Did you know that Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire? The tragic 1871 fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. That all started from just...

Fall is officially here and the days are definitely getting shorter. If you’re like me, you’re trying to savor the remaining warm days as much as possible. If you’re also like me, however, fall allergies can make it difficult to enjoy this time of year. It’s easy to...

Gutters divert rain away from your home and are its first line of defense against water damage. However, as autumn progresses, leaves, twigs and other debris can clog your gutters and cause significant damage to your home. When your gutters are obstructed, you may...

Many people use social media to keep in contact with friends and family, but burglars can use what you share online to know when your house isn’t occupied. Here are some tips to deter would-be thieves: Don’t share when you and your family will be out of the house for...

Today, safety experts recommend putting children in their car seats without their winter coats. Doesn’t this seem counter intuitive? After all, it is winter. Recently on the “Today” show, Jeff Rossen did a segment on car seat dangers during the winter. He visited a...

This is the time of year when ponds and lakes are frozen. Soon you’ll be getting ready to get your vehicle out on the open, frozen water to enjoy the great outdoors. But what would you do if the unthinkable – but sinkable – happens and your vehicle breaks through the...

Do you have a new furry member in your family? Is this your first winter with them? If so, winter weather can be challenging for both of you. Pets are a great addition to the family. They bring laughter and companionship to our lives. In return, most of us want to...

If you’re building a new home, remodeling your existing home, or you recently built a new deck, you may be staining the new woodwork yourself. While it saves money, it can be a bit scary and dangerous. Stain is permanent! It will stain your clothes, fingers, and...

When people think of homeowners' insurance claims, they often associate them with major disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes or wildfires. In these situations, there's not much that policyholders can do to avoid disaster.   Fortunately, many homeowner losses are...

Have you ever jumped into your car, turned the key, and nothing happened? If so, did thoughts like this start racing through your head? I wonder what’s wrong? What am I going to do now? Who can I call? I hope this isn’t going to be expensive. A dead battery can occur...

Between giving gifts, preparing large meals, and planning family gatherings, the holidays can be a stressful time of year.  Adding another thing to think about may seem overwhelming, but home safety is an important consideration. A devastating burglary, expensive...

As much as we love our pets, we do our best to protect them from danger all year long — and around the holidays there are special circumstances that put them at risk. Many of these are obvious, but others are not — and that’s not even considering the anguish of...

The holiday season is officially here! Now comes the hustle and bustle of the season, as well as fun family...

Each year in November, I receive my home and auto insurance renewal policy. In my house, my wife looks at how the...

As Thanksgiving approaches, holiday decorations will begin lighting our neighborhoods. With the dark days of winter...

Now that fall is officially here, it's time to prepare your home for the cold weather like putting on the storm doors,...

With the end of daylight savings time, it will be more difficult to have fun in the sun. During the week, our light...