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Reduce your house insurance premiums

Home

Every year, my house insurance premiums were increasing significantly.  I finally phoned them to see what I could do to reduce costs.  Here are some ways to cut down your costs.

Install a monitored alarm system – there should be enough savings to justify paying a monthly $20-$25 fee for monitoring.  For my policy, savings were approx $600/yr.  Alarm monitoring is a cash cow so most companies will install a system for free or heavily discounted.  I installed my own wireless alarm system, the Honeywell Lynx L5000.  See my post here.  I am also using a discount alarm monitoring service, The Monitoring Center, for only $10/month.

Update your house information – if you have a new furnace, water heater or roof, this should decrease your premiums.  Let your insurance company know if these items have been replaced

Earthquake Insurance – Though I live in an earthquake zone, I decided not to renew my earthquake insurance.  With a super high deductible ($40K), insurance would not even cover repairs less than that amount.  For fires or floods caused by earthquakes, this is covered already.

Increase your deductible – Higher deductibles will have lower premiums.  Choose a deductible you are comfortable with.

Other discounts – Discounts may be available for having auto insurance with the same company.  Shop around and compare.

My insurer since I’ve owned my house is Canadian Direct Insurance.  I was able to get a quote online with BCAA but the premiums were more than I was currently paying.  Here are my quotes for my detached house.

2015 – $784 (no earthquake, monitored alarm) $1218 (earthquake, monitored alarm)

2014 – $1845 (earthquake, no alarm) $1184 (earthquake, monitored alarm, updated furnace and hot water heater)

2013 – $1739, 2012 – $1638, 2011 – $1523, 2010 – $1383, 2009 – $1261, 2008 – $1195  ….  2003-$814  (earthquake, no alarm)

Tweaks and Apps for Android

Android, Technology

“There’s an app for that”.  But there are also settings you can change without needing to install an app.  Here’s what I’m running for both by smartphone and tablet.

Apps

Hangouts Dialer – You will need Hangouts installed but with this dialer, you can make free phone calls within Canada and the US.  Your caller ID will show up as “Private Call” if your friends are screening their calls.  You can only get a free incoming number from Google Voice if you are in the US.

GPS Navigation & Maps – Since I don’t have a data plan for my phone, I use this app which supports offline mode.  The app is $1 and maps are about the same price.  Handy for travelling as well.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware – I run this lightweight antivirus program on all my PCs and have this installed on my Android devices.  You are more likely to get viruses if you install downloaded .apk files vs installing from the Play Store.

Missed Call Reminder – My old Razr phone would beep at me if I got a missed call or text and my smartphone doesn’t do this by default.  There are two apps named Missed Call Reminder and the one from DO Software works much better.

Call Blocker – This app allows you to block numbers.  I’m looking at you SFU alumni telemarketing fundraising.  However, I noticed spam calls are increasingly spoofing cellular prefix numbers.

GPS Status – Android doesn’t have a default GPS app which is probably why lost hikers can’t tell rescuers their location.  This app will tell you if your GPS is searching or locked and your position and speed.

Dailyroads Voyager – I am experimenting with this app which allows you to use your smartphone as a dashcam.

Android Settings

Battery percentage – I find it difficult to figure out how much battery level I have remaining with just a small icon.  Though there are many apps that let you display it as a percentage, you may be able to do this in Settings->Battery->Battery Indicator

Display date on the status bar – Settings->Bars->Clock and date.  This feature may not be available on all Android versions.

Increase your battery life – Bluetooth, GPS and Wifi all draw power when on.  To maximize battery life, turn these off when not needed. In Kitkat, the GPS is enabled by turning on Locations.

Put website shortcuts on your desktop – You can put shortcuts to your favorite websites on your desktop.  With Chrome, click on the settings icon on the top right and then “Add to Home Screen”

Screenshot_2015-09-20-13-05-55

Asus ME301T Android 4.4 Kitkat Installation

Android, Technology

Update: I highly recommend installing Lollipop 5.1.1 instead of Kitkat since it runs much better and is stable.   You can also remove all the GAPPS bloatware with a clean install.   You still need to follow the instructions in this post to install TWRP (backup and restore utility) but see the Lolliop installation post here.

The Asus ME301T tablet only supports the older 4.2 Jellybean Android OS.  I think that Asus wants you to buy a newer tablet if you want the latest OS.  Luckily,  third party ROM’s can be installed though this will void any warranty and there is a chance you could brick your device.  Here is the procedure I used to update my tablet.

