GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Owning a car can be a thrilling experience, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Your car needs to go through frequent servicing and care to avoid unwanted breakdowns and troubles. People make great efforts to keep their vehicles in the best condition inside out. Scheduling servicing, getting car insurance, ensuring the proper tyre pressure are all things every car owner is familiar with. However, one thing that is often neglected is your car's exhaust system.

Cleaning your exhaust plays a vital role in the upkeep of your vehicle. The exhaust is responsible for expelling the harmful gases generated by your car due to combustion and reducing noise pollution. Unfortunately, during the release of these fumes, some particles are left inside the pipe as residue. This decreases the performance of the exhaust and hinders the optimum functionality of your car. Hence, it is vital to give your exhaust the extra care it deserves.

Here we'll be looking at a few ways to clean your exhaust so that you can prevent your car from troubling you in the future.

1. Water wash:
During combustion, water settles on the exhaust. This is the leading cause of corrosion. Cleaning the exhaust with water helps remove the rust. Going in again with soap and water ensures no other sediments are left but will lead to corrosion later. Use a clean, dry cloth to get rid of any moisture left on the outside of the exhaust. Next, use a brush with an extended arm to penetrate deep into the pipe's insides and ensure proper cleaning.

2. Degreasing:
Using a heavy-duty degreaser inside and outside the exhaust helps break down carbon and rust. After some time, use steel wool to remove the collected sediments.

3. Polishing:
After the preliminary cleaning of the exhaust, it is now time for some metal polish. Polish adds an extra layer between the surface of the exhaust and the atmosphere. This significantly delays the corrosion of the exhaust and helps extend its longevity.

4. Stainless steel exhaust:
The best option is to opt for a stainless steel exhaust pipe. They do not rust and also prevent carbon development.

5. Go to the service station:
While the steps mentioned above help take care of your exhaust system, sometimes your vehicle might be facing more complex problems. One such issue is a failing catalytic converter. An exhaust emission control device prevents the highly toxic fumes from getting out through the tailpipe. It converts the toxic air into less harmful fumes to reduce pollution levels.

However, cleaning a catalytic converter is much more complex than cleaning exhaust pipes. Hence, it is advised to go to your service centre to ensure safe and effective cleaning of the converter.

These are a few ways to take care of your exhaust systems. However, there might be instances where your vehicle needs more than just instant home solutions, which is why you should consider adding value to your car by investing in car insurance.

Having car insurance saves you from worrying about all the extra expenses you might encounter while getting its maintenance and servicing done regularly.

Click HERE to know more about car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

For decades, clicking photographs with a film camera was the only way to store memories. Today, we use smartphones to capture and save memories as videos and pictures. However, if you are from the 90s era or before, you must still have hundreds of pictures and photo films locked away in your cupboard or neatly tucked into photo albums.

While tossing out old clothes that we've outgrown may be easy, throwing out photographs is just too difficult. They hold countless memories in a single snapshot that you never want to let go of. You may even put up a few photographs in frames to hang up on the wall or place on your bedside.

However, over the years, you may notice them begin to degrade. Some get brown patches, some turn yellow, and some develop folds and creases around the corner. Therefore, it is essential to remember these tips to preserve old photographs properly.

1. Throw out the old photo albums:
Storing the old photographs in a box or folder does not ensure their protection. Using the usual peel-and-stick photo albums is not the best option for holding your photos. They are usually made of ordinary plastic, glue, and cardboard, which can harm the pictures in the long run. If you want to save them, look for ones free from acid. Avoid albums made with dyes and recycled materials.

2. Do not stick your photographs:
Exposing your photographs to any kind of glue or adhesives can harm their quality. The paper can tear or weaken due to the use of glue. Instead of sticking the photographs in books or albums, look for albums with paper sleeves or acid-free plastic sleeves.

3. Label wisely:
Future generations who inherit the photographs may need the context behind them and labelling them with thorough information can go a long way. However, while most of us might write using a permanent marker or a pen, the ink poses a threat of staining the photographs. Instead, use a pencil and write lightly around the edges to avoid damaging the centre of the image. If you are worried about lead smudging, avoid touching the parts you've written on.

4. Preserve in appropriate locations:
Collections of old photographs are delicate and need to be stored the right way. They need to be boxed in climate-controlled areas of your home that are not too cold, hot, or humid.
Moisture and heat can affect the paper quality and the print of the photograph. Therefore, keeping the albums in paper boxes is better than using plastic boxes. Place these boxes in a closet that is not prone to flooding or intense heat, sunlight, and moisture.

To sum it up, these few measures may help you preserve the quality of your photographs and maintain their shine over the years. To make sure you continue making memorable memories much like the ones you've saved in those photographs, invest in dependable general insurance plans to secure your family.

Click HERE to buy general insurance that best suits your requirements.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

In a digital world where everything happens at the touch of a button, books emerge as one of the oldest and most potent resources humankind has invented. They hold great knowledge and can feel you connected. Books also help people deal with anxiety or depression by making them feel more engaged.

Whether you are an avid reader or would like to become one, here are some of the benefits that make reading an excellent habit!

