How does an insurance company merger affect policyholders? Networks shrink, claims slow, and premiums often rise—here's what changes and how to protect yourself.

For many homeowners, fireplaces have a very specific season. They are cleaned up after the last fire of winter and largely forgotten until temperatures begin to fall again. Once the weather turns warm, attention shifts to landscaping, patios, air conditioning, and other summer home improvement projects. The chimney, meanwhile, quietly...