Month: March 2020

2020-03-05T11:01:00

(BPT) – The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning.

“Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings you no longer want or need — it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.”

Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road.

1. Clean your gutters.

Gutters collect debris over time, especially when rain, snow and wind causes twigs, pine needles and leaves to settle on your roof and in your rain gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages that direct water into the home or, in areas without much precipitation, can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof.

“Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters — even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking your gutters is time well spent compared to the alternative.”

2. Trim branches and remove dangerous trees.

Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round, so it’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance in early spring. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage.

“Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” said O’Rourke. “Also, in areas that are prone to wildfires, trimmed trees create a buffer zone to help lower the chances of flames easily jumping onto your roof.”

Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist to determine their health and have diseased trees removed before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty, but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy, but can be a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety.

3. Watch out for service lines.

Homeowners who want to plant gardens, trees or install additional landscape features to enhance their outdoor living space should be aware of potential underground utility lines. Most service lines — a network of exterior, underground utility lines or pipes that supply a home with electricity, gas, water and sewer functions — are only buried a few inches beneath the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury.

If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs, and this damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.

“The average cost to repair a break to a service line is about $5,000 and most Americans wouldn’t welcome such a large surprise bill,” said O’Rourke. “Homeowners should definitely consider purchasing an endorsement to their insurance policy to protect against losses of this nature. Mercury offers this coverage as an addition to our home insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a year, depending on the home’s age.”

To be safe, homeowners should call 811 before digging so the utility companies can send a locator to mark the approximate locations of underground service lines.

4. Service your air conditioning unit.

Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is essential to ensure the equipment is in proper working order, which can save money on energy bills, as well as protect against expensive repair and replacement costs.

“No one wants to unexpectedly find themselves living in a sauna during the dog days of summer, so the start of spring is a great time to have your air conditioner inspected,” said O’Rourke. “You should also change your air filter to make sure it’s operating at its highest efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.”

Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages — the average cost for an inspection is about $300.

Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.

2020-03-05T15:41:53

(BPT) – If you’re hosting guests with allergies — and you have pets — you have a few more things to consider when getting your home guest-ready. No problem!

Dr. Elizabeth Mullans, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Uptown Dermatology in Houston, Texas, offers eight cleaning tips to help allergy-proof your home.

1. Bare the floors

Carpets and rugs are notorious for collecting dust mites, pet dander (dead skin cells that are naturally shed by your pets) and other allergens, which can trigger allergy-sensitive guests. Remove rugs and carpeting from your guest room as wooden or bare floors are easier to clean!

2. Don’t be blind to your blinds

Those window blinds that protect your privacy are also dust magnets in need of regular cleaning and dusting. Try mixing equal parts vinegar and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to a spray bottle of warm water. Spray the blinds until they’re fully soaked (make sure you have a towel underneath to catch the drippings!) and then wipe clean.

3. Love your lamp shades

Lampshades are tricky to dust, so they’re often skipped over during cleaning. Use a lint roller or packing tape; their sticky surfaces work faster than a cloth to collect dust on lampshades, décor and other neglected areas.

4. Come clean with your pets

Pet dander, urine and saliva are the main culprit to allergies — not pet hair. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says pet hair isn’t an allergen, but since dander can stick to hair and hide underneath a furry coat, it’s partially to blame for allergy misery. A weekly wash and scrub — using warm water and a dander-reducing shampoo — can greatly reduce allergens!

5. Designate pet-free zones

Pet hair can get everywhere, but you can dramatically reduce these fly-aways by keeping your pets out of certain areas of the house where your guests will be. This can help keep pet allergens from getting into fabrics and rugs all over your home. Be sure to close the doors to guest rooms and install pet fences where appropriate.

6. Defend against dander

Dander can get everywhere and affect your allergy-sensitive guests. Run your clothes and bedding in the dryer before you wash them to remove pet hair, which carries dander. Before making up the guest room, wash blankets and duvets to make them fresh and dander-free. Consider using a dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic detergent that’s gentle on skin and free of dyes and perfumes, like Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear detergent. They say “old habits die hard” because people generally use products that have been in the family for generations, but what happens once those products start irritating the skin? Symptoms of irritation can include redness, dry skin, burning, or hives. Sensitive skin laundry detergents really do get clothes clean. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin detergent has been extensively evaluated among people who have sensitive skin. So, don’t worry, it’s gentle on skin, but will get your laundry clean and fresh.

7. Put out some plants

The American Society of Horticultural Science and other organizations have performed studies that show how indoor plants significantly improve and clean a room’s air quality. Setting out plants like aloe, golden pathos and bamboo palm can help filter out common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air; bright flowers like azaleas, chrysanthemums and peace lilies can do the same. Unfortunately, some floral plants can trigger skin reactions for those sensitive to latex or rubber.

8. Freshen the air

Air purifiers and filters can work wonders in reducing airborne allergens and keeping your surroundings feeling fresh. Purchase air filters that have a small-particle or HEPA filter for your guest room and common areas and start running them a few days before guests arrive for best results.

