Service Line Protection: Why Your Home Needs It!

Service Line Protection: Why Your Home Needs It!

Frederick Mutual has offered service line protection for its homeowners for years. Why? Because of stories like this: Recently a family friend, who doesn’t have a Frederick Mutual Insurance policy, had nearly $100,000 in property damage related to a burst utility line. The damage and costs were catastrophic for this couple as their insurance policy didn’t include Service Line coverage. The local municipality will only cover damage to underground sewer or water lines that aren’t on homeowner’s property. The homeowner is responsible for all other underground lines. Frederick Mutual’s Service Line Coverage protects homeowners from costly repairs. See our coverage highlights below and ask us about our Service Line endorsement today! 301-663-9522

2023 Insurance Policy Tips

As you start the new year with resolutions and set your goals, don’t forget to include evaluating your insurance products! Staying on top of your policies prevents any lapses in coverage that could be costly for your home or business. Frederick Mutual suggests the following tips to keep your assets fully covered, so you can continue to have peace of mind. Outside of insurance what are some of your goals for 2023?

Fire Prevention Week: Avoiding Halloween Fires

On National Fire Prevention Week the NFPA offers these tips and recommendations to help ensure a fire-safe Halloween:

Costumes: Choose costume material that is flame resistant and avoid costumes that billow or have long-trailing fabric.

  • Flammable decorations: Halloween decorations can be highly flammable. Keep these decorations away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.

  • Candles/jack-o-lanterns: Instead of using open candles, it is recommended to use glow sticks or battery-operated candle in a jack-o-lantern or on your property. If you choose to use candle decorations, make sure to keep them well attended at all times. Do not leave candles near flammable objects or where trick-or-treaters may walk. Remind children to avoid open flames and supervise children near open flames.

  • Exits: Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.

Protect Your Home from High Hurricane Winds

Early September marks the peak of climatological activity during hurricane season. Frederick Mutual wants to help protect you, your home, and your business during the remainder of hurricane season with the below safety and preparation tips!

1. Maintain Your Roof
2. Maintain Trees Around Your Home
3. Secure Outdoor Items
4. Prevent Wind or Water from Vulnerable Areas
5. Make an Emergency Plan

Hurricane Season Is Coming: Protect your Assets

Hurricane season is upon us! Please read Frederick Mutual's tips below to keep you, your family, and your property safe during this year's hurricane season! As your trusted insurance company, Frederick Mutual is here to Provide you Peace of Mind in the midst of every storm.

Track your state's hurricanes here:
National: https://www.noaa.gov/
Maryland: https://lnkd.in/gzCaKiz
Pennsylvania: https://lnkd.in/dfT3bGQR
Delaware: https://lnkd.in/dq9H9QTG
D.C.: https://lnkd.in/dABqgMDV
Virginia: https://lnkd.in/eAPzwzY
North Carolina: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Make sure you are ensured you a properly ensured today. Submit a quote request and get a timely consult with one of our agency experts!

Frederick Mutual Responds to COVID-19

KEEPING THE FREDERICK MUTUAL FAMILY SAFE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

At Frederick Mutual you, the policyholders, are the owners of our company and your well being is always our concern. Considering the rapidly evolving effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are taking steps to help protect the health and safety of our policyholders, employees, and agents, while continuing to provide the level of service you’ve come to expect. Frederick Mutual will remain open for business in accordance with state and federal guidelines; however the building is only open to essential employees.

We are committed to providing a variety of service options to help you.

Download this information for future reference.

BILLING

ONLINE ACCOUNT PAYMENTS

You can pay your Frederick Mutual policy bills online by visiting https://payment.frederickmutual.com. You must have access to your policy number and and enter your zip code to make a payment online. If you have questions about your policy or coverage, please contact your agent. In the event you need your agent’s contact information, please visit our agent lookup tool.

CLAIMS

FILE CLAIMS REMOTELY

If you need to file a claim, please contact your agent; or you are welcome to visit https://claim.frederickmutual.com/claims, you will need your policy number to file a claim online. You may also call our office, our claims representatives have online tools to assist you throughout the claims process. 

