ABCO Home Plus Insurance

If you do incur a frozen pipe and need to talk about possibly filing a claim or need recommendations for a plumber, water restoration company or contractors to help repair damage, please contact our agency by email at [email protected] or by phone at 972-423-0005.

As we wait for the artic blast of cold air to hit North Texas this week, please consider the following tips to help prevent frozen pipes:

• Disconnect hoses from exterior faucets and install insulated exterior faucet covers
• Keep garage doors closed to help protect water pipes located in the garage
• Open the doors on cabinets where plumbing is located to help warm air circulate around the pipes
• Let water drip from faucets especially for pipes that are located on perimeter walls
• Keep the heat in your home set at a minimum of 55 degrees F

Keeping excess moisture out of your home can help prevent mold.

Here are a simple tips to try and avoid water and mold damage to your home:

1. Have your roof and attic inspected for leaks periodically and
perform maintenance as needed

2. Caulk gaps around the exterior of your windows

3. Replace rotted trim or siding

4. Clean out your gutters and downspouts

5. Repair mortar cracks in your brick and stone

6. Check for water stains on your ceilings

7. Inspect your sink cabinets periodically for plumbing leaks

8. Maintain your shower tile grout and caulking

9. Use bathroom exhaust fans

10. Clean up and dry out leaks and overflows quickly

Reasons for higher auto rates – not just in Texas but in the country overall

Higher loss trends in the auto industry are the main contributors to this rate need (~10% year over year increase during second quarter of 2016).

People are driving more miles. In 2015, people drove 3.15 trillion miles, a 3.5% increase which is the highest annual increase in 25 years. This leads
to more accidents and is reflected in increased claims severity and frequency.

There are more new cars on the road, with increasingly complex technologies, driving up replacement and labor costs.

Distracted driving is on the rise causing an increase in auto accidents, including fatalities. The National Safety Council estimates that one in four
crashes involved cell phone use.

Medical costs are growing exponentially, affecting the amount paid on claims (over the last decade, bodily injury claim costs rose by 42%).

If you have received your auto renewal and the rates have taken a substantial increase, now would be a good time to shop the many A-rated carriers our agency has access to.

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