While these eight tips can help, it’s impossible to eliminate all the allergens in your home. Just in case, have some Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Instant Relief on hand to help your guests stay comfortable. Its drug-free formula safely flushes out contaminants, quickly relieves congestion and is safe to use along with their allergy medications. Now, with all your bases covered, you can make your next gathering even happier for you and your guests.

2020-03-03T05:01:00

(BPT) – Drones are everywhere today. And thanks to their first-person view cameras — which allow operators and spectators alike to see the world through the drone’s point of view — drone racing has become an incredibly popular sport that thrills lovers of speed and intensity. Players and spectators can follow the electrifying aerobatics of drones as they twist and turn, whizzing through three-dimensional courses at speeds up to 120 mph.

If you’re obsessed with everything drones, you can satisfy your need for speed by playing a new heart-pumping drone racing game. A decade since the first ready-to-fly drone was released, enthusiasts everywhere can now train and become professional drone pilots themselves. The world’s largest live drone racing league, Drone Champions League (DCL), has released their first online drone game: DCL – The Game.

Through this exciting new online racing game, DCL gives players the chance to become a real-life Drone Prix Champion, plus the opportunity to compete with professionals in real life. To live the drone dream, players can now register for the draft and play DCL – The Game. Increase your skills while you play, upping your game until you clock the fastest times so you can qualify to battle the best of the best for a seat on the DCL team.

DCL – The Game is ideal for all drone pilot fans as well as any gamers who want to challenge themselves with thrilling first-person view drone racing, competing with freestyle pilots, camera drone operators and experienced drone racing pilots alike.

The game includes:

• Over 30 incredible drone racing tracks to challenge you, including several spectacular fantasy tracks.
• 1:1 virtual real drone racing tracks, such as the castle ruins of Reutte, Austria, the Drone Prix Brussels and the snow half-pipes of LAAX.
• Some of the world’s most iconic locations, like the Great Wall of China; Torino, Italy and the Rapperswil Castle in Zurich, Switzerland.
• Opportunities for players to earn and unlock over 100 cosmetic items to personalize their drones, such as drone skins and trails.
• The chance to play with pilots from all over the world in multi-player modes — up to 30 people at once.

DCL offers four different flight modes, for beginners through more experienced players:

• Arcade mode: Simplified control features and automatic assistance to help maintain your altitude provide a good starter mode for players new to drone racing.
• GPS mode: This mode is highly realistic, but not made for racing. It flies like a standard camera drone, but offers stabilization and altitude control so you can improve your skills.
• Angle mode: Once you’re more comfortable with the controls, this mode allows freedom to develop your style, while offering protection from radical pitch (similar to “stabilized mode” on amateur racing drones).
• Acro mode: For the most experienced pilots — how the pros fly. You’ll have complete control for competition at the highest level.

Drone Champions League (DCL) is the recognized championship league for professional drone racing teams, an innovative race series that blurs the line between virtual and reality. Since 2016, DCL has attracted the world’s best drone pilots, who quality for each race in DCL – The Game and then go on to compete on international teams in real-life settings, ranging from visually stunning global capitals to surreal environments highlighting natural wonders.

Visit DCL – The Game, where you can watch action-packed drone game videos, read about upcoming events, watch game-play tutorials and see who the high-scorers are on the leaderboard — plus learn more about all your heart-racing gaming options.

2020-03-02T14:01:00

(BPT) – No one ever anticipates a health problem so serious that they have to stop working, especially when a leave of absence becomes one or two years out of work. Yet it happens every day to some of the 160 million workers in the U.S. labor force. People get hurt, learn they have a disease, or succumb to a progressive illness. For those facing debilitating medical or mental issues, it’s critical to seek income protection by applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits as soon as possible.

Each year about 2 million people apply for SSDI, but the Social Security Administration (SSA), which oversees the Social Security disability application process, approves only 36% overall. In fact, as many as 700,000 former workers are immediately denied benefits for various reasons. Social Security also predicts it will have a backlog of 700,000 pending initial applications in 2020 — up from 565,000 initial pending applications the prior year.

These daunting statistics reinforce the urgency for former workers to start their SSDI application swiftly with the help of expert disability representatives.

SSDI is a vital safety net for former workers with disabilities who should be aware of these top 5 reasons to seek disability benefits.

1. Monthly income. SSDI can bring tremendous financial relief to former workers and their families. The average monthly benefit for a former worker in 2020 is $1,258. With regular monthly income, individuals are better equipped to deal with their medical conditions. Plus, with approval of SSDI, they can consider their options for the future and a possible return to work down the road. Many people may not understand that SSDI is an insurance program they’ve earned through their FICA taxes. So why not file a claim for insurance when a disability happens?

2. Dependent benefits. For some families, it can be vital that SSDI recipients also are eligible to receive dependent benefits. This provides additional monthly income for those with dependents age 18 and under. Typically, this additional benefit amount is about half of the parent’s monthly dollar amount, regardless of the number of dependents. This can be an added boost for the financial burdens resulting from a severe disability and family needs, such as childcare.

