Strickler Express May and June 2012

The Hidden Dangers Of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) are all the rage right now! They use about 1/3 less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last at least 8 times longer. Everyone is switching over to these new bulbs, with all the great press they receive, why wouldn’t you?

What you haven’t heard about, is the environmental and health dangers they can cause if they are broken. CFL’s contain mercury as vapor inside the glass tubing. Because mercury is poisonous, there are several precautions you should take when handling these bulbs.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published best practices for cleanup of broken CFL’s as well as ways to avoid breakage. The following are the recommended actions to take in the event of a broken CFL

• Evacuate the room, taking care not to step on the broken glass. Ventilate the room for a minimum of 15 minutes.
• DO NOT clean the debris of the broken lamp with a vacuum cleaner, as this will spread toxic mercury droplets throughout the house.
• Don protective gloves, use a broom or brush to sweep the debris into a dustpan and empty into a sealed plastic bag.
• DO NOT dispose of the plastic bag into an ordinary refuse receptacle.

The debris is lawfully a Hazardous Material and must be disposed of accordingly. This also includes bulbs that have not been damaged. They are a hazard to the refuse companies and landfill workers. Bulbs can be recycled at your local hardware stores, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc.

Lastly, if you are cut by a piece of a broken bulb, you should go to the emergency room immediately, no matter how small the laceration is. Mercury poisoning is extremely dangerous, it can cause damage to the brain, kidney, and lungs.

Referral Grand Prize Winner!

Joanna Wentzel is our GRAND PRIZE winner in SIA’s 2012 “Just Keep Talking” program!

Joanna received a Kindle Fire! Every time she referred a friend to SIA, she was entered into the drawing.

When Was The Last Time You Had Your Jewelry Appraised?

With the cost of gold and diamonds on the rise, be sure that your jewlery is properly insured.  Most homeowners insurance policies place coverage restrictions on specific items such as jewelry and precious metals, and rarely cover accidental loss.  You can schedule specific items on your homeowners insurance to ensure that they are covered in the event of theft, fire, or even if a stone falls out of the setting. In addition to coverage in your home, scheduling your jewelery will provide coverage away from your home should it be lost, stolen, or damaged.  Scheduled jewlery is insured for the full replacement cost, with a maximum limit of what is listed on your appraisal, at the time that you insure it.  If you haven’t had your jewelry appraised for a few years, you may want to get the appraisal updated to be sure that it’s insured for its full value, since prices for gold and diamonds have increased significantly over the past few years. Scheduling valuable jewelery on your homeowners policy is inexpensive and will not only protect your jewlery, but will bring you peace of mind.

So after saying thank you to that special someone for that beautiful ring, call Strickler Insurance to protect it!

Do You Have Enough Life Insurance?

You may have a life insurance policy through your employer, but when is the last time you have looked at your coverage? Is that policy enough to cover all the eggs in your basket? Weather you have car payments, a mortgage, college funds – they all add up!

Call Denise to discuss your coverage limits, or to take out an additional policy. Life insurance usually costs less than a bottle of water a day, you owe it to your family to ensure that they will be taken care of after you are gone.