June, 2022 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership

Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Test the AC

When you begin to face those blazing-hot summer temperatures, you’ll probably want to turn on your air-conditioning system. Make sure it’s working properly before temperatures start to rise. It’s not fun driving in a car in the middle of the summer without air-conditioning!

Check the air pressure in your tires

Winter weather can take a serious toll on the well-being of your tires, causing significant wear and tear and overall damage. When inspecting your tires, look closely to see if they are under-inflated or over-inflated. Both scenarios can be problematic. Most passenger vehicles recommend a tire pressure between 30 and 35 psi (pounds per square inch). Your car’s owner’s manual will detail specifics about what is appropriate and necessary for your particular vehicle.

Change vehicle fluids

Some vehicle fluids can either thin or evaporate in warm temperatures. Make sure you are topping off your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield wiper fluid, so you’re ready and able to take on the summer heat.

Coolant is especially important in the summer, so that your engine doesn’t overheat. Having your engine overheat can lead to more serious problems and, if not addressed, can lead you to a costly insurance claim.

Change your oil & filter

If you want to ensure your vehicle’s longevity, one of the best ways of doing so is by changing the oil regularly. Fresh oil will keep your car safe from wear and tear. An oil filter can ensure you that any contaminants are removed from your car’s engine oil.

Test your brakes

Driving along and having your brakes fail can lead to serious consequences including bodily injuries and even death. Make sure you are testing your brakes regularly.

Squealing, growling, or grinding sounds are never a good sign. That means it’s time to get your brakes changed. If your vehicle is pulling you to one side or the other, this is another sign that you need to change your brakes. Make sure to take your car in for inspection and possible repair.

Replace your windshield wipers

Visibility is definitely one of the most important parts of driving a car. During summer months, dust and pollen tend to build up on windshields. Use your windshield wiper fluid to clean this off. Check or replace your windshield wipers every season.

Clean or replace your air filters

Air filters keep pollutants from coming in through vents. This is extremely crucial during warm months where pollen counts are at their highest. Old filters can lead to problems with your air conditioning system.

A general rule of thumb is to change your air filter at least once a year.

Get your car detailed

Not only will you feel better emotionally, but driving a clean car can actually save you from potential costly repairs to your car. That’s right. Hot temperatures have the ability to melt plastics. Additionally, food that’s left inside your car for extended periods of time could damage its interior – not to mention the foul smell.

Keeping your car’s exterior clean can help preserve the paintjob, protecting it from harmful sun rays or damages caused by birds or insects.

Rotate your tires

Your car’s tires are not all going to experience the same kind of wear and tear at the same time. Experts recommend that you rotate your tires between every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

What You Should Do When You Witness a Car Accident

Move a safe distance away from the crash site, but do not leave the scene.

Witnessing a car accident can be quite startling. It’s important to remain calm if are a witness in a collision. Do not panic and make sure to leave enough room for emergency vehicles to get to the places they need to be. Every second counts in serious accidents involving injuries to other parties. Do not forget to turn your flashers on, so that other vehicles that approach you or drive past you are able to see you clearly. Before exiting your vehicle, look around you to make sure the surrounding area is clear.

Help secure the scene.

While you do want to make sure that everyone involved in the accident is okay, it is important to not tamper with the evidence at the scene that will help paint a clear picture of the events at the scene and what actually happened. Police and emergency services will want these answers, as well as a clear, safe path to any injured parties to provide them with the attention and care they need. Do not let anyone leave the scene of the accident. It is important to remember that tempers may be high depending on the nature of events that occurred, so always protect yourself first.

Call the police.

When you dial 911, be ready to describe the nature of the emergency to the police and provide the location. It will be important to be able to describe the scene as well. The more informative information you can provide to emergency services, the better prepared they will be to provide proper care to any injured parties.

Check on the victims.

Ask the victims if they are hurt or are in need of any assistance. Offer you phone to them, so they can call family members or friends. Finally, consider setting up road flares around the scene in order to give the scene some security. Drivers of other vehicles will see the flares and know not to approach the scene.

Take photos of the damage to the vehicles involved in the accident

Taking photos of damage at the scene can assist others in legal disputes that may arise as a result of the accident. The victim of the crash may want to use any photos that may help them in providing proof in court that they were not at fault. These photos may also be of helpful to insurance adjusters in assessing whether or not the vehicles involved are salvageable or if they are total losses.

Give a statement and offer your contact information

If police and/or emergency services are called to the scene, you may be asked to describe what happened that caused the accident. Be as thorough as possible. Offer the best way to contact you to the police should they need to get any additional information regarding the accident from you in the future.

