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Weeks ago, Aquarion Water Company must have come a’calling—and since I am visitor-proof, they left an urgent notice on our doorknob. By the way, nothing says *urgent* like a white luggage tag on the front door. I was instructed to contact the company immediately regarding a water leak on our property.

Aquarion refused to be ignored, sending a big white van to pay me a visit. They really stepped it up from the white door tag. This time, the dog alerted me to the vehicular presence in the driveway, and that is where I met my fate. I perp-walked out to the technician feeling rather guilty. After a boots-on-the-ground consultation, I was asked a question that no one in New Canaan is prepared to answer in the affirmative: Do you have water line safety valve insurance?

Ummm, no. You mean those silly letters that I throw away every month and say, “Ha, what sucker buys safety valve insurance?” It was made very clear why the insurance is worth the investment and it was painful. All of the sudden, I had become the New Canaan version of Diane Keaton’s character from “Baby Boom,” and was quite literally, drowning in homeownership hell.

That said, I was quoted up to $10,000 if my leak hide-and-seek project was major. This was not what I had bargained for when I threw away all of those safety valve insurance mailers.

The WAGS Valve is a brand-name product designed to eliminate the risk of and damage caused by flooding when a hot water heater fails to drain properly. WAGS stands for Water And Gas Safety. Some statistics suggest that a majority of water heaters fail within 7-10 years. While that number seems high in our personal experience, statistically about 5 million tank failures occur every year. Not all of these are catastrophic. However, during these leaks, the water heater keeps refilling and leaking. This creates a damaging cycle that can go on for some time until it is discovered or remedied.

The WAGS valve is designed to shut off the water supply when it detects a water leak. Typically this would come from a hot water heater. In this way, a WAGS valve minimizes water damage and, on the enhanced models, possible gas leakage.

You can easily install a WAGS valve on all styles of water heaters. It’s fully mechanical and requires no external power supply. If a leak occurs, an internal water-soluble fiber element dissolves, releasing a powerful, spring-loaded piston. This immediately shuts down water flow to the tank.

The valve’s action is based on fiber element technology developed for the British Royal Air Force to inflate life jackets automatically. Once activated, the valve shuts off the water and the gas supply.

The device even causes a red pop-up tab to emerge. This lets you know an activation has occurred. You need to replace a WAGS valve once it activates. That may seem like a pain if you sweated it in using copper. Considering it stopped a leak, however, that “pain” may be well worth the hassle and cost of replacing the valve.

The WAGS valve is a very simple, and relatively inexpensive device that could save you tons of money in the event of a water heater leak. It’s definitely something to consider having installed the next time you replace your tank.

For your primary fire extinguishers (remember, one on each floor), we recommend the First Alert PRO5. It’s a UL-rated 3A 40B:C extinguisher, which exceeds the NFPA’s recommendation, yet the canister is the same size and weight as a smaller 2A 10B:C extinguisher. This model can effectively combat common fires ranging from burning wood and cloth to burning liquids. It can safely extinguish an electrical fire, as well. Equipped with a metal valve, the First Alert PRO5 is also rechargeable, which offers you more reliability and the potential for long-term cost savings. Although we found little to differentiate between this extinguisher and our Amerex runner-up, the First Alert model has a wider availability on the shelves of Ace Hardware and Lowe’s, so getting your hands on it should be a little easier (not all retailers will ship a fire extinguisher).

The PRO5, like all of our picks, is a rechargeable extinguisher with a metal valve and handle. Such models offer reliability and the potential for cost benefits over disposable extinguishers with plastic valves and handles. We need to note, though, that the firefighting abilities are the same between the two styles. Guyette Fire Protection owner Wayne Guyette told us that “two and a half pounds of chemical is two and a half pounds of chemical,” and assistant fire marshal Joseph Keenan said that “the effectiveness of the extinguisher is in how it is used, not the material it is made of.”

But Firehouse Magazine’s Timothy Sendelbach told us that “rechargeable [extinguishers] are typically better quality,” and that “paying a little more for your safety is never a bad practice.” For a 3A 40B:C unit (the kind we’re recommending), the up-front costs between the two styles are just about the same, but for smaller models such as our supplemental pick, rechargeables cost about $15 to $20 more.

