Even though wood stoves provide an old fashioned sense of comfort, they bring several dangers with them. When purchasing and installing a wood stove, it is important to be thorough in your selection process. Whether you are buying a used or new heating system, make sure it is safe to use. If you are planning on purchasing one, make sure it is made out of a sturdy material such as cast iron or steel. If you are buying a used one, carefully check for cracks and other defects.

Before you install or light your wood stove, it should be properly inspected and certified. Check with a certified professional to meet the proper regulations in the following areas:

• Fire and building codes
• Chimney/ Flue guidelines (location, lining and length)
• Floor mounting of your stove
• Stove pipe
• Dampers

Once your wood stove is properly installed and checked, the next step is understanding what kind of wood to use. For your stove, it is recommended that you use hard wood. According to the University of Maine Extension Service, woods such as apple and beech have the best heating values. Other recommended woods are red oak, sugar maple, and ironwood. Using the proper wood will prevent the buildup of creosote which can lead to potential dangers.

Once you have your wood, it is important to build a safe and sustainable fire. Remember to always build the fire on a shallow bed of ashes, which provides a heat reflecting surface. Use a small amount of crumpled paper and cover it with a few small sticks of wood fuel before adding larger pieces. If the fire burns too slowly, the draft louvers and the damper above the stove pipe of the stove should be opened. Adjusting the draft and adding frequent but small amounts of wood will help keep your fire going. As a gentle reminder, you should never use kerosene or other flammable liquids in your wood stove.

If you are planning on using a wood stove this winter, make sure that your home is properly covered. Please contact OceanPoint Insurance at 401-847-5200 if you have any questions about coverages.

*Information for this blog provided by the Insurance Information Institute

One of the proudest moments in a parent’s life is watching their child go off to college. At OceanPoint Insurance, our job is to make sure you are prepared for all of life’s important events.

When students leave for college all of their expensive items go with them – cell phones, laptops, TV’s, etc. It is important to be aware of the factors that determine if these items will be covered by insurance. If your child will be living in a dorm on campus, his or her personal property will typically be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. However, you may want to check your policy for coverage limitations on certain high-priced items.

If your child will be living off campus, his or her personal property is usually not covered under your homeowners insurance policy. In that case, you should consider adding a renter’s insurance policy to protect his or her possessions.

Parents should also review their auto insurance options while their child is away. If he or she is not taking a car, there are other options available before dropping them entirely from your auto policy to save money.

Some insurance companies offer a Distant Student Discount for college students with no access to a car except over breaks and vacations. Requirements vary by insurance provider, but in order to be eligible students typically must be at least 100 miles away from home, be attending school full time, and under the age of 23.

As a full time student, your child may also qualify for a Good Student Discount if he or she maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

OceanPoint reminds you if your child is going away to school and taking a car, it is crucial you inform us immediately. Insurance coverage and laws vary from state to state, so if your child is attending school out of state we will need to update your policy. In addition, your child may need to be listed as the primary operator if he or she is taking a family vehicle.

Call your OceanPoint Insurance agent at 401.847.5200 to review your savings options. We’ll help you keep your child safe, even when you can’t be there to protect them.

In nineteen states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, insurance companies offer a special deductible for hurricane damage. A hurricane deductible applies to damage caused solely from a hurricane as categorized by the National Weather Service. Hurricane deductibles are only triggered when a named hurricane makes landfall in the state where the insured property is located. A deductible would not go into effect for a tropical storm, blizzard, or any other weather phenomenon other than a hurricane.

Hurricane deductibles are usually set between 1% and 5% of the dwelling limit – the amount for which a home is insured. As an example, if your home is insured for $300,000 and your policy has a 5% hurricane deductible, you would be responsible for the first $15,000 in hurricane damage. Hurricane deductibles are not permitted to exceed 5% of the dwelling limit.

While hurricane deductibles are not mandatory, many insurers make this a condition for coverage near the coast. As an agency that provides homeowners insurance to many coastal homes, OceanPoint also represents carriers who specialize in coastal coverage that do not require hurricane deductibles. Depending on the homeowner’s unique set of circumstances, we will recommend a coverage plan best suited for our client, which may or may not include a hurricane deductible.

For more information on hurricane deductibles or if you have any questions about your homeowners policy please call OceanPoint Insurance at 401.847.5200.