DURING BUSINESS HOURS: 800-544-8737
AFTER HOURS: 866-212-5246

With this in mind, effective April 1, 2020, Frederick Mutual will not process policy cancellations for non-payment of premium for the next sixty (60) days. Your policy will not be cancelled during this time period because of your inability to pay your premium. If you become directly affected or need to discuss your payment options, Frederick Mutual is here to help - please call 800-544-8737 to find out more.

RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS

Below are additional resources provided by federal and state government agencies that you may find helpful. These links are regularly updated as the situation develops and as new resources become available.

MARYLAND

The Maryland Department of Commerce is offering three new business assistance programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Financial Assistance & Taxes

  • Employer & Worker Assistance

  • Licensing & Permitting

For more information on any of these programs, visit the Maryland Department of Commerce website.

PENNSYLVANIA

For information regarding programs available in Pennsylvania, please visit https://www.dli.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

DELAWARE

For information regarding programs available in Delaware, please visit https://business.delaware.gov/coronavirus/

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

For information regarding programs available in DC, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/recovery-business

VIRGINIA

For information regarding programs available in Virginia, please visit https://www.virginia.gov/coronavirus-updates/

NORTH CAROLINA

For information regarding programs available in North Carolina, please visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina

NATIONAL RESOURCES

For information regarding federal programs offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

We continue to monitor this situation closely and may make additional adjustments as needs arise. Frederick Mutual has instituted best practices to help take care of our employees so they can continue to best serve you.

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© 2018 Frederick Mutual Insurance Co. | 57 Thomas Johnson Drive | Frederick, MD 21702-4301

BRR, ITS COLD IN HERE! PREPARING YOUR HOME DURING EXTREME COLD WEATHER

There you have it folks, we went from summer…. more summer….2 days of fall, and into full blown winter!

While things are certainly getting colder as the weeks progress, Frederick Mutual would like to remind people that while cold weather may bring the festive holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can also create serious issues within your home.  

To prevent that and to keep you and your family safe this winter, here are some tips from the CDC and Today’s Homeowner to consider when preparing your home for extreme cold weather:

  • Check for fire hazards and be sure that all equipment, including fireplaces, are in optimal working order and are free of any defects. The best way to handle this is inspection and service by qualified HVAC and fireplace technicians.

  • Ensure that your home has ample working smoke detectors with fresh batteries.

  • Ensure that your home has fire extinguishers handy.

  • Have your furnace inspected! Make sure to have them check for cracks, install a clean air filter, and to make sure the furnace is working properly. 

  • Consider putting up storm windows or installing sheet plastic window installation around the inside of your windows.

  • Caulk the cracks around the outside of your home.

  • If you use propane or fuel oil, ensure that your tank is full.

  • Cover or remove any window air conditioners!

  • Remember to heat your home safely – make sure your fireplace is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace.

  • Have your heating system serviced every year by a qualified technician.

  • If you do use space heaters, please remember to keep them at least 3 feet away from drapes, furniture, or bedding, and remember to never cover a space heater!

  • Protect yourself by installing a battery-operated Carbon Monoxide poisoning (CO) detector.

 As a reminder, here are some additional tips regarding frozen pipe prevention:

  • Run a trickle or slow drip of warm water at night from a faucet on an exterior wall.

  • Drain pipes in seasonal, vacant, or infrequently visited residential or commercial properties.

  • Close crawl space vents and place insulation over the openings.

  • Keep garage doors closed to maintain maximum heat (especially when a laundry or bathroom is adjacent).

  • Open bathroom vanity doors to allow more heat inside, if pipes run along an outside exterior wall.

  • Leave the heat on, even when the home or business is unoccupied. Set temperatures no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit on all thermostats across multiple heat zones.

  • Caulk gaps around doors and windows or repair weather stripping.

  • Check the attic, walls, electrical outlets, switch-plates and basement areas for adequate insulation.

  • Disconnect and store all garden hoses.

