September Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape all year long.  So here are a few simple tasks you can do in September to prepare your home for cool fall weather!

1.)  Check Gutters -  Take a few minutes to make sure your gutters are clear.  With rain and falling leaves, gutters will be working overtime.  By making sure they’re clear now, you’ll avoid water damage later on.  You can either hire someone to do it or do it yourself.

2.)  Clean The Dryer Vent - Lint accumulating in the dryer vent can cause a house fire.  A couple of times per year, unplug the dryer and thoroughly vacuum the area around the dryer vent and hose.  Remember to check the outside vent too!

3.)  Get Your Fireplace Inspected & Cleaned – Do you have a fireplace or woodstove? When was the last time it was cleaned & inspected? Now is a great time to make sure that your chimney and fireplace are all in good working order. A little maintenance now can help prevent a bigger problem later on. Schedule it now before it gets cold.   

4.)  Gather Firewood - Will you be burning a wood stove or fireplace this winter?  Start gathering up firewood now and save yourself from the task when it’s cold outside. 

5.)  Get Ready For Autumn - Now is a great time to start planting some fall flowers.  Mums make a great addition to your front porch! 

6.)  Save On Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting your belongings.  To make sure you have the best coverage, call us today for a free, no obligation quote.  

Want more tips? Call or visit us online. Bryan Insurance is the leading homeowners insurance agent in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York areas. 

Insuring Your RV, Boats: Keeping Summer Fun & Safe

Summer is on its way.  Before we know it there will be Memorial Day barbecues and long weekends at the lake.  (Next weekend to be exact, if you can believe it!)

That's why now is a great time to review insurance coverage on all of your summer toys.  Check out the things to consider (and review with us) before the big toys come out of winter storage.

1.)  RV - Your motorhome or travel trailer needs insurance coverage, especially if you'll be driving or pulling it this year.  Even if you don't have a loan on your RV, you will want it covered for theft or damage.  Whether they are parked on a lake lot for the season or driving cross country, we offer several RV policies to fit your needs.  Just call us for a quote.

 

2.)  Boat & Jet Ski - The same thing goes for your boats and jet skis.  You've made a big investment and it's important to protect them.  Not only should you worry about damage to your boat, but also make sure you have the proper amount of liability coverage.  Don’t forget your life jackets! 

3.)  Motorcycle - Ready to hit the road for a long drive?  Remember to brush up on your safety skills and always wear a helmet.  Don’t forget to make sure your motorcycle has liability coverage just like your vehicle!  We can help you determine what coverage you need.  

4.)  Swimming Pool - If you own a pool, then you need extra liability coverage including a Personal Umbrella Policy.  Why?  Because there is a lot more risk of someone being injured when you have a pool.  Don’t skimp on your coverage and make sure you have the pool area secured and safe.  For less than $12 a month you could buy an extra $1 million in coverage!

Summer is a lot more fun when you know that your high price summer fun toys are properly insured and protected.  Take 10 minutes to call us for a quote or to review your current coverage.  We are experts at summer fun & all the toys!  888-565-2212 or visit us online.

At the Bryan Agency we are the leading agents in the Hudson Valley and Long Island in home insurance, umbrella insurance, motorcycle insurance, boat insurance, and RV insurance coverage.

4 Simple March To Do's to Protect Your Family and Save You Money

 

 

What do you need to do this month to keep your home running smoothly and your family protected?  There are a few simple things that you can do and take less than 30 minutes of your time. Schedule one each week in March! Read below to find out! 

1.)  Change Batteries In Smoke & CO Detectors - When the time changes, it’s a great idea to change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  This way you always know that they are working and in good order!  The spring time change this year is on Sunday March 8th. 

2.)  Make A Severe Weather Plan – March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. That being said, it is the start of spring and the stormy season. Designate a safe place in your home in case of bad weather.  Stock it with basic emergency supplies and throw in an extra flashlight and batteries too! Here are some tips on downloading

3.)  Check Your Credit Report – Did you know that March is Credit Education Month?  When was the last time you checked to see that your credit reports were accurate?  If it’s been over a year, stop by www.annualcreditreport.comand order a free copy today. 

4.)  Review Your Insurance Discounts – I’m all about the discounts. Did you know that on any given car insurance policy, there are up to a dozen discounts available to you? ONE DOZEN, 12, aka a whole lotta savings opportunities! Are you getting all the discounts you qualify for?  Call us at 888-565-2212 or visit us online to review your policy and see if there are any changes that need to be made. 

And as always, give us a call if you have any questions or need assistance with car, home, business, or life insurance. At the Bryan Insurance Agency we are the top insurance agency in the Hudson Valley area serving New York, New Windsor and Long Island. Contact us today at www.bryanagency.com/contact or 888.565.2212.

 

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How to Fix a Frozen Pipe

As I watch the weather on the news I am constantly seeing words like "Arctic Blast" and "Polar Vortex"  scrolling across the screen all with subzero temperatures in the flashing up in the negatives and the they flash the wind chill which is even colder. The weather guy looks about as excited as a kid on Christmas. While I think that playing the name game with every new storm,  closing major roadways in Long Island and the 24/7 coverage of the upcoming inch of snow and negative temps  is a little overkill, there is still a concern for the safety of people and pets. And yet, out of all of the news reports, what was disheartening was that I only saw one report talking about preventing frozen pipes.

What Can I Do To Prevent My Pipes From Freezing?

It is important to take the necessary precautions to prevent your property from becoming the next coolest ice sculpture, especially if you  have a home or business space which is not occupied during these frigid temps.

Why do pipes burst? When frozen water expands and pipes will cracks and can eventually burst. Whether you have copper or even the new plastic piping it doesn't matter, this can still happen. In these temperatures, you run the risk of your pipes cracking and having water leaking all over your property if you are not taking precautions and leave your heat at 65 degrees.  If you have sprinklers throughout the buildings of a business or an apartment complex it is even more imperative that you take precautions to keep the heat running during this time.  If you rent and know the apartment above you is empty, give your landlord a call to make sure the heat is on upstairs. Trust me, I have seen firsthand a huge mess when an upstairs apartment has a pipe bust. Your entire home or business will be ruined from water damage.  Another tip to prevent freezing is to keep the water running, even at just a trickle.


"I didn't listen to you & now my pipes are frozen - now what?"

When you have frozen pipes follow the first rule - DO NOT USE A BLOW TORCH OR OTHER OPEN FLAME! If you don't listen and thaw your pipes with a blow torch, you run the risk of the exterior or interior walls catching fire. Then you have a much bigger problem on your hands!

While monitoring it, you can use a small space heater  or a hair dryer - not unsupervised. You can also use warm water and run this around the pipes, or down the pipes. You can also use a device made for thawing pipes specifically.

If you want more information on how to protect you and your family this winter season, call us at 888-565-2212. We specialize in Long Island home insurance and New York Business insurance. Stay warm out there and try to stop watching all of the crazy weather updates.