Here are a few helpful tips to give your “best friend” a better life:

1. When the temperature drops to single digits or less it is time to bring your pooch in out of the cold, these low temperatures can be fatal to dogs.
2. If the dog sleeps outside in a dog house, use straw or hay to line it’s bed not bedding, this will help raise your dogs body temperature.
3. Also before the first freeze of the winter, bring your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup because most illnesses can worsen in the cold weather.
4. Also make sure your dog is fenced in, or well contained because injuries, such as being hit by a car can be worse due to the tight tendons from the cold.

Also in order to protect yourself from any liability associated with any trouble that Fido might get into, it’s important to make sure that your MA Homeowner’s Insurance and even your MA Umbrella Insurance are properly covering you. Call your local Encharter Insurance agent today at 888-865-1244, and get covered!

If only that were legal…maybe you can’t drive a snow mobile to work but, you can certainly take it out on the weekends! However, it’s very important that you take the correct snow mobiling safety precaution! Grab your helmet and make sure have the appropriate protection on your new toy. Yes, I am talking about MA Snow Mobile Insurance! So while you’re checking the weekend forecast and fueling up for a day of fun, make sure that you also take the time to call your local Encharter Insurance agent to double-check the coverage that you have on your snow mobile.

Call us at 888-865-1244 or learn more about Snow Mobile Insurance at www.encharter.com! And make sure that you share your snow stories with us on either Facebook or twitter!

 Pipes can burst for many reasons: old age, too much wear and tear, or most commonly, freezing. This can be a particularly tedious and expensive expense to incur as a homeowner. Some consequences of pipes bursting may include; potential cosmetic damage to your home or rental property, reconstruction costs incurred when repairing whatever damage the burst has caused, it could also damage furniture or other household appliances, but most of all it can create a huge headache for everyone affected. 

Here are some precautionary tips to help avoid your pipes from freezing this winter; during cold days be sure to have your central heating system on, insulate the pipes, drain the water out of the pipes if you’re going to leave your property vacant for a period of time during a cold season, keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage area, and most of all make sure you are adequately covered for this frustrating fiasco by  calling your local Encharter Insruance agent to review your MA Home Insurance policy . You can also learn more at www.encharter.com!

And remember, at Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

1. Make sure that when shopping for a heater, you are selecting one that “has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as, Underwriter’s Laboratories Inc. (UL)” (http://bit.ly/adDEqP) .
2. Never leave a space heater unattended or plugged in while you are sleeping
3. Keep the heater at least 3 ft away from curtains, furniture, carpets and anything else flammable
4. Keep the heater on a level surface that is out of the way of traffic (you don’t want anyone to accidentally knock it over)
5. Don’t put heaters in bathrooms or near water; they are electric!

These are more than just words to the wise, according to the Massachusetts Public Safety site, “One of every seven space heater fires causes a fatality”. Fires can start fast, spread fast and come without warning. So please don’t take any chances! For more information on ways to stay warm this winter and to make sure that your home and its contents are properly insured under your MA Home Insurance policy, call your local Encharter Insurance agent today at 888-865-1244 or visit us online at www.encharter.com.

Unfortunately, this raises a few issues. There is actually an Anti-Idling Law in MA to limit the idle-time that your car can sit in your driveway, among other places, primarily to help restrict the pollutions and emissions that are being released into the air. In Massachusetts, aside from a few exceptions, drivers are not permitted to keep their cars idling for over 5 minutes.

Additionally, there have been reports of cars being stolen out of driveways while they are left to warm-up and the owner has run back inside to grab a few last-minute things. Some possible solutions to this might be to have a remote car starter installed (there’s still time to add it to your Christmas List!), IF YOU HAVE TWO SETS OF KEYS you can always start your car and leave it locked in the driveway, or you can even sit in your car while it warms up (bring out your coffee and paper or even your smartphone to get a jump-start on tackling your inbox).

While the best way to deal with having your car stolen is to take measures to prevent it from happening at all, you also need to be prepared should the worst happen. Call your Reading, MA Insurance agent today (888-865-1244) to ask about ways that you can keep your car safe and to make sure that you have the appropriate Reading MA Auto Insurance coverages.  Not to mention, you can find us on the web at www.encharter.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more pointers and tips on ways to stay safe and warm this winter!

Last month, the man that might be behind one-third of all of your spam e-mails was arrested in Las Vegas.  Oleg Nikolaenko, of Russia, is believed to be responsible for most of the useless e-mails because of the project he supposedly was the head of, “Mega-D” which is a spam automated botnet.

