Whether you’re traveling alone, with a buddy, or with your spouse and a car full of kids, there are few things more “American” than the long-distance road trip. Countless vacation travelers will drive the highways looking for fun and making memories with every mile.  You’ll have a more enjoyable vacation if you plan carefully. Here are a few driving tips to help you out along the way.

1. Maintain your car: Make sure your vehicle is up to date on its maintenance schedule, and be sure to check the battery and tires.

2. Plan your trip and know where you’re going: Call ahead for proper and safe directions to get you to your destination safely and have maps of the area on hand to help you navigate once you are off the main road. You’re more likely to make good decisions, even in dangerous situations, if you’re clearheaded and know where you’re going.

3. Stay Alert: Seems obvious, but driver inattention is surely the cause of a lot of accidents. If you stay focused behind the wheel and plan carefully, you will have a wonderful summer road trip.

4. Take precaution with cell phones: Cell phones can be a lifesaver when you need immediate access to emergency services after an accident. Keep your phone within easy reach and get to know its features. However, use it prudently. Reports suggest that driving while talking on the phone increases accident rates.

5. Wear your seat belt: Whether or not it’s required by law in the state through which you’re driving, always wear your seat belt as a safety precaution.

6. Protect your car against theft: Help deter criminals from taking your car with steering wheel locks, switches that disable fuel or ignition systems, and electronic tracking devices. Always lock your car, don't leave valuables in plain sight, and always park in a well-lit parking lot.

7. Be proactive if you are in an accident: Taking immediate steps if you’ve been in an accident can protect your family and your car from further damage. Stop immediately and make sure your car is not blocking traffic. Turn off your car to keep it from overheating or catching fire. Warn oncoming cars using road flares or orange triangle reflectors. If you are unable to move out of traffic, or if there are any injuries call 911 immediately. After you have protected yourself and your family, call Rutt Insurance or your insurance company's claims hotline. Secure names, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and addresses of other drivers, passengers, and witnesses. Take photos, notes, or sketches of the accident scene including make, model, and license numbers of all vehicles involved.

8. Make sure your auto insurance is up to date. Before you even leave the driveway, you want to be sure you’re protected when you’re on the road and far from home. Make sure you have a current, up-to-date insurance ID Card. If you are unable to find yours give us a call at 717-653-1816 or submit an Insurance ID Card request online.

Summer will soon be in full swing, and here are a few quick fixes that don’t take much time, but can have a big impact on your home the rest of the summer and throughout the year.

Check your gutters. When summer storms hit, your gutters need to be able to take the pressure. If anything appears loose or bent, have a professional repair it.

Test for pipe breaks in outside faucets. Open the tap and put your finger over it. If you can stop the water, it is likely that there is a leak or break somewhere in the line. Even if you’ve already used your outside faucet, test it – it might be leaking and you might never know it!

Clean, repair, and install screens. Check that everything is in good repair, and patch or replace as needed.

Consider options to lower your energy bill. When the temperature goes up, so does your energy bill. Check out options like reflective film and specialized curtains and blinds to help keep the outside heat out of your home, cutting down your costs.

Clean and service your AC and heating. Have a technician come out for a quick clean and service to be sure everything is ready to go for summer use.

Dispose of any hazardous materials in your garage or workroom. If you were doing projects over the winter, make sure you don’t have anything dangerous hanging around! Follow manufacturer instructions on all chemicals.

Do maintenance on your refrigerators and freezers. Your fridge and freezer need a little bit of TLC, and not just so that they can keep giving you cold drinks all summer! Left unchecked, fridges and freezers can be a common source of leaks.

Take a quick trip around the inside and the outside. Look for anything out of the ordinary – new cracks, wood that seems a little too soft. Be as observant as you can!

Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Make sure everything is working, and change the batteries if needed.

Check your roof. Do a walk-around inspection and look for any loose shingles or obvious, visible damage on the roof. A missing shingle now could lead to a leak later!

All of these tips are quick and easy, but they can save you a lot of headache and hassle in the future.


--Content used in this post was originally published by Mammoth Restoration & Construction and is used with their permission.

Nicer weather is coming, and that means grilling season! We can’t help you become a grill master overnight, but these tips can definitely help you make sure that your grill is running safely and is ready to be a great tool for family fun rather than a potential fire hazard.

