July, 2022 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership

Reasons Why Your Car Will Not Start

Imagine. You wake up in the morning on a beautiful, sunny, summer day. There isn’t a single cloud in the sky. You’ve woken up early enough to be able to enjoy your morning at a calm, relaxing pace. You walk downstairs to your kitchen, get yourself a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee, and you sit down at your kitchen table to enjoy your delicious breakfast. Everything is going great! You’ve got a crisp dress shirt on and freshly pressed dress pants. You’re feeling especially confident this morning because you’ve just sprayed yourself with your newly purchased cologne that you got over the weekend.

And then, you walk out to your car, turn the key in the ignition, and…it won’t start! Let’s take a look at how something so awful could happen to you.

Dead Car Battery: This is the most common reason for why a car will not start. A battery tester can help you determine whether or not your battery is weak. If you determine that you have a dead or weak battery, consider jump starting your car with jumper cables. After doing this, give your car some time to run, so that your alternator can recharge the battery.

Battery corrosion: Having clean battery posts is essential if you want your car to start and run properly. If you’re not sure how to clean battery, seek a professional’s guidance.

Bad starter motor: When you turn the key in the ignition, if you hear a single clicking sound, this could mean there’s a problem with the electrical connection. Starters typically need to be replaced between every 30,000 and 200,000 miles.

Clogged fuel filter: A fuel filter’s main purpose is to keep debris from getting into your car’s fuel system. When the filter is clogged, it’s possible that not enough fuel can reach your engine. A general rule of thumb is to replace your fuel filter every two years or every 30,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Failed fuel pump: A failed fuel pump needs to be fixed by a professional.

Bad timing belt: The purpose of a timing belt is to ensure the engine’s valves open and close at the proper interval so that the values and pistons never touch. A failed timing belt can be extremely dangerous because it can lead to a failed engine. Generally, timing belts need to be replaced every 60,000 miles or every 5 years, whichever comes first.

Bad ignition coil: The ignition coil transforms a battery’s voltage into an electric spark. A damaged ignition coil means there isn’t enough juice to do that. In order to test the strength of the current running through the coil, you’ll need a multimeter—a tool designed to measure electrical current, voltage, and resistance.

Always remember, if you encounter a problem with your car that you’re not confident or comfortable fixing yourself, it’s always best to hire a professional to do that job for you.

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Do I Really Need Life Insurance? How Much?

When it comes to the subject of life insurance, a lot of people become uncomfortable when asked

Thinking about one’s mortality is an understandably uncomfortable subject matter. However, when it comes to protecting those whom you care about most after you’re gone, don’t you want to be able to say that you did everything you could to protect them financially? Purchasing a life insurance policy is a wonderful way to do just that.

So, how much life insurance do you need? It is recommended that you take your annual income and multiply that number 10 to 15 times as a starting point. However, how much coverage you purchase should ultimately factor in any anticipated financial obligations including debts, children, or aging parents.

There are number of factors that are considered when quoting someone for a life insurance policy.

Age

Typically speaking, the younger you are, the less expensive a life insurance policy is going to be. This is because when you are younger, you are, generally, in better health. Insurance companies consider you less of a risk to them.  The cost of life insurance policies increase between 4.5% and 9 % each year to put off purchasing coverage.

Zip Code

Depending on the state in which you live, some policies may or may not be available to you. Each state may have its own individual regulations that could affect what kind of life insurance policy you can get.

Term Length

When considering how much life insurance coverage to purchase, consider how much your greatest financial obligations cost i.e. your mortgage. Make sure you purchase enough coverage that will cover these obligations in the event of your sudden death, so that your family is not left with an insurmountable burden.

Policy Coverage Amount

The larger the death benefit, the higher your insurance premiums will be.

Before your premium is calculated, you will be asked for have a medical examination administered for yourself. The exam results will help determine your insurance premium.

How to Determine How Much Coverage to Purchase

Add up your assets

Add up your debts and financial obligations

Subtract your assets from your debts and financial obligations

Decide your policy’s term length

Call us at (301) 948-2010! One of our experienced life insurance professionals will be happy to assist you in going over any and all questions you may have about different coverages.

 

 

 

 

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Swimming Pool Safety Tips

There are many who dream of one day owning a swimming pool. With owning a swimming pool comes certain responsibilities, that, if ignored, can lead to serious injury or even death. In order to minimize the risks, make sure you follow these helpful tips so that you and your family remain safe at the pool.

  • Install a fence that is at least 4 feet tall and make sure you have a gate that locks surrounding the pool area.
  • When you’re not actively using the pool, make sure that ladders and pool equipment are removed from the area and properly stored. Items such as toys and flotation devices should be out of reach of small children. If children want to use these items, be sure to supervise them while doing so. Also, place a solid covering over the pool to prevent stumbles and falls into the pool. This is especially important to protect those who may not be the best swimmers or who may need help. Additionally, coverings will help keep debris out of the water.
  • A responsible adult should be supervising young children around the pool at all times.
  • Inexperienced swimmers should consider wearing a life vest.
  • Invest in pool safety equipment i.e. a life hook, life rings, and safety rope. Post safety rules and make sure to enforce these rules with your family members and any guests you may have.
  • Consider installing a motion-activated alarm, so that you can be alerted when someone opens the gate and enters the water while you’re not around.
  • If you have young children, consider installing a back door alarm that can alert you if one of them slips outside.
  • Limit the use of alcohol when using the pool. Consumption of alcohol can affect balance, coordination, and judgment.

Enjoy the warm weather and remember to follow these safety tips with your family and friends.

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Benefits of an Electric Vehicle vs. Gas-Powered Vehicle

 

A lot of people turn themselves away from the prospect of owning an electric vehicle. Reasons for this may be the cost or overall reliability of the car. While these concerns are valid, research suggests that buying a vehicle strictly based upon pricing may not be the wisest approach.

Since the majority of drivers finance their vehicles, consider approaching cost not by the sticker price, but how much it will cost you per month for your car.

When you look at purchasing a vehicle from the standpoint of factoring in fuel savings, maintenance costs, and state incentives for electric vehicle purchases, buying an electric vehicle may start to look a lot more economical than purchasing a gas car.

Researchers studied six electric models: the Hyundai Kona Electric SEL, the Kona Electric Limited, the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, the Kia Niro EV EX Premium, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Plus, and the Nissan Leaf. Each model was compared against an equivalent combustion-engine vehicle from the same brand.

The firm determined the monthly cost to own each vehicle over its financing term, including loan payments, maintenance, gas/electricity costs, insurance, and other taxes and fees. Researchers modeled costs across all 50 states, accounting for a federal $7,500 tax break for clean-vehicle purchases, state-specific programs, and energy costs in different states.

The Kona Electric SEL and F-150 Lightning Pro were cheaper to own per month in every state despite carrying a $10,000 premium over their gas counterparts. Annual savings for those vehicles added up to $800 and $1,400, respectively. Three other models — the XC40 Recharge, Leaf, and Kona Electric Premium — had cheaper monthly costs in about half the country. Where they were more expensive, it was often by $15 or less, the report said.

Once a loan for an electric vehicle is paid off, the overall costs for the consumer drop significantly since he or she does not need to factor in the cost of gasoline. According to the report, costs can range between a savings of $1,500-$3,000 per year compared to a gas-powered car.

 

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