Nikolaenko is definitely one many people’s lists of disliked people.  Spam is irritating but filters have improved in recent years to keep unwanted e-mails where they belong.  The spam filter that e-mail providers have is an extra layer of protection for your inbox. 

Like a Spam Filter, insurance provides additional protection. Call your Reading MA Insurance agent today (888-865-1244) to discuss how Reading MA Umbrella Insurance can ensure that you always have enough liability coverage.  Moreover, Reading MA Homeowners Insurance and Reading MA Auto Insurance are must haves to protect two of your most important assets.

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

If you are lucky enough to find yourself celebrating at Gillette stadium this football season, you will see how fabulous an RV can really be (especially as the snow and icy winds are inching closer). But, before you can be the hero of the tailgate by bringing your portable shelter along for everyone to enjoy, it’s important to make sure that it is properly insured.

Reviewing or inquiring about the limits of your Massachusetts RV Insurance, which are similar to the liability limits of your Reading, MA Auto Insurance, is very important! Call your local Reading, MA Insurance agent today to find out if your RV is ready for your next tailgating celebration (888-865-1244) or find us on Facebook and Twitter! 

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

            According to www.cancer.org, half of all U.S. smokers (currently around 23 million people) will die from a premature, tobacco related cause. The site also states that roughly 80% of lung cancer related cases in America are the result of continuous tobacco inhalation.

            The event takes place mostly on college campuses and consists of rallies, ceremonial cigarette-burials, speeches, marches, and parades. The health benefits of not smoking are undeniable and are the primary focus of anti-tobacco groups. Another benefit to quitting however can be felt in the wallet. Not only do ex-smokers save money by forgoing further purchases, but also many health related costs also decrease. At Encharter Insurance our Reading MA Life Insurance policyholders feel the benefit of quitting smoking with decreased insurance costs.

            Visit us on the web at www.encharter.com or call an agent at 888-865-1244 today to learn more about money saving tips or to hear about our extensive line of personal insurance products.

 The change of pace will be headed with the all-new Chevrolet Cruze, which will face competition most heavily from the already well established Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The Cruze gets an impressive 24 mpg city, and 36 mpg highway.

Come December, GM will also offer the Volt, its very first electric vehicle. What makes this vehicle especially competitive is the fact that it comes standard with a back up gas tank that will take the car an additional 300 miles once the electric battery is in need of being recharged.

 Regardless of what you drive, it is important to make sure that you are fully covered and safe when on the road. Check out our comprehensive Reading MA Auto Insurance plans by visiting us on the web at Encharter.com or by calling an agent at 888-865-1244 today. And don’t forget to find us on Facebook and Twitter!

 And remember, at Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Holiday season is finally upon us and although this means everything great from gifts to reuniting with friends and family for festive parties, it is important to acknowledge the increased risks surrounding holiday activities and to take the time to responsibly safeguard against them.

            Nothing competes with a cozy fire as the crown jewel of any homely winter night, but make sure to take a few precautions before settling down to crack open that good book. Fist off, remove stockings or decorations from directly above the fireplace as they are often flammable and can be subject to overheating. Also, always use a fire screen to prevent sparks or flares from escaping the chimney into your living room. Candles are also a common cause of fires during the holiday season. Ensure that all the candles in your home are secure from being easily knocked over. The U.S. Fire Administration claims that over $990 million dollars worth of damage is done during the holiday season due to fire.

            It is equally important to make sure that none of your electrical outlets are overloaded with plug-in decorations. Make sure that there is a UL mark on any electrical decoration you. This indicates that the item has been evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories and has passed all the organizations standard safety tests. Never run cords under a rug. They can be continuously stepped on and any fray that occurs will not be visible and known to you.

            If you are planning on having small children in your home during holiday season, kitchen safety can be of paramount importance. Make sure to keep the handles of all active pots and pans turned in toward the back of the stove in order to prevent them from being grabbed by a curious child. Don’t leave cooking food unattended if children could possibly be wondering in, and the same goes for knives or any other sharp utensils.

            Call your local insurance agent in Reading MA at 888-865-1244 today to learn more or if you have any questions regarding your coverage, or visit us at www.encharter.com to view our full line of MA Personal Insurance, including Reading MA Homeowners Insurance, Reading MA Car Insurance, Reading MA Life Insurance and Reading MA Umbrella Insurance.

            And remember, At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”