Our Blog

November 30, 2017

Recently Chase Boian, our IT Help Desk Analyst, obtained the CompTIA A+ certification.  According to the CompTIA certification website, the CompTIA A+ certification is a powerful credential that helps IT professionals worldwide boost their IT career.  “It validates understanding of the most common hardware and software technologies in business and certifies the skills necessary to support complex IT infrastructures.”  As Help Desk Analyst, Chase is presented with multiple different challenges on a daily basis, and this certification further demonstrates his ability to handle these demands.

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The CompTIA certifications are awarded by The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a non-profit trade association dedicated to helping advance the information technology industry.

Goodville continues to support our employee development goals, and we are proud of this accomplishment by Chase.  Congratulations Chase!

November 14, 2017

In the next few months, we will rely on our home heating systems more and more.  But are you prepared to pay for an expensive repair if this equipment breaks down?  With Equipment Breakdown coverage you can be protected against risks to your home systems and property that are often excluded from a typical Homeowners policy.

What is Equipment Breakdown coverage?

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Equipment Breakdown coverage protects you against unexpected repairs or replacement costs due to an electrical, mechanical, or pressure systems breakdown.

A few highlights of this coverage are:

• The coverage follows the terms and conditions of your current homeowner’s policy, meaning that other structures on your property, such as a garage or shed, are covered as well.
• Off-premises coverage is included for property away from your home, like a laptop at college.
• This is a good alternative to home warranty plans, which can be expensive.

What property does it cover?

• Clothes washers and dryers
• Computer equipment
• Dishwashers
• Freezers
• Heat pumps
• High efficiency home heating and central A/C systems
• Home security systems
• Refrigerators
• Ovens
• And more!

What doesn't it cover?

This coverage is intended to protect you in the event of a mechanical breakdown, not normal wear and tear.  A mechanical breakdown often occurs suddenly.  Wear and tear takes time to occur; equipment performance slowly declines but the equipment continues to work.  This includes leaks from a water heater.  Coverage for wear and tear is excluded in a homeowner’s policy, and because no equipment breakdown has occurred, it is also excluded as a coverage by the equipment breakdown endorsement.

Why is it important to you right now?

The coverage helps you pay for losses, including breakdowns specific to heating systems:

• If your furnace breakdowns unexpectedly and needs an expensive repair.
• If you experience a power surge, damaging electrical items including your furnace.

Equipment Breakdown coverage can be added to your Homeowners policy with Goodville.  Speak with your local agent about the coverage and if it fits your needs.

This blog entry is created for informational purposes only.  Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company.  The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.

November 21, 2017

Thanksgiving is almost here!  Are you planning to cook a turkey?  Are you planning to fry it?  Because of the fire dangers associated with them, the NFPA strongly discourages the use of turkey fryers.  If you are still planning to fry your turkey, know the potential dangers, provided by the U. S. Fire Administration (USFA):

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1. Turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot oil across a large area.
2. A cooking pot that is overfilled will cause oil to spill over the top when the turkey is placed inside.
3. A partially frozen turkey will cause hot oil to splatter.
4. Turkey fryers can easily overheat and start a fire.
5. The pot, lid, and handles of a turkey fryer can get extremely hot and cause burns.

With these dangers in mind, be sure to follow these tips from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to keep you, your guests, and your property safe:

1. Read the owner’s manual for proper set up and safety tips.
2. Completely thaw the turkey before frying.
3. Use the correct amount of oil.
4. Never leave the fryer unattended.
5. Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
   • The USFA recommends having a “3-foot kid- and pet-free zone” around your turkey fryer.
6. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.  Never use water to extinguish an oil fire.
7. As the lid and handles of the cooking pot could get dangerously hot, be sure to protect yourself from burns.
   • The USFA recommends wearing long cooking gloves that protect hands and arms.
8. Do not deep fry your turkey inside your garage, on your porch, or inside your home.
9. Use your fryer outside, away from trees, walls, fences, and other structures.

No matter what or how you are cooking this Thanksgiving, be safe.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires.  Many of these fires are preventable by taking safety precautions.

And, as always, remember to test your smoke alarms ahead of time.

Resources

http://www.nfpa.org/thanksgiving

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/turkey_fryers_flyer.pdf

http://www.insurance.pa.gov/Coverage/Documents/Turkey_frying_tips.pdf

This blog entry is created for informational purposes only. Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company. The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.