5 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Home

When searching for a home, what comes at the top of your list of priorities? Perhaps getting the opportunity to immerse yourself in the splendor of nature, enjoying the views of the countryside as you sip on your morning tea. Or maybe you are looking for a home with an open kitchen concept, affording you the opportunity to host large family gatherings. If you have children, maybe finding a home in a fantastic school district is what is most important to you. Here’s a list of elements that will be undoubtedly important and necessary to consider when purchasing your next home.

The Right School

This isn’t something that you should ignore, even if you don’t have kids. The school district in which you make your home can have a profound influence on your home’s value. So, when it comes time to sell, living in a home in a good school district may help you in your quest to get the most out of selling your home.

If you do have children or are planning to start a family, looking into the potential schools your child may attend will definitely be something you want to think about. As always, if you decide that these schools are not up to your standards, you can always consider a private or charter school nearby.

Culture and Visual Appeal

Before buying a home, take a look around the neighborhood to see if it is up to your liking. Are lawns tidy or unkempt? Are there bars on windows? Are the homes properly maintained? The visual appeal of a neighborhood can reveal a lot about the kind of people that live there are if you will be satisfied, comfortable, and happy living there. What about the culture? Does it mesh well with your lifestyle? These are all important factors to consider, so take your time.

Crime Rate

Of course you shouldn’t drive around a neighborhood looking for criminal activity. To safely check on crime rates in a particular neighborhood, visit crimereports.com for a map of offenses as well as what is trending regarding criminal activity. Additionally, by visiting familywatchdog.us, you can access a map that notes nearby sex offenders.

Convenience

What kind of home best suits your particular lifestyle? Do you prefer being within walking distance of local coffee shops or clothing stores? Do you prefer to have a short commute to work every morning? Do you enjoy going to sporting events? Maybe living close to a metro station is something you want to seriously consider. Whatever you situation may be, take some time to think about what kind of daily life you want to live and think about whether or not a particular home will best give you that opportunity.

How Long Can My Car Sit Without Being Driven?

Anticipating possible change and preparing for it is the best way to be ready for the unexpected. While COVID-19 certainly uprooted the lives of many people all over the world, business owners were forced make some changes to their daily operations to ensure the overall health and survival of their business. And, while employees of these businesses were able to keep their jobs, they were forced to make changes to their daily lives as well.

By taking the proper preparation steps, your car may be able to survive extended periods of time sitting in your garage with no issues whatsoever. Here’s what you need to know to get your car ready for that long-term storage period.

If you prepare your vehicle for storage properly, it will not be damaged. Negative effects of time on a car that remains undriven can appear sooner than you might think.

Fuel: Did you know that fuel can go bad? When exposed to oxygen, fuel can degrade. To combat this, keep your fuel stored in an airtight container. When this is not done, it takes between three to six months for fuel to go bad. When gasoline goes bad, you may be looking at costly repairs to your vehicle’s fuel system.

Battery: A typical car battery lasts between three and five years. It’s important to drive your car regularly because, as you drive, your car’s alternator continually recharges the battery in order to replenish the power being used. A car that has been sitting for a long time without being driven has no way to charge its battery, therefore leading to its demise.

Rust: Damp conditions will oftentimes lead to rusted metal. Therefore, it’s important to store your vehicle in a dry environment to prevent its parts from rusting. When roads are salted in the winter, cars are more susceptible to being rusted. If not properly addressed, rust can certainly worsen over time.

Tires: Your tires may begin to develop flat spots if left stored for a month or more without being driven. It can get worse if the tires have low tire pressure. If you’re lucky, your tires may lose these flat spots after having been driven on for a while. If not, you may be forced to purchase a whole new set of tires. That can be expensive.

Belts and hoses: It’s important to regularly inspect your belts and hoses. When a vehicle is in storage, the belts and hoses of the car may need to be replaced in as little as three to five years.

Pests: Mice and other rodents can do serious damage to your vehicle, chewing on wires and insulation.

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Storage?

Add fuel stabilizer: Adding a chemical fuel stabilizer can help prevent your gasoline from degrading.

Charge your battery: Depending on whether your battery is completely dead or just needs to be slightly charged, you’ll need the appropriate charger to perform this task. Make sure to purchase a battery maintainer or “trickle” charger. These particular chargers are specifically designed to be left plugged in and connected to your car while it’s parked.

Wash your car: Keeping your car in pristine order can help prevent it from rusting and suffering paint damage.

Keep it covered: Unless you have a garage, it may be a good idea to get a car cover to keep dirt and moisture away from your vehicle. Try not to park your car on grass. The excess moisture can accelerate rusting.

Add fresh fluids: Used engine oil, brake fluid, and power steering fluid can trap contaminants that can potentially damage your car over time. Adding fresh fluids to your car can help prevent further damage.