5 Home Maintenance Items You Shouldn’t Overlook

As a homeowner, you already know that it’s important to keep your home clean and in good condition. Sure, vacuuming the floors may come to mind first—but there are some other frequently overlooked home maintenance items that you should check in on, too! Take a look our top home maintenance tips to keep your home tidy and clean.

1. Dishwasher Filters

The dishwasher filter is your trusty sidekick when it comes to ensuring you’re getting squeaky clean dishes. Over time, the filter can become clogged with debris, which can cause it to spew out old food particles while washing your dishes. Dishwashers can also be prone to bacteria because of the dampness, especially when they are not cleaned regularly. Make sure you run an empty cycle with cleansing liquid every once in a while and give it time to fully dry out. To clean your dishwasher filter, simply remove it from the dishwasher and rinse it off with warm water and soap.

2. Washer and Dryer Filters

Did you know you’re supposed to wash your washer? Like the dishwasher, your washing machine can be prone to mold or other bacteria. Run an empty load with some white vinegar and baking soda in your washer to remove any buildup of detergent or fabric softener.

You probably already know to clean off the lint trap in your dryer between each load of laundry, but do you know how often to clean the dryer vent? A dirty dryer vent is the culprit behind 34% of home fires caused by dryers. It’s best to clean out the dryer vent and behind the dryer around every three months. To do so, unplug your dryer from the wall, disconnect the dryer duct (located on the back of the dryer), and vacuum the lint out of the vent. If you have a long or difficult to access dryer vent, you can also hire a professional to come clear the line for you.

3. Water Heaters

Your water heater is another important item to check for maintenance. Over time, minerals can build up in your water heater, which could cause your water lines to clog or lead to other major problems. Keep your water heater in tip-top shape with checkups by professionals at least once a year to make sure everything is running smoothly. Another step to maintaining a healthy water heater is flushing your water heater at least once or twice a year to avoid buildup. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way to keep you safe from major problems or damage!

4. Faucet Aerators

If your faucet doesn’t seem to be performing the way it used to, your faucet aerators may be to blame. These are another item that often gets overlooked when it comes to cleaning. Like a water heater, these small screens at the end of faucets can become filled with minerals, which can clog up your faucet and restrict your water pressure. To clean your faucet aerators, just unscrew them and rinse them off with warm water or soak them in vinegar. Faucet aerators should be rinsed at least every six months or more if you have harder water.

5. Air Filters and Vents

You probably know you need to replace your air filters, but how often do you clean your vents? It’s good practice to do a monthly or quarterly inspection of your air vents for any dust buildup. See any dust buildup? Use a duster or a vacuum attachment to remove the buildup. There are a lot of factors that go into how often you need to replace your filters and clean your vents; however, your air filter may have a replacement date to follow as a general guide.

Keep your home running like a well-oiled machine by taking the time implement our home maintenance tips! However, in the event that damage does occur, it’s important to know that you have options. Reach out to your local OKFB insurance agent for help and to talk through your coverage plan or to assist in the event of a claim.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re a long-time policyholder or just starting to look for insurance options, we have team members who can help. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss, connect with your local OKFB agent today. If you have any insurance-specific questions, we would love to help you find the coverage that best meets your homeautocommercial and life insurance needs.

Don’t forget to follow us on social and share our home maintenance tips! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on FacebookInstagram and LinkedIn.

Are you prepared for summer?

Important question: Do you know what it takes to enjoy your favorite summertime activities safely and responsibly?

Summer is a time for fun in the sun and enjoying activities with your family and friends, but these activities also come with increased risk of accidents and injury. Summer safety is not often someone’s first thought when grilling, camping, enjoying the great outdoors or splashing in the local pool. However, being prepared for the unexpected can help you and your loved ones stay safe while still enjoying your summer plans!

Answer the following summer quiz questions to test your safety skills. The prize for a perfect score? Major bragging rights and feeling secure knowing that you are prepared for a fun (and accident-free) summer. Remember to share this summer quiz with friends and family—having this knowledge could save a life! (Scroll down to see the answers.)

Summer Quiz

  1. Did you know that some swimsuit colors are safer than others? What is the safest swimsuit color of the options below?
    a.) Black
    b.) Neon pink
    c.) Blue-ish purple
    d.) Mossy green
  2. Squirting lighter fluid on already-burning charcoal is a smart way to grill.
    a.) True
    b.) False
  3. All RVs are the same, so they all require the same insurance coverage.
    a.) True
    b.) False
  4. It’s okay to leave my pet in the car when it’s:
    a.) 100 degrees
    b.) 95 degrees
    c.) 80 degrees
    d.) None of the above
  5. I don’t need to wear sunscreen on a cloudy day.
    a.) True
    b.) False
  6. Which of the following is a symptom of heat exhaustion?
    a.) Headache
    b.) Nausea
    c.) Irritability
    d.) All of the above
  7. Kids should wear a helmet when riding:
    a.) A horse
    b.) A bicycle
    c.) A scooter
    d.) All of the above
  8. Can a jet ski be placed on a boat insurance policy?
    a.) Yes
    b.) No
    c.) Yes, but only if it’s really cool

How did you do on our summer quiz? Keep reading to find out!

