The Importance of Spring Cleaning Your Utility Room
The start of spring brings everyone’s favorite seasonal chore — spring cleaning! As you dust, vacuum, organize, and declutter, don’t forget about the one room that often gets neglected. This year, give special attention to the utility closet. The utility closet houses your furnace, boiler, water heater, A/C junction, and other similar large appliances. Homeowners often forget about these appliances because they are out of sight and out of mind, and this can cost a lot in the long run. Like all the other rooms in your home, this space needs to be kept clean. Dust, for instance, can be hard on HVAC systems. Over time, it accumulates in the HVAC intake and clogs the air filter, reducing its effectiveness and efficiency. This results in a short lifespan for your system, higher power bills, and a poorly heated or cooled home.
• Family homes (three or more occupants) with no pets or allergies: 3–6 months.
• Family homes with at least one pet or minor allergies: 2–3 months.
• Family homes with multiple pets or allergies: 1–2 months.
In addition to changing the air filter, it’s important to schedule a routine inspection of your home’s HVAC system. This includes an inspection of the appliances themselves and any connecting ducts. Dust, dander, and mold can accumulate in the ducts and spread throughout the home, which can lead to health issues, including respiratory problems. A routine inspection will identify potential problems in your HVAC system. On top of that, you can get these systems professionally cleaned and maintained. These are simple steps that will keep your home’s air systems running smoothly for years to come. Plus, you’ll be ready for the summer months ahead!
How Often Should You Replace Your Air Filter?
• Homes with minimal foot traffic (single or double occupancy) and no pets or allergies: 6–12 months.
Why Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance System Should Stay Intact And Why Critics Are Trying to Scrap It
At the time of writing, Michigan is embroiled in a bitter battle over an auto insurance issue that will affect drivers across the state. Just last month, a bill package was introduced into the state House, proposing to scrap Michigan’s no-fault insurance act and shift to the tort model favored by most other states. By the time this newsletter reaches your hands, the legal landscape may have changed, but we still wanted to offer our perspective on the proposed changes. As personal injury attorneys, we see clients all the time who have been through catastrophic auto accidents. Despite having perfect driving records their entire
necessary medical costs following an accident. This vital source of compensation can be a tremendous boon to someone suffering after a catastrophic accident and trying to keep their life afloat. This is all thanks to the no-fault system. But right now, the 40-year-old system that has worked tremendously for drivers throughout the state is at risk of being scrapped. Critics of the system argue that the no-fault act causes high premiums for all drivers, resulting in an underinsured state. But what these critics don’t realize is that repealing the no-fault act does not benefit drivers — it benefits the insurance companies. Most states have coverage caps in their auto insurance systems that will cover $25,000 in medical expenses in the event of an accident; in Michigan, those costs are unlimited across an entire lifetime. This results in a lot of financial exposure for Michigan insurance companies as they’re forced to cover the injuries of insured drivers across the state.
lives, their worlds are turned upside down by injury, mounting medical bills, and loss of income. Luckily, in Michigan — which arguably has the best insurance system in the nation — the quality and access of the medical care these drivers receive is better than anywhere else in the country, with no-fault insurance paying for all
It’s our position that repealing the no-fault insurance policy would be a catastrophe for Michigan drivers. If we move to a tort model and you get in a terrible car wreck, the quality and urgency of the care you receive will be greatly diminished, and so will your quality of life. Is that really what Michigan drivers want?
2 • www.WinstonDamman.com
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