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It’s that time of year again – we’re all getting ready for the cooler months ahead. This year, you may find yourself working or studying from home more often, which begs the question – how can I heat my home without the enormous energy bill? Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here are just a few ways to keep your home warm without the sky-high bill. 

Keep blankets nearby

If you spend a lot of time in one or two rooms, consider having a supply of blankets in each space. Blankets can instantly transform a room from cold to cozy. When you feel warmer with a blanket, you’re less tempted to turn on the heating and burn through energy. 

Insulate hot water pipes

When the hot water pipes are left exposed in cold, drafty areas, it uses more energy to heat up the water. To prevent higher bills – and prevent the chance of frozen pipes – wrap insulation around the pipes. 

Dress in layers

In winter, thermals are your best friend. Dress for the cooler weather – even if you’re just going to be around the house. Layer up with multiple long-sleeve t-shirts and sweaters. This will help you feel warmer when working around the house so that you don’t turn to the thermostat.

Let the sunlight in

It’s important to use as much natural – and free – heat as possible. Open up the curtains to let the sunshine in and benefit from that free heat source. For windows that don’t receive any sunlight, consider keeping the curtains closed during the day so that as little heat is lost as possible. 

Seal up windows and doors

Walk around your home to spot any holes or gaps that could be letting in cold air through doors and windows. Now is the time to seal up cracks to prevent heat loss. If the caulking around windows and doors is old and cracking, remove it and reapply. This will help to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. 

Stock up on rugs

Although exposed wood floors make quite the impact, they can be cold to touch. Throughout the cooler months, consider buying some big rugs to lay down to drastically reduce heat loss through the floor. Not only does this help your energy bills, but it makes everything feel cozier inside the house, too.

Utilize home cooking

Perhaps you find yourself cooking more often these days. If that’s the case, choose to use your oven more. Roast veggies and then blend them to create delicious soups and stews. Not only will you warm up with a hot meal, but the oven will help to heat your home. Although you should never use the oven as a form of heating, you can benefit from a warmer kitchen when you’re cooking. 

These are just a few ways to help keep your home warm without the large energy bills. Secure reliable homeowners insurance that protects you through disasters. Call one of our trusted advisors at Abatelli Group, Inc. We are ready to get you the protection and peace of mind you need.

Get your car ready for the summer months.

Road trip season is almost here! Now is the time to make sure your vehicle is ready to handle some sun-drenched driving. Summer’s high temperatures, flurries of dust, and occasional rainfall can take a toll on your vehicle and driving. To help ensure your car is ready for the summer roads ahead, be sure to follow these car maintenance tips.

• Get your oil and oil filter changed

This is particularly important if your last oil change was a while ago. Intense weather conditions can put extra demands on your oil and oil filter, and breaking down in the hot sun isn’t an option. A clean filter and new oil make for a healthier, happier engine!

• Top up the fluids

The fluids often get neglected in summer because motorists likely topped them up before winter. However, now is the time to double check the fluid levels such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and even windshield wiper fluid. Coolant fluid is especially important to keep an eye on before the heat of the season.

• Test the tire pressure

Potholes and difficult road conditions wear on your tires and their air pressure. Make sure that your tires (including your spare) are properly inflated before hitting the road for a big summer road trip. Tires with low air pressure tend to wear out much quicker and will lead to inefficient fuel consumption.

• Replace the wipers

It may sound ridiculous to get new wiper blades in the summer months, but summer isn’t always about the heat. When there’s rain or mist, you’ll want good, functioning wiper blades that are clean and effective.

To learn more about auto insurance, contact Abatelli Group, Inc. for a quote. We can help you secure reliable Whitestone, NY car insurance coverage!

Be Joyful and Careful This Holiday Season

With all we tend to tackle during the holidays, getting things done can sometimes take priority over doing things cautiously. Your Independent Agent and kemper would like to share some ideas on how to take care, protect your property and still enjoy the festivities in the busy weeks ahead.

Running a home-based business isn’t easy, here’s how you can insure it to protect your business equipment. 

If you run a business from the comfort of your own home, you may not have enough insurance to protect your business equipment. A standard homeowners insurance policy provides only $2,500 coverage for business equipment, which likely is not enough to cover all of your property associated with your business. As a business, you will likely need coverage for liability and lost income.

