The third Wednesday of September is National School Backpack Awareness Day – an opportunity for educators, parents, and students to shine awareness on the danger of carrying heavy backpacks and discover ways to prevent the injuries and pain it causes thousands of children every year.
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One study found that backpack loads of school students range from 10% to as high as 25% of their body weight. On average, students carried over 15% of their body weight.

There’s a ticking bomb in your southeastern PA house right now, waiting to strike when you least expect it. In fact, there might even be more than one. And each can cause thousands and thousands of dollars in damage.

We here at Berkshire Insurance Services are talking about faulty appliance hoses, of course.

More families are taking to the road in their RVs than ever before. Fox Business reports, “Recreational vehicle dealers throughout the country have had as much as a 170 percent increase in sales for the month of May compared to this time last year as Americans crave outdoor travel as coronavirus-induced lockdowns ease in states, according to the RV Industry Association.”
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But vacationing on the road can have its troubles, like dead batteries, flat tires, and missed destinations because of wrong directions. Wouldn’t it be great if there were tools and gadgets to help avoid these situations?

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), every year between 2013-2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees at the cost of $10 million in direct property damage.
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Homeowners’ Insurance helps protect your home from the damage these fires can cause; however, it can’t prevent the deaths (average of 3 per year) and injuries (average of 15 per year) caused by these fires.

Client:  “I just looked at my April deduction and it didn’t go down?  I thought I was supposed to get a stay-at-home credit of __% off my auto premium.”
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Answer: Thank you for your great question.  This can be confusing.   So here is the answer…..
You may read something from your insurance company that looks like this: “Customers on a direct bill or recurring payment plans will receive the automatic credit on future bills. Those who paid in full will receive a direct payment.”

It’s that time of year when many families are jumping into their RVs and enjoying the open road. Whether you’re heading to a local campground or planning your getaway a lot farther from home, you’ll want to make the trip safely.

​At Berkshire Insurance Services, we want you to travel safely too. Here are some great tips to help you get out there and back without the worry because nothing can ruin an RV trip faster than trouble on the road

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 87% of homes in the U.S. use air-conditioning equipment at a cost ranging from $60 to $525 annually. That’s about 12% of a family’s total home energy expenditures.  That might not be such a surprise if you’re the one who writes the check for your household energy bill every month.
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Believe it or not, you can spend less on cooling costs while still keeping cool in southeaster P.A.

Most people have an idea of what’s covered and not covered under their various insurance policies. But at Berkshire Insurance Services, we get a lot of questions about borrowing or loaning a car and if Auto Insurance covers it.
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You might be thinking about borrowing your neighbor’s truck for a home-improvement project. Or maybe a friend has asked to borrow your car while hers is in the shop. You should understand the implications if one of those borrowed vehicles is involved in an automobile accident.

Solar panels can be economically and environmentally sound. According to Energy Saver, solar energy is sustainable, renewable, and plentiful. Benefits of solar for residents include cost savings, increased home value, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

They’ve become more accessible than ever. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports that the cost of solar PV panels has dropped nearly 70% since 2014. According to one research firm, in 2013, U.S. homes and businesses installed a new system every four minutes.
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But, is solar power right for you?  To help answer that question, here are five things to think about before making the switch:

When it comes to auto insurance, you have a choice to purchase Combined Single Limits (CSL) or a Split Limit liability policy.  Which one offers better coverage?

Combined Single Limit Liability Coverage (CSL)