When talking about hurricane season, El Niño is often part of the discussion.

That’s because wind shear, which increases over the Caribbean and Atlantic during El Niño years, helps prevent hurricanes from developing, and in some instances may even rip apart a hurricane that has already formed. Simply put, climate changes associated with El Niño can greatly affect weather around the world – including both the number of hurricanes and their strength.        Continue reading “Weakening El Niño could negatively impact the 2019 tropical storm season”

With the first day of summer approaching, there’s no better time to start tackling some home maintenance projects. There are all sorts of things you can do to spruce up your home while the weather is warm, but we came up with a list of the most essential maintenance tips to get you started.

Continue reading “Your Guide to Summer Maintenance”

Summer’s here and temperatures are on the rise. If you’re looking for new ways to beat the heat, a smart thermostat might be the right solution: It can help both cool your house and cool off your electric bill.

Continue reading “Smart Thermostats: Heat-beaters and Money-savers”

Summertime is vacation season. But being away can cause extra worries when it comes to home security.

Whether you’re gearing up for the beach, heading to the lake, or hopping from one home to the next, there are amazing smart home products that can give you the advantage against burglary this summer.
Continue reading “6 Smart Devices to Protect Your Home”

According to the LA Times, more than 70% of apartment renters own pets, with cats and dogs being the most popular types. Regardless of whether you’re a cat- or a dog-person, keep these tips in mind to make life easier for you and your four-legged roomies. Continue reading “Pet Tips for Apartment Living”

People living in earthquake-prone areas are generally more aware of earthquake safety than others. Consider California and its history of earthquakes, for instance. Awareness of the risk is relatively high in the state, according to Munich Re. California’s building construction standards are among the strictest in the world, and many people and businesses participate in International ShakeOut Day, which has become a worldwide day of action and a helpful reminder of how to protect yourself and others during an earthquake.

But even in California and other areas where earthquake awareness is high, the number of people with earthquake insurance coverage is relatively low. In many counties, fewer than 10% of residential buildings are insured against earthquakes, and coverage only approaches 25% in highly exposed metropolitan areas. Continue reading “Earthquakes Can Happen Anywhere. Are You Ready?”

As the days get longer and the temps continue to rise, one thing is clear: Summer fun is right around the corner. For people who own pools and hot tubs, that means more time in the water. This, of course, comes with some added responsibility and the need for extra precautions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of more than 3,500 people unintentionally drowned between 2005 and 2014 in the U.S. alone. 20% of those victims were 14 years or younger.

Continue reading “11 Pool Safety Tips to Help Avoid Accidents”

April showers bring May flowers – and sometimes a little flooding as well. While it’s true that spring rains are great for new plant growth – which is a welcome sight after a long winter – some storms are capable of unleashing several inches of rain in just a few hours. Add a little snow melt, and the ground quickly becomes saturated, storm drains overflow, and rivers and streams spill over their banks. The resulting flood waters can wreak havoc on everything and anything that gets in the way – including your home. Continue reading “Spring Flood Protection: How to Secure Your Home”

The weather’s getting better fast and that means there’s just one question everyone is asking: Who’s ready to ride? Of course, lots of great questions follow that one: What’s your favorite destination? What is your favorite route to ride? Who will you be riding with? Continue reading “Tips to Make Your Adventure Safer”

When most people think “car collector,” they imagine someone who loves the classics. But a whole lot of your customers have passion for the newer cars of today that have the potential to become the classics of tomorrow. Manufacturers are currently making some great performance cars and trucks that will likely become future collectibles. Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger SRT8, and Corvettes are all examples of new cars that are making big horsepower, are handling great, are a blast to drive, and look cool, too.  Continue reading “When to Write Collector Vs. Standard Auto”