Congrats on buying a new house in Pomona, CA. It is a pretty exciting time, and as you transform the house into your own home, you need to do whatever you can to make it truly yours. While there are fun ways to make it your own, including interior decorating, implementing your own color pallet and upgrades around the house, there are other upgrades you need to make designed to save you money each and very winter. Winterizing tips make it possible to do just that. 

Caulk and Weather Stripping

Look around your windows. This is especially the case on older homes (or at least dated windows). Cracks form around the windows. These slight cracks can drop the energy efficiency of your home HVAC unit 5 to 30 percent annually and especially in the winter. So, fill in these cracks with caulk. For thicker gaps or spaces around doors, pick up some new weather stripping. 

New Insulation

It is never a bad time to add new insulation to your home. Plus, the federal government provides grants and tax credits reimbursing you for up to 30 percent of the cost. From the walls in your home to the roof in your attic, this is a major money saver. 

Insulate the Pipes

Almost everyone knows someone who’s pipes have frozen, such as when they went on vacation, leading to a burst pipe. This is a major financial burden to clean up from. You can avoid this and also save money on your hot water by insulating the pipes. 

Ductwork

Like the pipes, you want to insulate the ductwork. This is more important if you have exposed ducts. It reduces heat loss and improves energy efficiency. 

From our experts at THINK Insurance & Financial Services, we want to help you save money on your home energy bills. These winterizing tips are not difficult to perform or time consuming, but each is going to save you substantially all year. 

Living in Ontario, CA means dealing with all sorts of road conditions. In the winter, you may be exposed to snow and ice, especially if you take a trip into the mountains. Working on your driving knowledge for the winter months can help you to avoid a collision.

Learn About Traction

Traction is very important, especially when it comes to snow and ice. Your standard tires may not be capable of providing you with the needed traction. This is why many people invest in snow tires because the thinner tire is capable of providing greater through snow and ice.

Invest in Snow Chains

If you plan on traveling up to Big Bear or any of the other mountains, you may require snow chains when the winter conditions get harsh. In some instances, the roads require the chains to be on your car, so you will want to have them and know how to put them on.

Avoid a Tail

It takes longer to brake when you are driving on slippery surfaces and therefore you want to avoid a tail – don’t tail the person in front of you and don’t allow others to tail you too closely.

Read the Roads

You should always be reading the roads when you drive. Look ahead at least 100 feet in order to find out how the roads are going to change. There may be potholes, a soft shoulder, or some other kind of changing terrain that you need to be aware of. This will allow you to modify your driving style and still be safe.

At THINK Insurance & Financial Services, we look forward to helping you with auto insurance. Call and one of our agents can guide you through the coverage options, get quotes for you, and more. We work with some of the top insurance companies in California, providing you with quality coverage.

 

 

The air is cool and there’s an influx of visitors from colder states—fall is here. Before you get too carried away enjoying everything pumpkin spice under the California sun, there are a few car care tasks to tackle before winter arrives. Here are three tips to consider.

#1:  Have Your Tires and Brakes Checked

One of the first things you should do in the fall to prepare for winter is have your tires and brakes checked by a professional. Make sure there aren’t any cuts or damage to the sidewall and have your local service center perform an evaluation on whether or not you need replacements. It is also a good time to have them check and see how well your brakes are working. By doing this now, you are completely prepared for any winter rainstorms or other events that happen in our area.

#2: Put Together an Emergency Kit

Another important task you should tackle in the fall is putting together an emergency kit. While you probably won’t need a bunch of rations in case you become stranded in the snow, having a few non-perishable snacks and bottled water on hand isn’t a bad idea. Also, include a first aid kit, road flares, and any tools you might need for a quick roadside automotive repair.

#3: Be Ready for Any Excursions

In case you decide to head up north for any special excursions this winter, make sure you’ve taken time in the fall to gather up the necessary supplies. Chains and deicer can be a bit hard to come by in our area during the winter simply because of a lack of need. By planning ahead, your vehicle can be ready for that awesome weekend adventure over the coming months.

In addition, it is important to have quality car insurance coverage. Our team at THINK Insurance & Financial Services is here to help. Please contact us today for a no-obligation policy review or quote.

There is a major difference between being a defensive driver and an aggressive one, and your teen needs to know the difference. Aggressive drivers are often the ones who cause accidents, and they are also well known for having bad road rage. To keep your teen from being an aggressive driver, make sure you share these tips about being defensive. 

Always think of an exit route

Teach your teen that as he’s driving down the road he should be constantly coming up with exit routes he can take if an accident were to take place. For example, when driving on the interstate, your teen should know which way he’s going to turn if a semi in front of him was to have a blow out. 

Stay well behind other cars

Aggressive drivers don’t care if they tailgate drivers in front of them, and this often leads to accidents. A defensive driver on the other hand knows to stay at least three to four seconds behind all cars that are in front of him.

Keep noise to a minimum

When it comes to having the radio blaring or a bunch of kids screaming in the car, it can be easy to become distracted as well as aggravated. This is why noise should be kept to a minimum when your teen is driving. It’s of course okay to listen to the radio, but the noise level should be low enough to hear a train horn or police car siren. 

For more defensive driving tips you can share with your teen, please contact THINK Ins & Fin Svs LLC today.