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Most burglaries are home break-ins: How to protect your family Did you know most burglaries are home break-ins? Keeping your home secure is vital to the safety of yourself, your family and your belongings. Here are several simple ideas to increase your personal safety. 1. Install a home security system. Security systems offer perhaps the most powerful protection for your home. Even a simple alarm system and a few well-placed signs in your yard and on your windows can greatly diminish the likelihood of home break-ins. If you can afford it, motion sensors on doors and windows, along with 24-hour...

Winter weather is difficult to predict. Use these tips to help protect your home from the costly damage winter storms can bring. Take care of your roof Keep your gutters clear. This keeps ice from accumulating and backing up under the shingles. Trim trees year-round so branches don't fall on your house. Worn-out, missing or damaged siding and roof flashing can let water and ice into your home. Be vigilant and replace them. If your chimney is leaning or the mortar has seen better days, get it repaired. Prevent ice dams Eliminate heat sources under the roof, such as lights...

Along with the cold temperatures, snow and ice, winter also brings unpredictable dangers, including the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, CO poisoning is the number one cause of accidental poisonings in the U.S. Referred to as the “silent killer,” CO is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can only be detected with a CO alarm. “As temperatures dip and we crank up the heat, it is important to make sure your home is equipped with the adequate number of working CO alarms,” said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for...

Routine maintenance: two words that likely evoke eye rolls, exasperated sighs and dread for most homeowners who read, hear or even think about them. However, they’re also a homeowner’s best line of defense when it comes to protecting their most important investment — their home. “Many homeowners insurance policyholders are choosing higher deductibles because it lowers their insurance costs,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “This means, however, that if they need to make a claim then their out-of-pocket costs will be higher. So, the best claim is the one you don't have to make, because...

Fires can occur when you least expect it, leaving little time to plan your escape, so the time to prepare for an emergency isn’t when your alarm sounds. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only 32% of American households have actually developed and practiced an emergency escape plan. Make time to sit down with your family to plan and practice what you would do in case of a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) emergency. Consider the following tips when helping to prepare yourself and your loved ones: Map it out. Begin thinking about a home fire escape plan...