Category: Insurance

By Justin Metz on April 30, 2020
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-detail-your-car-at-home

After a long winter, chances are your car looks a little worse for the wear. Even if you wash it regularly, months of salt, dirt and grime can still accumulate in places that aren’t touched by a drive-through car wash. And the interior likely has its share of dirt, crumbs and coffee stains, too.

Having the right auto insurance is one way to protect your ride, but taking the time to do a thorough cleaning is another. (Read more about what road salt does to your car.)

To get your car looking as good as new, you need more than just a car wash. You need a full detailing job.

What’s auto detailing? It’s essentially a very thorough cleaning of your car — inside and out — that restores it to near showroom condition.

If you hire a professional, a full interior and exterior detail can cost hundreds of dollars. But if you have a few hours to spare, you can detail your own vehicle from the comfort of your driveway. Continue reading “How to Clean and Detail Your Car at Home” →

By Erie Insurance on May 8, 2020
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/hail-fraud

A hailstorm just blew in through your neighborhood. Suddenly, there are people at your door telling you they can repair your home’s damage quickly and easily. What would you do?

While some hail damage may be obvious, you can’t always trust that someone showing up to your door has your best interests in mind.

The size and density of a hailstone will determine the severity of damage you’ll find after a storm. While some hailstorms can cause severe damage to your car and home, others can leave little to no harm at all.

If you’ve recently battled a hailstorm, here is what you need to know about hail, roof damage, homeowners insurance and common scams. Continue reading “What to Know About Hail, Roof Damage and Common Scams” →

Abby Badach Doyle on April 27, 2020
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/how-erie-is-helping-during-covid-19

When Erie Insurance opened for business in 1925, our co-founder H.O. Hirt inspired us with his motto: Never lose the human touch.

Well… these days, the “human touch” looks a lot different. But that spirit is still alive in us at ERIE, where we’re still here for you and the communities we serve.

Check our COVID-19 Information Center for the latest news and announcements. For questions about your specific policy, review our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions.

In case you missed it: Here’s a recap of what we’re doing to help. Continue reading “How We’re Helping: 8 Things ERIE is Doing During COVID-19” →

By Marie Turko on December 4, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/holiday-decorating-tips

By Justin Metz on September 27, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/fire-prevention-tips-for-business

Reducing the risk of a potential fire at your business is one of the most important things you can do to help protect your customers, employees and property.

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 111,000 nonresidential building fires occurred in 2017. Those fires caused 1,200 injuries and more than $2.7 billion in damages.For business owners, these damages can extend beyond physical repairs. It could mean weeks, or even months, of lost revenue while your property is restored.

So what steps can you take to help ensure a crisis like this doesn’t happen at your business? Give these four tips a try:

1. Check potential fire hazards.

According to the American Red Cross, there are a number of common hazards in any home or business that are likely to be the source of a fire. Conduct a survey of your business and examine these potential problem areas:

• Make sure machines and equipment are clean and well maintained.
• Keep any combustible objects away from space heaters or furnaces.
• Properly store flammables away in cabinets and away from ignition sources.
• Check appliance cords and replace any broken connectors or cracked insulation.
• Use only one extension cord for each power outlet.
• Allow room behind any appliances to allow air to circulate and prevent overheating.

Continue reading “4 Fire Prevention Tips for Your Business” →

By Erie Insurance on October 16, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/ice-fishing

Ice fishing is a winter tradition for many anglers. It gets you out into the great outdoors and lets you bond with friends – just one of many ways to stay active in the winter.

But before you head out, you’ll want to keep a few tips in mind.

How Do You Know if the Ice is Safe?

First off, it’s imperative that the ice on which you fish is safe. Take a pass on fishing if you’re at all unsure about the ice’s thickness.Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Assess its thickness. Four inches is the minimum thickness on which you should walk and fish on ice. . Thicker is safer if you’ll be hauling heavy gear or taking a snowmobile. To find out the ice thickness, ask a trusted bait shop, outdoor outfitter or an authority such as the local fish and game commission.   You can also find out yourself with an ice chisel or ice auger.
• Ice doesn’t freeze in a uniform way. There can be a dramatic difference in ice just a few feet away, so use caution if you’re moving about.
• New ice is stronger than old ice. Use extra caution toward the end of the season.
• Be mindful of snow. Snow slows down the freezing process and adds extra weight to ice.
• Check out the ice’s color. Soft ice is typically gray, dark or porous, while thick ice has a blue tint.

