A homeowner's insurance policy does not automatically mean that you are covered if your basement floods from a sump pump failure or a catastrophic weather event. A rider for sump pump failure can be added to a home insurance policy for approximately $100.00/year. The catch is, you have to ask for it. This won't automatically be done when you get an insurance policy. Action item:  Call your insurance agent to find out what your policy actually covers and get the rider for sump pumps if you don't already have it.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established in 1968 as a way to extend insurance coverage to communities since most private insurance companies don't provide this. For more information and to find out if the area that you live in is eligible for flood insurance, please go to this link:

Flood Insurance Information

We have had a Delta hands-free faucet in our 1st floor half bathroom for close to 10 years now. This was done to provide our toddler daughters (at that time) more independence, safety and less surfaces by which to contract germs from. This faucet has worked flawlessly since it was installed and we have had fun when guests come to the house and don't realize that the faucet is automatic.

Delta has now come out with a new line of smart faucets called Touch2O (Touch-2-oh). The faucets can be turned on/off by merely tapping the faucet spout or handle. And the bathroom sink faucet also comes with a feature that has a motion sensor that will turn the faucet on/off as well. Kris May from Battersby, Danielson and Associates was kind enough to provide me with one of the bathroom sink faucets to test the new features. The installation was much easier than our first hands-free faucet and this new faucet is by far more user friendly and stylish. Children, teens, adults and seniors can all benefit from the hands-free technolgy in terms of the ease of use and less surfaces to touch that carry germs.

The kitchen sink faucets are also nice from the standpoint of not having to get handles all messy when your hands are covered with food, grease or whatever else.

Please go to Delta Faucet's web site for more information if you are interested:

Delta Faucets Touch2O Technology