  1. Make sure you have the latest firmware Settings->About Tablet->Build number should be US_epad-10.6.1.31_201xxxxxx for the US version.  Update the firmware on your table from the About Tablet menu if it’s not the latest.
  2. From your tablet, go to ASUS’s website to download the utility to unlock your boot loader.  Remember this will void the warranty.  Go to Settings->Security->Unknown Sources and enable it to allow apps to be installed from outside the Play Store.  Files are available here under the Utilities section.  The downloaded file needs to be unzipped, installed and then run to unlock your boot loader.
  3. Once the bootloader is unlocked, you will need to install the latest TWRP 2.8.1.x The procedure requires the utility fastboot for the PC, the proper drivers to connect to your tablet with Windows and USB debugging enabled on your tablet.  TWRP files available here.  Transferring the file should take seconds – try again if it’s not working.  Procedure can be followed here.
  4. To boot with the TWRP, first make sure your tablet is powered off (not sleeping).  Then hold the vol-down key and hold the pwr key.  When you see the startup messages let go of both buttons and press the vol-up key once with RCK (recovery) selected.  Vol-down cycles through the choices and Vol-up selects.  Wait a few seconds and you should see the TWRP menu screen.
  5. With TWRP, you want to backup your factory OS so you can restore it if necessary.   Backing up the data is optional but you should back up to an external micro SD card.
  6. Download the latest Omnirom for Kitkat (stable) and transfer to your tablet (do not extract).  Download from here.  If you want to experiment with Lollipop (pre-release), check here.
  7. Using TWRP, perform a wipe and then an install pointing to the omnirom package.
  8. Reboot and you should be running Kitkat

 

Save money and energy by replacing your old fridge

Home

I had two old fridges more than 15 years old in my house.  The downstairs one had been repaired a few years ago for a broken heater while my upstairs one had a recent problem with a stuck defrost timer which I replaced with a part bought on Amazon.  After the repair, I noticed the fridge seals were in rough shape so I started searching Craigslist for some used fridges.  Modern fridges were supposedly more energy efficient so I was looking for something newer but used to save some money.  I found one for $100 that had a cooling problem in the fridge section,  but the seller indicated the freezer section was fine.  There was probably ice blocking air flow from the freezer to the fridge compartment that a manual defrost fixed easily.  A few weeks, later I found a second one (same model) for $200.

My local utility, BC Hydro,  had recently switched to smart meters and offered a $75 rebate for decreasing energy usage by 10% over a year.  They also had a fridge buy-back program which would start in the spring and would pick up and give you $30 for an old running fridge (max two claims lifetime on your account).

So the energy savings after replacement were about 50%.  My electricity bill went from between $150-$200 every 2 months to around $100.  The electricity savings alone paid back the cost of the fridges not even counting the $135 in rebates.

Not only are modern fridges more efficient, they run less since they use thermostats to cool only when needed.  Old fridges use timers and are on a cycle of either being fully on or off in defrosting mode.

Here is my energy usage graph.  In Aug I had new tenants.  They said the fridge was cranked all the way up so they turned it down.  End of December, both fridges were replaced.

fridgesavings

Replace your old shower faucet

Home, Renovations

If you have an old shower with separate hold and cold taps, you know the pain if someone flushes the toilet or runs hot water elsewhere in the house.  Modern shower valves solve this problem by equalizing water pressure and maintaining temperature if this happens.

I was watching an episode of “Ask This Old House” where they replaced a dual tap shower valve with a newer mixing valve.  The trick was to use a special plate which would cover up the hole left by the old handles.  I decided to attempt this reno on my own tub but instead of using a plate, I would patch the tile.  This would be  a “temporary” fix until I could replace the tub and re-tile the walls.  Replacing the faucet would need to be done in a complete bathroom reno anyways.

I had access to the back of the shower through an access panel in a bedroom closet which made this job much easier.  I was also able to match the almond tile colour with bulk tile found at Lowes (buy a few extra pieces in case of breakage).

One of the trickier parts of the job would be cutting the tile for the openings for both the new valve and spout.  I ended up buying a circular tile cutter from Harbor Freight to do this.

I hadn’t soldered pipes before (only electronics) and had a very old propane torch.  As with any soldering, surfaces need to be very clean and flux needs to be applied.  With the torch, it was a bit difficult to light and took a few attempts so it’s best to do it outside.  When soldering pipes, the joint heats up in seconds.  You want to apply solder letting the heat of the pipe melt the solder and not the heat of flame.  If you make a mistake, you may only have one chance to reheat it to make adjustments.

One problem I had was I dropped the elbow for spout pipe in the floor cavity while trying to re-align it to get it perfectly 90 degrees to the wall.  I had to make a quick trip to Home Depot to get a replacement.  In hindsight, I should have made sure it was supported properly while I soldered it and temporarily put a pipe into it to judge the angle coming out of the wall.

Another problem I spotted, luckily before I started soldering, was that the original spout and taps were not in line with the drain and centered on the wall (not tub).

Another small mistake I made was applying too much adhesive to the tile.  I didn’t dry after a day so I removed it all and tried again with much less.