We also found that disposable extinguishers have a track record of reliability issues. Kidde, a major manufacturer of disposable extinguishers, issued a recall of around 40 million units in 2017 due to issues with discharge and nozzle detachment—and that was after it recalled 4.6 million extinguishers2015 and another 470,000 in 2005 due to issues with the plastic valve. For that 2005 recall, it’s unclear whether the units were disposable (the plastic valve suggests that they were), but either way, the recall points to the potential failures of an extinguisher with plastic in the valve assembly. For that reason, all of our picks have all-metal valves.

In addition to the problems that Kidde has had, First Alert, back in 2000, recalled 600,000 units of its disposable FE1A10G extinguisher. The Consumer Product Safety Commission notice doesn’t give specifics as to the faulty component. We couldn’t find any extinguisher recalls due to faulty canisters, so if we had to guess, we’d wager that this problem also involved the plastic valve.

“I received a brochure in the mail regarding Connecticut Water’s Linebacker Protection program. There’s scant detail in the information, but I gather it’s a program that insures the water line from the road to your house. Should one of those lines break the cost can run into the thousands of dollars and is borne by the homeowner, not the water company. Can you please tell me whether this is a legitimate program and whether the entire cost of a line breaking would be covered? Thanks.”

As for insurance offers from Connecticut Water and other utilities, Coyle said PURA does not regulate those programs, and terms and prices can vary from company to company. “Individual households should shop around and do their homework,” he said.

• Linebacker, $85/year. Covers the cost of repairing or replacing the service line, curb valve, and first shut-off valve, with a $10,000 limit per year.

• Linebacker Complete, $185/year. Linebacker Plan plus in-home plumbing coverage for internal water pipes, connected fittings, and valves but not leaking or broken water fixtures. Service fee/repair is $50 plus up to $2,000 for remaining plumbing repair.

So, how often do water service line leaks occur on private property? I contacted Kerry Martin, assistant to MDC’s CEO, who gave me the data for two north central Connecticut towns that the utility covers. Of course, the MDC won’t know about leaks if homeowners repair them without reporting them.

“Covered repairs” include “as many service calls as you need … to repair or replace a leaking, frozen, or permanently blocked exterior water-service line from your utility’s responsibility … to the water meter or main shut-off valve inside your home damaged due to normal wear and tear not accident or negligence.”

The cost of walk-in tubs varies quite a bit depending on size and features. The models chosen by our Reviews Team are some of the most affordable walk-in bathtubs on the market, but installation will add to the cost of your new walk-in tub.

It’s important to know what size of seat you will need to bathe safely and comfortably. A member of our Reviews Team (seefigure 1 below) sat in a few different models with seats that measured 23 inches wide by 15 inches deep, which is standard for many walk-in tubs. While she found those seats to be adequately sized for her 5-foot 5-inch frame, someone taller and/or larger would likely have felt cramped.

You also don’t want a seat that isn’t deep enough. This could be a matter not only of convenience but also safety; a shallow seat may cause you to slip off when turning around while bathing or reaching for something behind you, for instance.

Wheelchair-accessible tubs comply with ADA standards, meaning they meet certain requirements for ease of use and safety features. The threshold on wheelchair-accessible tubs is very low, and the width of the door is wider, to allow the user to move from the wheelchair to the tub seat.

Some walk-in tubs also offer overheating protection (also known as anti-scald valves). As an added safety measure, theConsumer Product Safety Commissionrecommends setting the maximum temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.1

The design and safety features of walk-in tubs can also help caregivers who may need to bathe older adults or people with a disability. A walk-in tub makes it easier for caregivers to move around in the bathroom without getting wet, and reach all angles of the bathtub to help someone bathe.

In addition to the standard features above that help ensure your safety while bathing, many walk-in tub makers offer some or all of the following special features.

Practice reaching behind your back and turning in the seat to make sure you can move around without losing your balance. If you’re concerned about having enough room in the tub, it’s worth the time and effort to make sure you’re happy with the size offered before ordering one. Ending up with a seat that’s too narrow or not deep enough to sit on safely will affect your experience (and possibly your safety) while using a walk-in tub.