  • Turn off and drain external faucets and sprinkler systems. You may need to call your sprinkler company to blow out any leftover water in the underground lines.

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/duringstorm/indoorsafety.html

https://todayshomeowner.com/how-to-protect-your-home-during-extreme-cold-weather/

The Endless Summer, Vacation and Road-trip Safety

While many feel like the month of August is the beginning of the end to summer, others are still trying squeeze in as many road trips and family vacations as they can before the school year starts.

While spontaneous trips can be the perfect end to an incredible summer – the impromptu nature of these trips can cause forgetfulness in remembering critical safety practices to incorporate into their household regime prior to leaving. (Yes, the dreaded Oh-No moment, 2 hours into a trip, did I remember to unplug the curling iron!?)

Here are some safety measures to consider before leaving for vacation:

  • Remember to lock everything, including the windows and garage doors.

  • Inform a trusted neighbor that you will be leaving for vacation and ask them to keep an eye on the house. Provide them with a contact number they can reach you at incase they need to get a hold of you.

  • Nonessential Electronics – make sure to unplug them and to turn them all off!

  • Remember to contact your local postal service prior to your departure and stop the mail service while you’re away.

  • If you normally leave you’re blinds open, keep them open! Keeping your blinds closed can be an obvious giveaway to potential burglars. It is always best to keep the house as it would be during your normal routine. 

  • Put all valuables into a safe – such as family heirlooms, cash, jewelry, etc.

  • If you do not have a safe, strongly consider investing in one!

  • Adjust the thermostat – this prevents you’re homes HVAC system from needlessly heating or cooling the house.

  • Turn off the water valve! This prevents potential water damage from any leaky pipes you may have.

  • Remember to clear your home’s storm drains and gutter before departure.

  • If you have a sump pump, maintain it regularly and to be sure that there is no clutter around the pump should it be needed while you are away.

  • Make sure to check that your outside grill, firepit, and outdoor lights are all turned off.

It’s a Twister! It’s a Twister!

Let’s talk tornadoes. Although they are predominantly seen in the Midwest (Cue scene from The Wizard of Oz), tornadoes are becoming more prevalent nationwide as the years progress. They wreak havoc and chaos on their affecting areas and leave a significant amount of damage in their wake.

According to National Geographic:

  • Tornadoes are classified as weak, strong, or violent storms. Violent tornadoes comprise only about two percent of all tornadoes, but they cause 70% of all tornado deaths.

  • Most tornadoes form in the late afternoon - By this time the sun has heated the ground and the atmosphere enough to produce thunderstorms.

  • Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air.

  • Once a tornado hits the ground, it can last as short as a few seconds or as long as 3 hours.

  • Every year in the United States, tornadoes do about $400 million dollars in damage.

  • Most tornado victims are struck by flying debris — roofing shingles, broken glass, doors, or metal rods.

Preparing for a tornado is not an easy task, there is usually only a small window which allows people to take proper shelter before the cyclone hits. Here are some safety tips from the American Red Cross to consider before a tornado occurs:

  • Look at the daily weather, if the forecast is an expected heavy storm, take the necessary safety precautions to prepare for the storm prior to its arrival.

  • Listen to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information regarding a storm.

  • Know where the safe places are within your home where everyone will gather during a tornado – a room with no windows, storm cellar, or lowest floor of the house.

  • If you are in a high rise building with no time to go to the lowest floor, go to a hallway in the center of that building.

  • Know the difference between a tornado watch vs. a tornado warning; a watch means there is potential; a warning means there is already a tornado occurring or is likely to occur soon.

  • Protect your home - Make the trees surrounding your home more wind resistant by removing damaged limbs.

  • Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the safest protection for windows.

  • Always be prepared! – make sure your home has an emergency preparedness kit and consider creating an evacuation plan for your family and pets!

  • Strengthen those garage doors – when the winds apply pressure to the walls, the roof can be lifted off, and the rest of the house can easily follow.