Answers

1. The answer is: B – Neon pink

When someone is under the water, they can be difficult to spot. Choosing the right swimsuit color can help you keep an eye on your loved ones more easily.

2. The answer is: False

Don’t pour or squirt lighter fluid onto an open flame. This can cause a flashback fire to the container in your hands.

3. The answer is: False

There’s a big difference between a Class A motorhome and a pop-up camper. The type of RV you own will play a big role in determining the amount and type of coverage you need. Not sure if you have the right coverage? Contact your local OKFB agent to find out.

4. The answer is: D – None of the above

Even if you’re parked in the shade with the windows down, the inside of your car can become unbearably hot very quickly. Dogs can start to experience heat exhaustion when their body temperature hits 103 degrees.

5. The answer is: B – False

You can get a nasty sunburn even on cloudy days.

6. The answer is: D – All of the above

Heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death if the person does not receive emergency treatment. Visit CDC.com to learn how to spot the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

7. The answer is: D – All of the above

Bike helmets reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45%, brain injury by 33%, facial injury by 27% and fatal injury by 29%. And remember: helmets are for everyone—not just kids.

8. The answer is: A – Yes

Boat Insurance options and features include liability, medical payments and physical damage. Ask your OKFB agent about insuring your jet skis on a Boat Insurance policy.

4 Tips for End-of-Life Planning

Whether you practice healthy eating habits or exercise daily, it’s important to do end-of-life planning to help ensure that you receive the care needed and can allocate assets to your loved ones. Unsure of where to begin? Here are our top four tips to consider when creating an end-of-life plan:

  1. Gather Important Documents

A good first step is to gather all your important documents and paperwork. For example:

  • Social Security card
  • Birth certificate 
  • Power of attorney 
  • Bills and bank statements
  • Insurance policies

Note that when you’re not accessing these documents, it could be good to ensure they are stored in a safe place, like a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. Remember to let your executor or a family member know where and how to access these documents in case of an emergency. 

  1. Determine End-of-Life Care

Two of the most crucial aspects of end-of-life planning is determining what care you plan to receive and identifying who will be helping you along the way. For instance, if you’re unable to make decisions for yourself, the person you identify in an advance directive can choose the course of treatment you receive. 

Creating an advance directive is one way to ensure your family knows what your wishes are. A health care provider can help with this process and can answer any questions you may have. 

  1. Consult an Estate Lawyer 

End-of-life planning can be an overwhelming process, and important decisions could be overlooked. Consider consulting an estate lawyer as they can help with the following documents: 

  • Living Will 
  • Last Will and Testament 
  • Living Trust 
  • Letter of Intent 
  • Financial Power of Attorney 
  • Health Care Power of Attorney 
  • Letter of Competency 
  • Organ Donor Card 
  • Do Not Resuscitate Order 
  • HIPAA Release 

Ensuring these documents are prepared can provide peace of mind and may even reduce stress for your family during a difficult time.  

  1. Decide on a Life Insurance Policy 

If you haven’t already, consider purchasing a life insurance policy and designate your beneficiaries. Life Insurance policies could help your family continue to pay bills and other expenses after you pass. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance offers three types of Life Insurance policies: 

  • Term Life 
  • Whole Life 
  • Universal Life 

Term Life

Term Life policies can protect your family or business for a set amount of time, or a set “term.” Once the determined term ends, so does the coverage. Learn more about Term Life Insurance.

Whole Life

Whole life policies insures an individual for their entire life. It offers financial protection for your loved ones and gives them access to an accumulated cash value that was determined with your insurance provider. Learn more about Whole Life Insurance

Universal Life

Life is full of unknowns, so you may prefer a plan with some flexibility. Universal Life is similar to a Whole Life insurance policy, but it allows you to adjust elements in your policy along the way, like premium payments and death benefits. 

End-of-life planning is all about ensuring that your loved ones are protected. If you want to make changes to your existing policy, or are thinking about purchasing a plan, contact your local OKFB agent to discuss your options. Our life insurance calculator is also a great tool to help you understand the amount of coverage that’s right for you.

OKFB Coloring Pages

About:

We know parents, grandparents and caregivers are looking for ways to occupy the kids right now, so we have designed coloring pages to help entertain and teach kids a simple lesson. Check out our double-sided OKFB coloring pages for elementary-aged school children. One side of the page teaches a lesson about storm season safety and the other side teaches a lesson about helping your fellow Oklahomans/being a good neighbor.

Download the coloring pages here:

OKFB Coloring Pages

Share your masterpiece with us:

Once your child designs a coloring page, we’d like to see it! Share your student’s masterpiece with us by tagging us on Facebook – @OKFBinsurance. We may share some of the photos on our official Facebook page!