It’s a good idea to have an occupational or physical therapist, or a nurse experienced in older adult care conduct a home safety evaluation before purchasing a walk-in tub with an outward-swinging door. They can evaluate your bathroom space, spot any hazards that need to be addressed when installing the tub, and talk you through getting in and out of the tub. You can usually set up an evaluation by asking your doctor for a prescription, which will ensure that insurance orMedicarepays for it.

One company the Reviews Team called (but didn’t include in this review) would not give a definite answer on returns, saying it would depend on the circumstances and how much the tub had been customized.

It’s important to see the return policy in writing before ordering, so you know what recourse you have if the tub arrives damaged or you simply don’t like it once you see it in person. For example, the seat may not be comfortable, or it may be hard to reach the faucet and controls while seated in the tub. One of our Reviews Team members was surprised at how much pressure it took to hold the door closed while latching the handle on several walk-in tub models.

Our Reviews Team recommends buying a walk-in bathtub from a company with a return window. This will give you the chance to sit in the tub, try out the door and controls, and make sure the grab bars are conveniently placed for you, all before installing it.

And for a second year in a row, Chateaux was nominated for a Sitefinity Website of the Year award, an honor that recognizes innovative websites that leverage the power, features, and capabilities of Progress Sitefinity to create outstanding user experience. This year, the nomination fell in the insurance category for our ecommerce work for Homeowner Safety Valve, a leading provider of water and sewer line protection plans to over 100 communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Our digital transformation and data management teams worked together to convert Homeowner Safety Valve’s safetyvalveplans.com from an information-only website to a self-service ecommerce website built with Sitefinity. Chateaux outfitted the new site with a redesigned account management and enrollment process system, allowing customers to complete their purchasing journey and manage their plans online. The new CRM integration gives business users deeper analytics, cleaner data, and mechanisms to encourage customer growth.

Homeowner Safety Valve’s redesigned ecommerce website allows customers to fulfill their buying journey online and provides business users with deeper analytics, cleaner data, and mechanisms to promote customer growth.

Solution architecture and application design plus infrastructure design and implementation and DevOps support for a multinational distribution company

Install security lights to keep burglars at bay. Lights with motion detection provide safe passage on walkways and in doorways, and they help stop intruders in their tracks. Smart lightbulbs are another way to upgrade your lighting and improve security—imagine the added safety when you can control exterior lights from your smartphone.

A home warranty can be a great way to help defray unexpected costs and protect your new investment as a homeowner. But it’s important to clearly understand a home warranty’s function and what it typically covers.

A home warranty is different from homeowners insurance, and it can help pay for those unexpected things that may come up after the purchase of a home. Homes, like most things, are subject to regular wear and tear over time. Unfortunately, household problems can quickly add up to large expenses that can’t be put off.

This is where a home warranty can make a big difference. Unlike what home insurance covers, home warranties cover the systems and appliances in your home—like plumbing or air conditioning—rather than the structure or your personal possessions. You can think of a home warranty as system and appliance insurance that helps provide new homeowners extra peace of mind, particularly if you purchase a home that"s several years old.

However, if you are concerned about the garage door or simply want to replace it for aesthetic reasons, look to your homeowners insurance or plan to pay out of pocket.

Some contracts may allow for repairs to windows that threaten the integrity of the rest of your home, but window and door issues usually fall under homeowners insurance.

Outdoor plumbing—including sprinklers, faucets, and valves—is most likely excluded from a home warranty. While these systems contribute to the curb appeal of your home, they aren’t part of its internal systems.

Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past eight. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime reports and spotting trends. Her safety expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more.

One of the fastest-growing insurers and a company with a 50-year history of protecting families, Mercury Insurance. They offer service line protection as an add-on to its home insurance policies. $10,000 of coverage is paired with an affordable $500 deductible to provide coverage for a broad range of service lines, including sewer lines.

This all depends on your provider, but sewer line coverage is often not built into a standard homeowners policy. Some providers do include it, though, and others offer it as an add-on or standalone policy. Some insurers may offer home warranties that include sewer line damage. Check out some of our favorite homeowners insurance policies below to see if they offer sewer line coverage as part of their available products.

Air compressor tank safety valve. This valve is rated to 60 psi and has a maximum CFM discharge rating of 59cfm. This valve utilizes 1/4" NPT Male threads.