Continue reading “How to Stay Safe While Ice Fishing” →

By Erie Insurance on October 18, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/road-salt

When winter arrives, so do difficult driving conditions like whiteouts and black ice.

Road salt helps melt ice, which definitely makes the roads safer. However, there are some definite downsides when it comes to your car. . Read on to learn exactly how road salt works—and what road salt does to your car.

HOW DOES ROAD SALT WORK?

Salt—or in scientific terms, sodium chloride —lowers the freezing point of water. So while water normally freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water needs colder temperatures in order to freeze when it’s exposed to salt. The more salt you add, the more difficult it is for water to freeze.

The thing about road salt is it needs a little water to activate the process. Sometimes, road crews will pre-treat roads with a mix of salt and water called “brine.”Salt brine can keep ice from ever forming. If there’s a lot of snow and ice on a road, the brine will seep into the bottom layers, breaking the bond between the ice and the road. The remaining snow and ice will then float along the top of the brine, making it easy for any passing traffic to break it up for good. Continue reading “Here’s What Road Salt Does to Your Car” →

by Justin Metz on August 7, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/how-to-track-business-expenses

If you’re a small business owner, chances are you didn’t start your company out of a passion for bookkeeping. But as you grow, financial management becomes an increasingly important responsibility.

For many, it’s an unfortunate truth. We all know that running a small business takes long hours and a lot of hard work. And this often means tasks like tracking expenses can easily fall by the wayside. But this important job plays a critical role in successfully managing your cash flow.

If you don’t keep tabs on how much money is going out, you can quickly find yourself in a difficult situation. Keeping an eye on your expenses will not only help you reach financial goals, it can also provide some extra deductions come tax time. (For specific advice about your individual tax situation, remember to always consult a tax professional.) Continue reading “6 Tips to Track Your Small Business Expenses” →

by Erie Insurance on October 24, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/regular-and-premium-gas

Most people are clear on which type of gas their car needs. But not as many are clear on the differences between regular and premium gas.

Why use regular instead of premium gas?

One obvious difference is the price.

According to the U.S. Energy and Information Administration premium fuel nationally averages about 60 cents more per gallon than regular gasoline, and 25 cents more than midgrade gas.

What is the difference in octane levels?

Octane is how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting, or rather it’s a measurement of a fuel’s ability to avoid knock.  Gas stations typically carry three octane grades. State laws regulate which octane levels can be listed as premium, midgrade or regular. Typically “regular” gas is 87 octane, “midgrade”  is 89 octane and over 91 octane is “premium” gasoline. Some states label top-tier gasoline with 93 octane as “ultra” gas. Continue reading “Understanding Premium vs. Regular Gas” →

by Alex Buczynski on October 25, 2019
Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/what-to-do-before-a-blizzard

Severe winter weather can catch us off guard. Even adults sometimes hope for a snow day… but odds are we’re not getting one. In many cases, you still have to brave the cold, clean off your car and get to work.

When the forecast calls for heavy snow, it helps to think ahead. Follow this checklist of ways to prepare for snowy conditions on the road and at home.

1. Watch the forecast.Conditions can change quickly. Monitor a trusted source for weather updates. If conditions are severe, use your judgment as to whether you should brave the roads at all – many times, it’s safer to just stay home. If you have to be out in the weather, make sure you have a fully-stocked car emergency kit. Want more advice on winter driving? Read these tips on how to keep your cool driving in whiteout conditions and how to get your car unstuck from the snow.
2. Stock up and charge up. Make sure your phone is fully charged and has emergency numbers (family, friends the power company and the police) stored in it. Also, if possible, stock up on essentials, including food and batteries, before the snowfall. (See what made our list of 31 must-have items for your home emergency kit.)
3. Prep your car for the drive. Fill up your gas tank, check your wiper fluid level and leave your wiper blades up.

Continue reading “What to Do Before a Blizzard” →