 

Hacking (Softmodding) your Wii 2015

Technology

Though the original Wii has not been produced since 2011, it is still a fun game system especially with younger kids.  Though it doesn’t have have hdmi, you can get better video quality buying a component video cable (ebay) and then change the system settings to 480p and widescreen mode.  The default with the standard composite cable is 480i and 4:3 ratio.  You can find used Wii systems for between $40-$80 on Craigslist.  Wiimote controllers are harder to find since they are still supported on the Wii U.  Motionplus controllers are a bit more expensive and not really necessary since fewer games require or support the extra accuracy.

I was given a Wii with a non-reading CD drive by a friend and I was able to replace the drive by finding a guide online on how to disassemble it.  I had to purchase a replacement drive and special screwdriver on ebay.  The Wii then sat for several years since my friend had already replaced the broken one.  Here is one disassembly guide  https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Wii+Teardown/812

I decided to get it going for my nieces and found that it could be softmodded to run games off USB drives instead of CD.  There are lots of guides available and it can be difficult to sort through all the info.

Make sure your Wii is updated with the latest firmware 4.3U (US,  June 2010).  This allows you to use the latest hack (Letterbomb) which installs the Homebrew Channel.  Homebrew Channel allows you to run your own apps on the Wii.  Hacking requires a SD card formatted FAT32.  Earlier guides mention only using non SDHC cards smaller than 2GB but with the latest firmware, SDHC cards CAN be used.  I used a 8GB SDHC card.

To run games off a USB drive, you can look for  USB Loader GX app which is copied onto your SD card.   This app doesn’t support running games off the SD card but another loader, CFG Loader, can be used if you want to.

There is another tool called modmii which may simplify the procedure for hacking.

If you have a HTPC, you can play Wii games with the Dolphin emulator.  You will need a game-quality graphics card and a fairly fast computer to run the emulation.  Original wiimotes are recommended though there is a dolphin wiimote app for your smartphone.  To connect to the wiimote, a generic bluetooth dongle is needed (couple of bucks on ebay).  Check on ebay as well  for a cheap USB powered sensor bar but you can use two candles in a pinch.

 

Email and Password Security

Technology

With the vast amount of passwords we have to remember, there are a couple of tips to protect against hackers.

  1. For financial websites  like Paypal and banking, use long and unique passwords with symbols (if allowed), uppercase letters, numbers and non-dictionary words.
  2. Your email password needs to be very secure.  If hacked, the attacker could send spam or scam emails requesting money to your contact list or reset passwords on other websites including your bank.
  3. If using gmail, enable 2-factor authentication.  This will send a digital code via text to your mobile phone to enable login.  If travelling, you can pre-print a set of codes.  Twitter also supports 2-factor authentication.
  4. Do not reuse passwords for sensitive websites.  If it becomes compromised, hackers may try to use your password on other sites.

With leaks of many password databases including Ashley Madison, LinkedIn and Rockyou, hackers have access to the most common passwords which include ‘123456’, ‘12345’, ‘123456789’, and ‘password’.  There is no guarantee your password is stored safely nor will it be hacked or compromised.

Asus Memopad ME301T Touchscreen Problem

Android, Technology

I purchased a used Asus Memopad Smart 10 (ME301T) tablet recently as an upgrade from a 7″ and later 8″ tablet, mainly to help my eyes out with a larger screen.  Though released in 2013, it is currently still being sold but looks like it will be replaced by the Zenpad 10.  Upgrading from the Memopad 8, additional features include a charging LED on the power button and a micro HDMI port.  As a downgrade, the tablet was running Android 4.2 Jellybean.  My biggest issue with Jellybean was the inability to remove empty home screens though a different launcher would allow this.

After doing a factory wipe, I noticed that the touchscreen was occasionally unresponsive.  Swipes and taps had troubles registering which was verified by enabling “Show Touches” in debugging mode.

I decided to upgrade to a custom ROM which supported Kitkat 4.4 to see if performance could be improved.

After a lot of searching, I was able to piece together a procedure to unlock the bootloader, load the TWRP bootloader (which allows backup, restores and installs), and then load the Kitkat ROM.  See procedure here.

With Kitkat, the touchscreen performance was slightly better but the problem still persisted.  I finally found a fix which involved forcing an update of the digitizer firmware here.  I had to image back to the original Jellybean OS.  Remove the back cover.  Disconnect the digitizer/touchscreen flex cable.  Reboot and wait for it to update the touch firmware and interrupt it by unplugging the battery cable.  Plug the flex cable and battery back in and reboot again.

I still had one final problem with touches sometimes not being recognized which I traced to the Facebook app.  It is a big RAM hog and closing it does not remove it from memory.  It had to be uninstalled for my tablet to function smoothly.

See my tips for tweaking Kitkat here.