1. Stimulates the brain:
Reading and mental stimulation go hand-in-hand. When you are reading something, you are focused on one task, which keeps your brain constantly active. As per various researches, the mentally stimulated brain can help prevent several diseases, including Dementia and Alzheimer.

2. Improves vocabulary:
Reading improves vocabulary, especially when you read newspapers, articles, and books every day. The more you read, the more you get exposed to new words and enhance your vocabulary. You'll be surprised at how easily you'll start inculcating the words you've read in your day-to-day life.

3. Releases stress:
Who doesn't have days when they are highly stressed? Reading your favourite books will take you to your personal leisure space, whether you are worried about work or your personal life. As you focus on reading, you will forget about the stress and uplift your mood. So, how about grabbing your favourite book to release your tension when you feel down?

4. Improves memory skills:
When reading a fictional book, you will have to remember many details about the characters to grasp where the story is going. All this directly impacts your brain's memory and plays a vital role in strengthening your short-term memory.

5. Enhances knowledge:
Since childhood, older adults have always told us that books are one of the tremendous seas of knowledge. There is no such thing as "enough" knowledge. There is always something new to know and learn about with plenty of world history and new inventions each day.

6. Keeps you open to new perspectives:
No two brains are alike. When you spend your time reading articles online, you will know how different people think, their thoughts, reactions to situations, how they view life, and much more. When you read the rights and wrongs, you will welcome new perspectives and see life differently.

7. Helps in improving writing skills:
Reading often helps you to analyse each writer's different writing styles better. As mentioned previously, it enhances your vocabulary; you will be able to write better as you open up to new words, thoughts, and more. Regular reading trains your brain to analyse information efficiently and polishes your writing skills!

8. Improves concentration:
Humans are prone to multitasking which disturbs concentration power. Spending 15-20 minutes a day reading a book or article will help you increase concentration and focus better. This is because when you are reading, you give all your attention to one thing.

After reading the points mentioned above, it is no surprise that reading provides too many benefits for you to miss out on! Isn't it amazing how reading can do wonders for your life and promote your well-being?

While reading provides various benefits, it is also vital to take care of your health by engaging yourself in different activities. Another healthy habit that can positively impact your life is having online health insurance to eliminate the financial burden in case of unexpected incidents. Nevertheless, we hope you always stay fit and healthy!

Click HERE to buy online health insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

If you are a bike rider, you know that your bike needs to be regularly serviced to ensure a smooth and safe ride. Regular maintenance and check-up can go a long way for your two-wheeler. But, while you can grease and tighten the loose parts at home, it is better to leave the work for the experts. Today, we will look at the weird noises your two-wheeler makes and how you can identify the source of the problem.

This article will help you make an informed decision as to when to take your bike to the mechanic and when you can fix it yourself.

1. Clicking sounds:
You might have heard a periodic click from your two-wheeler on many different occasions. Although it can be a complex process to locate the exact source of the sound, you might be able to find it eventually with the help of a mechanic.
A mechanic's gadgets can be useful tools to help you find the source. A small gap, loose fittings, or a hole caused due to rusting can all be reasons for the clicking sounds.

2. Gurgling sounds:
Gurgling sounds arise when there is a problem with the cooling system. Any drop in the level of the coolant is indicative of an issue. For example, the pump cannot circulate the coolant properly if there is an air gap, and it starts to boil if it cannot move away from hot areas. This could result in the gurgle.

3. Ticking sounds:
If your bike makes a ticking sound when it reaches a particular speed, it usually indicates some damage in the valve clearance. Immediately get it inspected by a mechanic. Loose valves can affect the performance of your vehicle.

4. Whirring sounds:
Whirring sounds are invariably caused due to the drive chain. Chains generally make sounds. But if you hear anything out of the ordinary, it's time you get them checked. Cleaning your chain and examining loose rollers and stretches can help you resolve the problem.

5. Knocking sounds:
Knocking sounds are directly connected to the engine. Worn-out shells and collapsed bearings can hinder your engine's performance and be catastrophic. If you hear them while driving, you should immediately park the vehicle to safety and inspect the problem. It is also recommended to call a mechanic to fix the issue.

6. Whining sounds:
Whining sounds are clear indicators of gearbox issues. Gears work in pairs, and a problem in either reflects on the other.

7. Clattering sounds:
Clattering sounds could be indicators of issues with the chain or tensioner. Since chains undergo wear and tear over time, it leads to fatigue in the tensioner. This is not as dangerous as knocking sounds, but it can affect the bike's performance.

8. Popping sounds:
Checking the exhaust pipes for gaps or gas leakage should be the first step when you hear popping sounds.

These are the few sounds that you might have heard from a two-wheeler. After the preliminary examination, it is best to take your vehicle to a mechanic. They will be able to provide you with solutions for the same.

Sometimes you might need to change parts of your bike if the damage is severe. This can be expensive and burn a hole through your pockets. But, having your two-wheeler covered under insurance can do wonders for you. A good 2 wheeler insurance acts as a shield against such unprecedented expenses and offers several benefits that can be advantageous in case of damages.

Click HERE to look at 2 wheeler insurance options.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.