Basic Tips

• Watch the grill whenever it’s on.
• Never use the grill indoors, near any wooden beams, or under the eaves.
• Make sure the grill is well away from your home, and siding.
• Keep the grill area free from combustible materials like branches and plants.
• Keep kids and pets well away from the grill when it’s hot.
• Make sure to keep the grill clean to avoid grease flare-ups.

Charcoal Grills

• If you use a starter fluid, use one designed for charcoal, and never add it directly to the fire.
• Make sure you store charcoal lighter fluid appropriately. Keep it away from children.
• Let the coals cool down completely before you dispose of them.
• Only dispose of coals in a metal container. Coals directly in the trash are a major risk.

Propane Grills

• Tighten all gas lines and hose connections before you fire up the grill for the first time.
• Check for leaks in the lines by applying a soap-and-water solution all over the lines, and then turning on the propane. Look for bubbles – they’re a sure sign of a leak.
• If you do see bubbles indicating a leak, have the grill serviced by a professional.
• If you ever experience an uncontrolled gas leak, call the fire department immediately.

These safety tips will go a long way to ensuring that your grill stays safe and functional all summer, allowing you to enjoy your cookouts with confidence.

--Content used in this post was originally published by Mammoth Restoration & Construction and is used with their permission.

Brr, it’s cold outside! You’re staying warm, but what about your water pipes? When it gets this cold, even pipes you think are safe may freeze and burst, spilling hundreds of gallons of water inside your home and causing a big headache.

How To Avoid The Freeze

Wrap, insulate or run heat tape for all pipes in uninsulated spaces.

Make sure heat is turned on, even in unused rooms.

Drain all outside hoses and store inside if possible.

During the cold snap, open your faucets and let water drip. Just a trickle can help stop pipes from freezing.

Signs A Pipe Has Frozen

No water comes out of your faucets.

Just a trickle of water comes out when the faucet is on.

Defrosting a Frozen Pipe

Open the closest faucet to the frozen area.

Start the defrosting process as close to the open faucet as you can.

Use a hair dryer or hot towels to defrost. A hair dryer can be plugged in and directed onto the pipe until it’s unfrozen. To use a hot towel, first cover the pipe with the dry towel, and then pour hot water over the pipe until it un-freezes.

Gradually work your way back from the faucet until everything is defrosted and water flows freely again.

Do not use a propane torch. Propane torches can damage your pipes and cause a fire hazard if not used properly. Leave this technique to the professionals.

​Dealing With The Damage

When a pipe remains frozen for too long, it will burst. But just because the pipe was frozen doesn’t necessarily stop it from leaking after it bursts.

The damage from a burst pipe is often hidden behind walls or under floorboards, and fast action is essential to keep mold from growing.

Stay safe, stay warm, and watch out for frozen pipes!


--Content used in this post was originally published by Mammoth Restoration & Construction and is used with their permission.

One Snowfall, Many Hazards

Heavy snow can really create havoc on the roads when it falls, but it does more than just make driving difficult. It can create slippery walkways, leading to injury. It can block access to necessary goods and services. It can potentially cause motorists to become stranded in cold weather. And in some cases, it can even cause stress and strain on the roof of your home, leading to leaks and structural problems.

Prepare Before The Snow Hits

• Build your winter weather kit. It’s never too late to get started – even right before the first big storm, you can still stock up.
• Get the survival essentials. Travel is often hard when the biggest storms hit, and heavy snow can easily knock out power. Stock up on nonperishable foods that don’t need to be cooked (think canned goods) and bottled water.

Once The Storm Hits, be Snow Smart

• When the storm arrives, stay put if you can. The best way to drive safely in a big snowstorm is to avoid it entirely. Stay with your supplies, sheltered inside a building, unless absolutely necessary.
• Dress for the occasion. If you do need to go outside, make sure you wear warm clothes. Just throwing on a bunch of layers isn’t necessarily enough: waterproof and windproof materials make a big difference when you’re out in a windy, wet snow storm.
• If you intend to remove snow from your roof, be safe. Removing the weight of heavy snow from your roof can help prevent a possible roof collapse, but only if you are careful to remove that snow in a safe manner. Never step out onto a roof covered in snow; instead, use a snow removal roof rake.
• Heat your home safely. Read and understand all instructions for heaters and other sources of warmth. Make sure that no heat source is ever too close to anything flammable. Never leave a fireplace or other open flame burning unattended.

Winter weather can be unpredictable, but by taking steps to prepare yourself and your home, you can be well equipped to handle anything that mother nature can throw at you.