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How Water Sensors Can Help Prevent Costly Water Damage

If the rubber hose on your washing machine fails, it can cause significant damage to your home. If that leak goes undetected in the basement or another room that you might not regularly visit, the accumulated water can cause potentially catastrophic damage, from moldy walls to warped floorboards. The smart technology in water sensor systems can help quickly alert homeowners of potential leaks, and prevent the need for costly and time-consuming repairs.

Water damage is a leading cause of loss in the home. Today, smart technology is helping consumers manage their personal risks. In addition to potentially preventing serious damage, water sensors can also help a homeowner avoid the loss of personal possessions and the hassle of coordinating repairs to your home.

How Do Water Sensors Work?

A water sensor can detect the presence of water, often by measuring the electrical conductivity of the water present and completing a circuit to send a signal. For installations that are not monitored by a professional alarm monitoring company, the sensor and its control module can send out a notification to the homeowner through an smartphone app. If you will be out of town, you can add family members, friends or other caretakers to receive notifications of a leak so they can quickly prevent further damage.

Some water sensor systems can be programmed to shut off the water to the house to prevent a small leak from becoming a large one. If your home is heated by an older steam heating system or if it’s protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, check with a qualified professional before installing a sensor-activated water shut-off device.

Where Should Water Sensors Be Placed?

In addition to washing machines, failing hot water heaters, leaking dishwashers, damaged supply lines to automatic ice makers and overflowing toilets are some areas where water damage inside the home can occur, often without advanced warning. Performing regular maintenance and checking for rusty, corroded, or damaged water supply lines and other potential problems before you have a leak is one of the best ways to help prevent water damage.

You Might Want To Install Water Sensors In Areas Near:

  • Washing
  • Dishwashers
  • Refrigerators with ice makers and water
  • Hot water
  • Sink
  • Toilet
  • Furnaces connected to water systems, including hot air system

Water sensors and their control modules are available at most home improvement stores. Note that some devices only work once and then need to be replaced, while others are more durable. Also, if you are not comfortable installing them yourself, contact an experienced professional to install them and help ensure that you receive notifications of potential leaks.

Be prepared and contact your Gallagher representative to discuss a proactive risk management plan against water damage for all your homes.

Source: Travelers Risk Control

What floats our boat? Safety.

Meet Dave. Like one in 10 Americans, he owns a boat. Dave and his family spend an average of 14 weekends on the water. Like 95% of recreational boat owners, his craft is less than 26 feet long. He not only understands the capabilities of his vessel, but has piloting and navigating skills as well. Plus, with boating accidents on the increase year after year, he has properly insured his boat and related equipment with a variety of affordable coverage options.

This is a look at the preparation and precaution that make Dave a responsible sailor, the same steps you can easily take if you own a boat.

First:

  • He took a safe boating course. Boating safety courses are proven to greatly reduce the chances of a future accident, and give him the confidence and wisdom to navigate safely. Plus, courses such as those offered by United States Power Squadrons® can help him save on insurance.
  • He’s staying shipshape. Before hitting the water, he has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to get a vessel safety check free of charge.
  • His boat and its contents are covered. With a watercraft physical damage endorsement, Dave has protection for his trailer, his equipment and his family’s personal items on board.

On The Day Of His Voyage:

  • He’s made a float plan. By informing someone on land of his travel plans, necessary aid could reach Dave faster in the event he experiences an accident in an area out of range of any communication. This fillable form provides a checklist of details to help you complete your own float plan.
  • He’s completed a checklist of essentials. He understands the importance of equipment such as flotation devices, tools, flares, fire extinguishers and other safety implements.
  • He has monitored the weather. He has checked before his trip to learn of any impending weather events or craft advisories. Plus, he’s always on the lookout for darkening clouds or sudden temperature drops, which will clue him to get back to land.

Now That He’s On The Water:

  • He’s wearing a life jacket. Unfortunately, this puts him in the minority. It is estimated that only 25% of occupants on boats wear a life jacket, despite their proven success of greatly reducing the chance of drowning in the event of an accident. And, in the event of a major incident, he has umbrella coverage to protect him against major costs stemming from a liability claim.
  • He’s staying “dry.” It should go without saying that alcohol and boating don’t mix. This article can help you learn more about what constitutes impaired boating and the wide-ranging effects affects it can have.
  • He’s not taking anything for granted. Just because Dave is insured doesn’t mean the other boaters on the water are. That’s why he’s made sure to have an uninsured and underinsured water liability endorsement on his policy. It’s protection for himself, his boat and his occupants in the event of a claim involving a less responsible boater.

Sources: Hanover Insurance Companies United States Coast Guard DiscoverBoating.com

How to tell if you’ve been (or are about to be) hacked.

Here are some common ways to spot a scam or hack.

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Drive Safe: The Three-Second Rule

As a Gallagher premier client we partner with our carriers to bring you important safety practices making the road safer for everyone.

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Gallagher in Action

A multiyear partnership introduces Gallagher Square, formerly the Park at the Park, The Gallagher Chairman’s Club and the Padres Holiday Giving Tour presented by Gallagher. With this partnership, Gallagher becomes the official insurance broker, benefits consultant and risk management services partner of the San Diego Padres.

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The information contained herein is offered as insurance industry guidance and provided as an overview of current market risks and available coverages and is intended for discussion purposes only. This publication is not intended to offer legal advice or client-specific risk management advice. Any description of insurance coverages is not meant to interpret specific coverages that your company may already have in place or that may be generally available. General insurance descriptions contained herein do not include complete insurance policy definitions, terms, and/or conditions, and should not be relied on for coverage interpretation. Actual insurance policies must always be consulted for full coverage details and analysis.

Insurance brokerage and related services to be provided by Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. (License No. 0D69293) and/or its affiliate Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California, Inc. (License No. 0726293).