Just one issue in the Homeowners Spring & Summer Readiness Series.

This Series is especially for those homeowners around Maryland and Virginia who know how essential it is to keep their home safe and protect their investment through ongoing maintenance. As temperatures rise, preparing your home for the seasonal changes is important, and well-maintained air conditioning is top priority.

Central Air Conditioner

Disconnect electric power to the outdoor condenser on your air conditioner before beginning inspection and maintenance.
Before turning on, ensure that the outdoor condensing unit is not covered or obstructed by leaves, debris, newspapers, outdoor furniture, etc. The unit needs to pull in enough outside air to cool and circulate inside.
Be sure the thermostat is set in the cooling mode and not in heat mode. Then run your air conditioner for a few minutes now – before you need it instead of waiting until the first hot day to discover it isn't working.
Inspect the filters and change if necessary to prevent reduced air flow, diminished efficiency and the worst-case possibility of evaporator icing. Wash electrostatic or electronic filters and/or replace disposable fiberglass filters.
Inspect all access panels to be sure they are secure and that no fasteners/screws are missing or loose.

Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

Before checking out the unit, unplug it from the wall, remove the outdoor cover and the front access cover and remove the air conditioning unit from its mounting frame.
Vacuum out the condenser coils with a soft brush attachment. You can also hose off the coils from the inside out taking care not to get the electronics and motor wet.
Check the condenser coil for bent cooling fins which can restrict air flow and cooling capacity. To straighten the bent fins use a coil find tool/comb, matching the teeth count of the comb to the "fins per inch" of the coil. Then carefully draw the comb across the bent coil fins straightening them out in the process.
Replace damaged or ripped foam filter. If intact but dirty, wash the filter with dish soap and water and replace once it has dried.
Replace the unit back into its frame. Reinstall the front and outside covers, and plug the unit back in the wall. Run the unit for a few minutes to assure that it is working properly – now before you need it.

Here at the Daniel Howley Insurance Agency in Rockville, MD, we welcome the chance to help homeowners protect their home and their family. If you have upgraded the systems in your home or made home improvements that have increased your home's value, then don't forget to check with your insurance agent to assure that your home is still properly insured for its total value.

Prom Season - High Excitement - High Risk It’s the time of the year that teenagers have waited for. For high school seniors, graduation is just around the corner, and college acceptance letters are in the mail. For many high school teens, the long-awaited Prom Season has arrived, and memories of a lifetime (good or bad) will be created for both teens and families.

Yet, along with the excitement in this milestone season is a measure of significant risk. According to the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA), prom and graduation season – April through June – is the time when most teen motor vehicle deaths and serious injuries occur. Moreover, they report that alcohol-related crashes kill more people ages 16 to 20 than any other age group. Moreover, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) reports that the majority of teens in this age group get the alcohol from family or friends.

So how can parents prevent this tragedy during this season of celebration?

VIDEO: Prom Season – Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (III.org)

VIDEO: Maryland Officials Warn Against Teens, Drunk Driving and Prom Night

Experts from the NHTSA, SADD, and many other organizations agree on a few important steps parents can take to keep their teen drivers safe during Prom and Graduation season.

Find out about your teen’s plans for the evening and determine who will be responsible for driving.
Confirm your child’s plans with school officials and other trusted parents.
Get a commitment from your teen that their cell phone will be on throughout the evening and designate times to have them check in with you as the evening progresses.
Discuss your expectations and outline your rules, those of law enforcement and of the school for the evening.
Clearly let your teen know that he or she can call you if any problem arises and they need a safe ride home – no questions asked.

One More Important Tip: If your teen will be driving, assure in advance that they are sufficiently covered either by your auto insurance policy or their own. For your own peace of mind, be sure to check with your insurance agent for confirmation.

Here at the Daniel Howley Insurance Agency in Rockville, MD, we wish your family the best for graduation and prom season, and we are available to answer any questions you might have about your insurance coverage any time.

Howley Insurance - Homeowners Series Spring has sprung!

Trees are budding.

Flowers are blooming.

Temperatures are warming.

As a homeowner, you are probably prepping your spring/summer maintenance checklist.

To help you protect your home, we are rolling out our Spring & Summer Readiness Series. Each issue will offer tips and advice on a specific home maintenance task to help assure that your most valuable asset is safe for your family and visitors.

So check back each week for tips to keep your home in tip top condition.

Issue 1: Prep Your Air Conditioner for a Safe, Cool Summer

Issue 2: Preventative Maintenance in Your Home's Attic

Issue 3: Be Sure Your Garage Door is Safe and Working Well

Issue 4: Get your Deck in Shape and make it Safe

When buying a car, consider safety, fuel economy and insurance rates Is this the year you’ll buy that new car? If so, you’ll have many factors to consider as you look at the various options in brand, make and model. Two of the largest decisions you will need to make relate to fuel economy and safety. Many say that they are mutually exclusive. If that is so, then what will be your priority?

Fuel Economy

In this economic climate, fuel efficiency is important. For a long time, we have known that the lighter and smaller a vehicle, the better the fuel economy. But how do the smaller vehicles fare when you consider insurance rates?

See more about this in “When it Comes to Auto Insurance – Size Matters!”

Vehicle Safety

Then there is the safety issue. It is fairly well known that, in a collision, it is the larger, heavier vehicle that protects its occupants best. This has always been an argument among those who favor SUVs.

So what should you do? Do you choose the smaller, lighter vehicle for fuel economy? Or do you choose the larger, heavier vehicle because of the added safety value?

What if you could have both? It turns out that you might.

Vehicles Can be Both Green and Safe

New research done by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), shows that today’s new hybrid models – those offering you both gasoline power and electric power – are safer than their conventional counterparts, if all other things are equal.

For more details, read “Hybrid Vehicles Also Have the Safety Edge”.

When you have completed your research and compiled your short list of makes/models that meet your needs, it is wise to check with your insurance agent to discuss insurance rates before you purchase that new car.

Here at the Daniel Howley Insurance Agency in Rockville, MD , we are always glad to sit down with you to help you examine your auto insurance options so that you can be confident that you will have the best insurance rates going forward. So why not contact us today.

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