Stephen Podmaska

One of the best and easiest ways to keep your home insurance policy cost down is to take safety precautions in your home. Here are 8 ways to protect your home against electrical fires:

• Use a power strip instead of an extension cord in an electric socket when you need to plug in a lot of things.

• Never run electrical cords under “areas of wear” such as rugs, over nails, or in traffic areas.

• Never use a standard extension cord for a major appliance or a heat-producing appliance; instead, use a heavy-duty extension cord.

• Choose only electrical devices that carry the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) rating.

• Don't yank plugs out of the electric socket – you could bend the prongs and up the chances of it becoming dangerous.

• Replace any cord or plug that is cracked, discolored, or feels hot to the touch when in use.

• If your lights flicker and/or appliances run slowly, or if you have a fuse that repeatedly blows, call an electrician. That means your system is overloaded.

• Don't use a bulb with more wattage than a lamp or fixture is rated to accommodate, or the unit will overheat.

Podmaska Insurance is an independent insurance agency in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. To learn more about Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, and Providence home insurance, contact them today.

It’s unfortunate how many car owners find auto insurance premiums so complicated. They sit with an insurance agent, lost as the agent builds their policy. What is the agent doing? Are they trying to rope me into getting coverage I don’t need? I don’t understand what everything means…

But in actuality, auto insurance premiums are based on very simple principles. Your agent will basically determine what risk factors you have, and once you reach a place where you’re comfortable with your coverage, that’s really all that’s involved.

The risk factors will be based on things like your gender, age, occupation, driving record, type of vehicle, and where you live. As you can see, some of these risk factors are under your control and some aren’t.

However, the decision on what coverage to purchase will be up to you. The agent will make strong suggestions (see below), but you have to choose what makes you feel safe. Normally, the three main types are Liability Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, and Collision Coverage, but there are other sub-options as well, such as Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance.

The types of coverage that are normally strongly recommended by agents are Liability Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, and Collision Coverage, so don’t be surprised when those are suggested. Liability will cover the damages you’re responsible for when you’re involved in an accident. Collision covers damage to your own vehicle in the event of an accident, and Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle that is not accident-related, such as damage caused by a natural disaster, vandalism, or theft.

It’s never a good idea to settle only for the minimum coverage required by law. The more auto insurance you buy, the cheaper it is, meaning you can get more coverage with just a slight increase in your policy. It comes down to you deciding what will make you feel safe when it comes to insuring the safety of your vehicle. The agent is there to help you – not confuse you!

Podmaska Insurance is an independent insurance agency in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. To learn more about Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, and Providence auto insurance, contact them today.