  • If you are outdoors when a tornado occurs, immediately get into a vehicle and drive to the closest shelter. Remember to buckle your seat belt. Stay away from bridge and highway overpasses. If there are strong winds resulting in flying debris, pull over, park, and put your head below the windows covering your head.

  • Following a tornado, make sure to let family and friends know you’re safe, continue to listen to the radio, local news, or the NOAA for any updates regarding any information or instructions following the storm.

Home of The Free, Because of The Brave

Memorial Day is a holiday to remember and honor those who have passed while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  It is a weekend to wear patriotic colors, do some outside grilling, and be amongst family and friends.

While Memorial Day weekend brings people together, it also creates a ton of traffic. According to a study released by the National Coalition for Safer Roads Memorial Day weekend is the most dangerous holiday for road and highway accidents. Being that your safety is Frederick Mutual’s #1 priority, here are some roadway safety tips to utilize this upcoming holiday:

  • Allow for extra travel time – plan and expect increased traffic and understand it may take longer to reach your destination.

  • If you anticipate a longer travel time remember to get out and stretch every few hours - this will help you stay alert while driving!

  • Understand when the high-volume traffic is going to be and base your travel time around that. The greatest risk is on Friday afternoon, as people are just getting off of work.

  • Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing and always expect the unexpected.

  • Mind your Speed. Give yourself plenty of time and distance to react to the traffic around you.

  • Drive without distractions – put your phone away so you can focus on the road and getting to your destination safely.

  • If you are taking a road trip with multiple passengers remember to keep your tires properly inflated.

  • Make sure to rest up and get plenty of sleep prior to your drive!

  • When driving remember to keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.

  • Use Rideshare or Designate Drivers – even if you don’t drink and drive, there may be others that do. Take precaution to promote safe roadways and remain alert of those around you. Call the police if you notice a vehicle excessively swerving or engaging in unsafe driving practices.

    Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

Spring is in the Air

Spring is here and with it comes everyone’s favorite pastime, Spring CLEANING! Get rid of those old clothes that haven’t been worn in years, remove that debris from your roof, and remove any clutter that has shielded your home from its true beauty!

Here are some helpful tips to utilize this spring when cleaning:

  • Don’t forget to clean your gutters and downspouts – A debris free roof is a happy and safe one!

  • Remember to re-caulk and seal your home’s windows.

  • Remember to cut your trees, brush, and bushes away from the house.

  • Maintain the house lawn by clearing debris and yard waste.

  • Remember to change the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide batteries in the house – Also remember to test both to ensure that they are working properly!

  • Ensure that fire extinguishers are present and up to date.

  • Clean your oven properly by lining the bottom with a nonstick oven liner. It can be wiped with a paper towel, put in the dishwasher, and reused.

  • Be safe and take precautionary measures while on ladders and step stools.

  • Remember to keep stairs, landings, and walkways clear of boxes, bags and other clutter.

  • Always follow cleaning product label safety instructions!

  • Remember to wear a mask when handling severe dust and allergens – consider wearing a face mask to prevent the dust from entering your lungs.

  • Always use proper lifting techniques when moving furniture, equipment and appliances - Keep your back straight and lift with your legs. Wear enclosed, non-skid shoes and gloves with grip. If you are unable to lift it – either ask for help or clean around it.

  • Be careful not to carry too much stuff at once, especially on the stairs - Always make sure that you can see over the load you are carrying or have a spotter to help guide your way.

  • ·This spring remember to use bleach to target mold in and around the shower or tub area, especially the tiles and shower curtain.

  • To help improve your homes air quality, replace your filters in your air conditioning units, furnaces, refrigerators, dryers, and vacuums!

  • Update your first aid kits – replace any missing or expired items to ensure you household has all the essentials.

  • If you have a security system, you may want to call the company to ensure there are no updates or changes to your system that you should be aware of.

  • Remember that while it is spring, the weather may not always act like it, you still may experience some extremely cold days and nights – watch your pipes to ensure that they do not freeze during fluctuating weather!

(301) 663-9522 | (800) 544-8737

5280 Corporate Drive, Suite A270, Frederick, MD 21703.  

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