Your roof is your home’s first line of defense from the elements. Over time, sun, wind and rain wear down your roof. It can be the most vulnerable component of your home to severe storms — and the costliest single site of damage. Since leaks caused by normal, age-related roofing failure usually are not covered by your insurance, it’s important to make sure your roof is built the right way and maintained.

Tips to Help Your Roof Last Longer

• Don’t forget to ventilate. Proper eave and ridge ventilation may help extend roof life by reducing the buildup of heat and moisture. You want to keep the warm air in your living space as long as possible and get it out of the attic as quickly as possible. Adding ventilated panels to the eaves is usually an easy and economically efficient way to add ventilation when you are installing new siding or rain spouts.
• Keep trees trimmed. Don’t plant trees too close to your house — follow the recommended planting distance from your house or any other structures. Keep mature trees trimmed to prevent them from rubbing up against the roof and to prevent excessive debris buildup.
• Clean your gutters. Keep roof valleys, gutters and downspouts free from leaves, twigs and other litter that can build up and prevent proper drainage.
• Consider treatments. Preservatives available for some roof types may help limit weathering effects of moisture and retard growth of molds and moss. 

Signs of a Problem

• When it rains, do too many roof granules wash away?
• Are there water stains on your ceiling?
• Are there curled or missing shingles?

reposted with permission by Penn National Insurance

Transportation Safety Tips

Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips to make sure your child safely travels to school: 

Walkers »

Review your family's walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child.

● Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing traffic

● Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming

● Make eye contact with drivers before crossing, and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections

● Stay alert and avoid distracted walking

Bike Riders »

Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child.

● Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file

● Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street

● Stay alert and avoid distracted riding

● Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing

Bus Riders »

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them.

● Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus

● Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb

● If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other

● Get the facts on bus safety from Injury Facts

Driving Your Child to School »

Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.

● Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school's drop-off procedure

● Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street

● Never pass a bus loading or unloading children

● The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus

Teen Drivers »

Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there is something we can do.

● Teens crash because they are inexperienced; practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license

● Set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive

● Sign the New Deal an agreement that helps define expectations for parents and teens

School Safety Tips

Many school-related injuries are completely preventable. Follow these steps to ensure your child's safety at school.

Backpacks »

Choose a backpack for your child carefully; it should have ergonomically designed features to enhance safety and comfort.

● Ask your children to use both straps when wearing their backpack to evenly distribute the weight on their shoulders

● Don't overstuff a backpack; it should weigh no more than 5% to 10% of your child's body weight

● Rolling backpacks should be used cautiously since they can create a trip hazard in crowded school hallways

Playgrounds and Sports »

● To reduce strangulation hazards on playgrounds, have your child leave necklaces and jackets with drawstrings at home

● A few bumps and bruises can be expected when your child plays sports, but head injuries should never be ignored

Protect your home - and hard-earned money - with service line coverage

Few people give much thought to the wires and pipes that deliver power and water to their homes.

Until, that is, it's too late.

Many homeowners don't know that they're on the hook financially to repair or replace damaged or destroyed exterior, underground service lines to their home. It can prove a costly surprise -- upwards of $7,000 or more depending on what's involved.

View an interactive demonstration of how situations like these can affect a home.

Repairing service lines isn't a simple fix, often requiring significant digging that can wreak havoc on landscaping, driveways or walkways. In addition, families sometimes must relocate while repairs are being done, adding to the cost.

The answer: Service line coverage

Service line coverage offers the protection homeowners need, filling a gap in standard homeowners' insurance policies that don't typically cover service lines. Some utilities offer service contracts, but they are typically expensive, offer limited coverage, and often only cover one type of service line.

The risk of a problem is real. Homeowners today rely on more service lines than ever before, including water, waste, drainage, irrigation, heating (gas, propane, steam and geothermal), compressed air, and communications lines, including cable, data transmission, internet access and telecommunications.

Preparation pays off

Service line damage happens more often than you think. And when it does, the costs add up quickly. Fortunately for these customers, they had the coverage they needed when trouble struck.

Highlights of Service Line Coverage

• Costs to reach damaged underground piping and wiring
• Repair or replacement of damaged exterior underground piping and wiring
• Coverage for outdoor property such as landscaping, driveways and walkways
• Additional costs to expedite materials and services for repairs
• Living expenses if your clients need to temporarily relocate, including hotels, meals and other expenses
• Environmental safety and efficiency condition allowing for 150% upgrade when replacement is required
• Damaged outdoor property including shrubs, trees, lawn and landscaping such as driveways and walkways
• Cost of generators and other temporary equipment that allows you to remain at home during repairs

Used with permission from Westfield Insurance

Goodville Mutual offered our agency a choice to pick a non profit who could benefit from a donation.  

On August 22, 2025 Jamie and Damian Rutt met with Todd Heisey from Goodville Mutual to present a check for $1000 to the Mount Joy Food Bank.    The helpers there serve the most needy in our community with fruits, vegetables and meats along with other needed supplies.  Please join me in thanking Goodville Mutual for this most generous offer.

-- Jamie Rutt, President, Rutt Insurance

Summer Homeowner Tips

For many, there is no better time of year than summertime to be outside in the yard enjoying the weather and sunshine. Warm temperatures and longer days make the perfect backdrop for picnicking and barbecuing. A bit of time spent on seasonal maintenance can help keep your home in shape for the warmest season.

• Preparing your home for the warmer months should produce a sense of satisfaction, not dread at what might be damaged, broken or need replacing.

• Be sure to check both inside and outside the home for damage or wear and tear, as well as evidence of any unwanted guests, such as wildlife or rodents. Also, walk the property to make sure nothing looks out of place, and do a full-view check as well as a close visual inspection of the house.

Inside the House

• Check electrical outlets and cords for potential fire hazards, such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Extension cords and power strips are not designed to be permanent fixtures and should only be used on an interim basis.

• Clean or replace your furnace filter to help reduce any fire hazard. Likewise, clean your dryer vent and lint trap, as well as the space under your dryer.

Outside the House

• Check the windows and doors, as well as their frames for any evidence of damage, and walk the perimeter of the house for any obvious changes or damage. Also, have your roof regularly inspected by a professional to identify areas of potential leakage.

THINK LITITZ: Originally Published by Lititz Mutual Insurance Company