trap before running each load, there are...

If you own your own home, then chances are you’re at least a little familiar with homeowners insurance. If you financed the purchase of your home, your lender may have made insurance a mandatory part of your mortgage. You might have simply gotten the basic policy when you closed on your home, but have you looked at it lately? Are you aware of what your insurance will cover—and more importantly, what it will NOT cover?   How Significant Can Water Damage Be to a Home?   Water damage can occur in a number of scenarios, and even the smallest problem can become an expensive one if it’s not discovered in a timely manner. A leaking refrigerator, for instance, could be seeping water into your flooring—and below into your basement—for months before you find the issue. Plumbing leaks and problems could also go...

Your basement is a vital part of your home. Whether you use it as a living area or for storage, you need to make sure it remains free of flood waters to protect your belongings and your family. Because basements are below ground level, it’s possible for them to flood. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent flooding in your basement.   Install Two Sump Pumps   You’ll want to install a sump pump in your basement to remove water that could possibly get into your basement. This is typically installed in the floor in the lowest spot of your basement and is usually operated though electricity so it will automatically turn on when needed. There is the possibility of your sump pump failing, so it’s recommended you have at least two. If one does fail, the backup sump pump can turn on and take over. Some people will purchase...

In general, the words homeowners insurance automatically makes you assume that it covers only the things in your home. However, the truth is that home insurance is going to cover you for more things than you could guess, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with you being at home sometimes. In this list today I am going to cover the top ten things that a homeowners insurance policy covers that you probably didn’t know it did.   Counterfeit Money   I am not sure if you have ever experienced the embarrassment of being told that your money is fake when you attempt to pay for something. However, I can assure you that it isn’t a good feeling.   You feel embarrassed, and some people will even start to treat you like a criminal. But fear not, your home insurance may cover that. You should check your policy specifics...