The price of gold is up. Do you have adequate coverage for your jewelry?

2011-09-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Now is a great time to sit down with your insurance policy and your jewelry box! The price of gold has gone up considerably over the past few years and you might not have adequate coverage on your jewelry anymore. That engagement ring you had appraised for $2,000 a few years ago is probably worth a lot more today, and needs to be insured to reflect its new value.We are recommending that you take your jewelry to a professional and have it re-appraised. Let us know the results and we can amend your policy accordingly.

If you don't have any extra jewelry coverage currently on your policy, think twice about adding some. An inland marine policy can replace lost or stolen jewelry, and even other items such as art work, collectibles, guns, etc. Make sure you are covered! Don't risk more than you can afford to lose!

Closing your pool for the winter?

2011-08-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over, which means it's almost time to do the dreaded task of closing your pool for the winter. Unfortunately, not all of us have a pool boy that can do it for us as we watch out our kitchen window. Doing it yourself can be a draining and confusing process, but if done the right way, it can prevent damage to your pool throughout the winter months, and also help prevent pool related claims. Joel LaFrange, ARM, the Senior Loss Control Consultant for Kentucky with The Cincinnati Insurance Company gave us some tips on closing a pool properly that we wanted to share with you. These tips were published in an article in The Cincinnatian, Summer 2011 issue.

Test and Regulate

Balance the water chemistry. Take a water sample to the local pool contractor approximately 3-7 days prior to closing the pool, then adjust the water balance within the ranges they specify. Shock the pool at least 1 pound per 10,000 gallons, allowing the chlorine level to return to 1.0-3.0 ppm before adding any winter algaecide or using a pool cover.
Remove skimmer baskets, wall fittings, cleaners, solar blankets and ladders from the pool.
Inspect pool ladders, handrails, steps and diving boards for cracks and rusty bolts to help prevent future claims.
Lower the pool's water level. Using the filter pump or a submersible pump, lower the water level 12-18 inches below the skimmer for mesh covers and 3-6 inches for solid, floating covers. (For Aquador skimmer covers, water levels needn't be lowered.)

Drain and Clean

Drain all pumping, filtering, heating and chlorinating equipment to prevent freezing and cracking. Every pump, filter, heater and chlorinator has drain plugs to allow water to drain.
Remove and thoroughly clean filter grids or cartridge filters. Consider storing them indoors.
Blow all of the water from the plumbing lines, then add antifreeze if recommended. Without proper flushing, the lines can crack and cause the pool to leak. This makes for a very expensive and time-consuming service call.
Lubricate the pump lid's O-rings and filter slide valve. For gas heaters with cast iron plugs, lubricate the threads or keep the plugs in after draining to prevent rushing. Heaters in desert regions may need rodent proofing.
Skim, vacuum and brush the pool.
Winterize the plumbing to and from the pool, making sure that all of the water is out of the plumbing lines and equipment. For in-ground pools, use a vacuum to blow out the lines from the skimmer, through the equipment and back to the pool; then plug the lines using expansion plugs. Above-ground pools usually just require disconnecting the hoses to and from the pump and filter and plugging the wall outlets.

Seal and Cover

Add algaecide and floaters for the cover.
Cover the pool with a tight pool cover. Today's covers are made to meet ASTM safety barrier standards; however, additional safety features, such as fencing, high gate latches and motion alarms help reduce the pool owner's potential to be held liable by keeping out unsolicited users and children, who can quickly sustain injuries or drown in only two inches of water. Be sure to review local zoning requirements to make certain the pool and surrounding area is compliant.

We hope that these tips can help you in getting your pool closed for the winter. Keep in mind that the above information should be used along with specific procedures for your individual pool. If you ever have any questions or problems, consult your local pool store for professional help.

Also, please remember that safety always comes first when having a pool. Your pool should be surrounded by a fence that has a locked gate. Keep the gate locked at all times to help prevent someone from getting in without your knowledge and possibly getting injured. Never leave children unattended in or around your pool; it only takes one second for an accident to happen!

From all of us at Thoroughbred, enjoy the rest of your summer!

Welcome!

2011-06-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new blog! We will keep you updated on insurance news, helpful tips, and things you need to know about insurance. Keep checking back for updates!

We are also in the process of revamping our webiste to make it easier for you to use. It's still a work in progress, but you can visit us at http://www.thoroughbredassociates.com/ to see how far we've come!

Thoroughbred Associates, Inc.

The price of gold is up. Do you have adequate coverage for your jewelry?

Closing your pool for the winter?

Welcome!