3. Expert help is available. The SSDI program is extremely stringent and only one-third of applications are approved, but expert help is available to improve your chances of getting through the first time. An SSDI representative can play an important role during a process that typically involves long wait times, confusing paperwork, complex rules, extensive criteria and many other obstacles. They can also help with your appeal, if needed. This is especially vital for those dealing with pain from a long-term illness, severe injury or chronic respiratory condition. Find expert help and a free online assessment to determine the likelihood of eligibility for SSDI benefits.

4. Medicare coverage. Another incredibly valuable benefit of the SSDI program is federal health insurance with Medicare. In general, most SSDI beneficiaries can start to receive Medicare coverage 24 months after they begin receiving cash SSDI benefits. Medicare provides health insurance coverage for hospital and medical services, and prescription drug coverage. This coverage even continues for those SSDI beneficiaries who return to work, providing more than 7 years of Medicare coverage.

5. Free return-to-work assistance. More than 52% of SSDI applicants say they eventually want to return to work if they are physically and mentally able to do so. An important advantage of applying for disability benefits is Social Security’s Ticket to Work program that provides free return-to-work assistance if the beneficiary’s medical condition improves. Ticket to Work and free help from a nationwide Employment Network (EN), such as Allsup Employment Services, can provide a path to a better financial future.

It can be overwhelming to contemplate dealing with Social Security and the SSDI application process. Red tape, the growing application backlog and the sheer complexity of the program can make anyone choose to avoid it, even if the income is desperately needed.

Asking for help from an SSDI representative can be the first step for former workers. Experts have the know-how and experience to help people navigate the complex process, while providing compassion and understanding along the way.

Consider a free, online assessment at filessdi.allsup.com.

2020-02-29T11:01:00

(BPT) – Hardscaping products, including segmental retaining wall units (SRWs) and interlocking concrete pavers, are a landscape’s best friend. Landscape professionals know that hardscapes are the backbone of a great design. Homeowners, too, shouldn’t be afraid to explore do-it-yourself landscape features using hardscape materials.

According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, hardscaping trends for 2020 include geometric patterned designs as well as materials with sleek, modern lines. Luckily, design options abound as hardscapes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, textures and colors that work well with other materials such as natural stone or crushed rock mulch.

Hardscapes are popular because they outlast materials such as timbers for retaining walls or asphalt for driveway surfaces, says Scott Arnold, general manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Hardscape surfaces are durable and low maintenance,” Arnold says. “For example, when a client wants to replace a wood deck, we suggest a raised paving stone patio created with retaining wall units and pavers as a solution. In addition to traditional uses, such as fixing grade problems and preventing erosion, retaining wall systems also can be used to build outdoor features such as fireplaces and raised planters. Or they can be employed to solve unique landscaping problems.”

1. Making the grade

Villa Landscapes used the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system to solve an unusual problem for a homeowner who had a historic home on “Cream of Wheat Row” in Minneapolis, an avenue with stately homes built by wheat company executives at the turn of the 19th century. The home had a driveway designed for horse-and-buggy with an embedded limestone step for disembarking passengers. No cars could go around it, so Villa elevated the driveway with a retaining wall system so a new paving stone driveway would be level with the existing step.

2. Play well with others

Made of colors and textures that mimic and complement natural stone, hardscaping products work well with other materials, like crushed stone, flagstone steppers and natural boulders. A Wisconsin homeowner needed retaining walls for slopes and a paving stone patio as well as natural steps and boulders in the surrounding garden. Using retaining wall units, paving stones and natural stone, Villa’s design incorporated elements of both harmony and contrast in shapes, textures and colors.

3. Define outdoor areas

Hardscapes are great for creating multiple, connected outdoor living spaces. By varying the pattern, color and texture, a design can define areas for grilling, dining and relaxing. In addition, retaining wall systems can be used to create columns, freestanding walls, raised planters and other features that give outdoor rooms definition and functionality.

4. Complement any design

A variety of shapes, colors and textures make hardscapes the perfect complement to any architectural design, from an old-world look to minimalist style. Several homes in a residential development in Edina, Minnesota, followed suit when one homeowner selected the new VERSA-LOK CleanCut(TM) retaining wall texture for its clean, contemporary feel to match the modern architectural design of the home.

5. Create outdoor features

Hardscape features such as fireplaces, fire rings, bar/grill islands, raised planters and more can be built easily with retaining wall units. The VERSA-LOK retaining wall system can be used for features such as columns, curves, stairs and corners without the need for special pieces.

The versatility of hardscaping products and materials makes them ideal for a variety of landscaping applications. Hardscaping products, such as segmental retaining walls and concrete pavers, let homeowners shape their yards, while adding color and increasing usable space. Hardscaping materials, such as rock and stone mulch, add the finishing touches that dress up a yard and make it look complete.