Regardless of what insurance policy you choose, you need professional liability insurance. Here are the three basic kinds of liability insurance you should consider — depending on the nature of your business.

1. Homeowners Policy Endorsement

You may not need to take out an entirely different policy. A homeowners policy endorsement just adds protection to your already existing homeowners policy to double your standard coverage for business equipment like computers and printers.

2. In-Home Business Policy

An in-home business policy provides more comprehensive coverage than the homeowners policy endorsement. In addition to the protection for your business, this policy could reimburse you for the loss of important papers and records. It may even pay for the income you lose if your home is badly damaged from a covered peril that it forces you to temporarily pause your business.

3. Business Owners Policy (BOP)

If your business is on the bigger side of things, as far as home businesses are concerned, then homeowners insurance policy and any add-ons won’t exactly cut it. It covers business property and equipment, loss of income, extra expenses, and liability—like the other policies, only on a much grander scale.

Whichever you choose is best for your business, it’s important to realize that not even your business is immune to dangers. Make sure that your home business is protected with the right commercial insurance policy. Contact Abatelli Group, Inc. for a proper policy on your insurance needs.

The cold is settling in and if our homes are not well-maintained, we can be throwing money away as we try to keep ourselves warm. 

Cold temperatures are great for some unique outdoor activities: snowball fights, sledding, ice skating, making snowmen, and other fun activities. But outside of play, living in the cold can be rough. Luckily for us, we do not have to live in the cold; humanity can do what no other animal can do: change our environment to suit our comforts. If our homes are not properly ready for winter, we can essentially rack up our heating bill and waste a lot of energy. Here are a few winter home maintenance tips for your home.

Insulation 

• Add weather stripping around your doors and caulk the window seals in order to stop drafts and prevent heat loss. The more heat you keep in your home, the more energy you save and the more money you save.
• Heat rises so make sure to insulate your attic to keep the heat from escaping into the atmosphere. If you allow heat to escape from the attic, it warms the roof melting snow and creating ice dams.
• If allowed, remove screens from windows and install storm windows.

Utilities

• Learn how to shut your water supply off and know where your pipes are located to prevent water damage. And turn them off if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time.
• Check and fix any water leaks. Use only thermostatically-controlled heat tape if your water pipe is plastic and is exposed to unheated areas like garages, crawl spaces, and such other areas.

Protect your home from the dangers of winter. Make sure that your home is protected with the right home insurance policy. Contact Abatelli Group, Inc. for a proper policy on your insurance needs.

The winter may be a beautiful season but it is not without its own risks. In this case, driving becomes more dangerous and you should know how to stay safe. 

The winter brings snow and ice, which may be beautiful for a National Geographic nature documentary, but it is nothing short of annoying and dangerous when it comes to driving. The winter roads become a lot more dangerous when snow falls and ice forms, but there are some steps you can take to lower your chances of an accident. Here are a few winter driving safety tips you can use to help you stay safe while you drive during the winter.

Tires

Your tires are not made for gaining traction in the snow and can slip and slide at any given moment. Make sure that you are prepared and install your snow tires before the first snow of winter falls.

As the cold temperatures arrive, your tire pressure will lessen. This is because of the ideal gas law which states that as temperature drops, pressure follows. It applies to the atmosphere, your tires, and, yes, even footballs. Ensure that your tire pressure is at the optimal level, especially during the winter; refer to the owner’s manual to know your car’s recommended psi.

Windows & Mirrors

If you park your car outside overnight, you will have ice that condensates onto your windshields and mirrors. Invest in an ice scraper to scrape the ice in the morning. You can turn on your car and start the heat for about five minutes to simplify this task.

Driving Practices

With ice on the roads, it’s important that you leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. That way, you will have plenty of time and space to come to a full stop should the other car come to a sudden stop.

Make sure that your car is protected with the right auto insurance policy. Contact Abatelli Group, Inc. for a proper quote on your insurance needs.

Abatelli Group, Inc. would like to extend a warm welcome to our new website and blog! Through our newly revamped website and blog, our team will update you on the latest news within the insurance industry while also offering regular lifestyle tips.

Our blog will be your first stop for not only the latest information but also community events in Queens and surrounding areas in New York. We encourage you to browse through our new innovative website to see all that we have to offer.

We are always available to guide you through the insurance shopping process for all of your New York insurance needs. We work to serve the best interests of you, your family, and your business.