Archive for Safety Tips
Winter Home Maintenance Tips
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As winter approaches, your home is susceptible to more hazardous conditions. This includes pipes freezing, damage from the cold weather, and high heating costs. If the home is not prepared properly, the value of the home can decrease due to wear and tear. Staying up-to-date with winter maintenance activities will keep it as good as new.
Here is a checklist of things to do to keep your home safe and maintained in the cold winter months:
- Check the roof. Watch for damage from ice and remove icicles.
- Avoid frozen pipes. Keep cabinet doors open for the heat to reach pipes, such as below sink areas. A slow dripping faucet can help pipes that are vulnerable to extreme weather, such as pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.
- Prevent leaks. Check the basement area for leaks and water, especially during a winter thaw.
- Test the electrical system. Check all ground-fault circuit interrupters to make sure they are working properly and offer shock protection. These outlets can cut off power to an electrical device; they should be tested especially after an electrical storm.
- If you are going out of town, prepare the home. Keep the heat turned on, even if you are leaving for an extended period of time.
- Keep heating costs down. Clean and check or replace furnace air filters every month. Install storm windows or use plastic-film sheets from a hardware store on windows for the winter season.
- Prepare for an emergency. Check the pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers and replace if necessary. Also, make sure to have a 72-hour kit on hand in the case of blackouts or snowstorms.
A home that is ready for winter will remain in good condition, keep costs down, and allow you to enjoy a cozy winter without worry.
Prevent Water Damage and Keep Your Home in Good Repair
Posted by: | CommentsA home that has water damage can bring problems to homeowners that go beyond the cost of repair. Water damage is destructive to homes and buildings, causing a loss of value, higher maintenance costs, and even a liability with a loss of proper indoor air quality. These problems can be prevented by properly inspecting your home for damage and taking the steps to fix problems as soon as they occur. If you detect the presence of moisture in your home, be sure to take action right away.
Places to Inspect for Water Damage
There are a number of places in the home where water damage might occur. Some of these are areas you might not regularly notice, so consider keeping a running list of places to check. Some of these less-often-seen areas include: attics, storage areas, pipes, basements areas, and heating and cooling systems.
You might also notice more obvious things inside the home like damaged ceiling tiles, carpet, and water stains on drywall or plaster. Outside the home, make sure to check any cracks in the foundation or exterior walls, as well as the roof and windows. These are all places where water could leak in and should be are checked regularly.
Make Sure Your Home Is in Good Repair
Keep in mind that not all water damage is totally obvious. Sometimes you have to go looking for it to realize you’ve got an ongoing problem. Keep your home in good repair by sealing any cracks or holes in the exterior walls and foundation, making sure you have good ventilation in moisture-prone areas inside the home, and keeping up with inspection and maintenance of your home.
Finally, if water damage does occur for any reason, act quickly to fix the problem. Be sure to remove all standing water and moisture evidence. Consult with a home repair expert, if needed, to correct any leaks or water damage for good.
5 Tips for Dryer Safety
Posted by: | CommentsThere is a little-known cause of home fires that results from a clothes dryer that malfunctions and catches on fire. Now, some people like to make jokes that dryers cause pairs of socks or other garments to disappear forever, but this problem is actually quite serious.
When a dryer operates, it blows hot air while spinning at high rate to evaporate the water from the clothing. This makes the vent of the dryer a very important piece of this appliance, both for operation and for safety. Tiny pieces of material from clothing accumulate as lint and are highly flammable. Because of this home fires due to lack of dryer safety are actually quite common. They most often occur as a result of not cleaning out the lint filter and a mechanical failure that can cause the lint to catch on fire.
Proper maintenance of this vent and dryer safety are very important to prevent fires and keep the appliance operating normally. Here are some tips to make sure the your dryer is in good working order:
- The dryer and the vent are fully connected. The dryer can operate without this connection, but this will result in a lot of steam filling the room and there is a high risk of fire and mechanical failure. Make sure these parts are fully connected by checking on the back of the dryer or on the wall behind it.
- 2. There is no restriction of airflow. The dryer vent is flexible and can easily be crushed or kinked when placed against a wall. Any airflow restrictions are a potential fire hazard, so a clean, unobstructed vent is very important.
- 3. The lint from inside the dryer is cleaned out. Cleaning out the lint filter not only helps the dryer work more efficiently, but pieces of lint are highly flammable and if the dryer overheats, this can trigger sparks and cause a serious home fire. Be sure to clean the lint filter after every cycle and put it back into the appliance.
- 4. The area is clean behind the dryer. Since dryers are usually pushed into walls and small spaces, lint and dust tends to build up behind the dryer. This area should be kept free of dust, clothing and other objects as it can get very hot.
- 5. Only clothing items are placed in the dryer. Putting plastic, metal, rubber, or foam pieces can contribute to a dryer safety issues. In addition, if clothes in the washing machine have had flammable substances spilled on them such as gasoline, they should not be placed in the dryer.
Lately, make sure to have a working smoke detector in the laundry room as a precaution. By following these dryer safety tips you’ll greatly reduce any problems that could occur and also have a more efficient appliance.
For more information read the article Dryer Vent Safety.
Minimizing Asbestos Risk in the Home
Posted by: | CommentsAsbestos was once common in home building, but as we know by now, exposure to it can pose a potential danger. Asbestos is basically a fiber that when cut or damaged can produce toxins that can cause serious illness, including lung cancer. If you’re wondering about asbestos in your home, here are a couple indicators, as well as what to do about it.
The good news is that asbestos exposure has been for the most part eliminated from use in homes. However, for years it was used in a number of materials, inc
luding fireproofing material, insulation, and flooring. In the 1970s and 80s asbestos exposure was minimized and today the materials that contain asbestos will have a label. In older homes asbestos might be more of a problem.
Where Asbestos is Located
According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), asbestos may be contained in a number of areas in the home, including:
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Insulation in houses built between 1930 and 1950
- Insulation in oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Material or tape that is coated over hot water and steam pipes in older homes
- Textured paint on walls in ceilings before 1977
- Artificial ash and embers in gas fireplaces
- Older products, such as stove-top pads
- Walls and floors around wood burning stoves
When Dealing with Asbestos
Keep in mind that asbestos exposure becomes a problem only when the fibers are released. Improper repair or removal of this substance can cause a potential health risk. When it doubt, it is probably better to leave it alone, but consult a profession if you have concerns.
If you suspect asbestos might be in your home, check the material for any indication of damage—and if it is in good condition, leave it alone. Asbestos poses no danger unless the fibers are inhaled. To check for a disturbance, do not touch, rub, or handle the area or material; instead look for signs of damage, such as from water or tears, or abrasion.
Work with a trained asbestos professional or contractors if you have concerns or are considering removal. This person will know the steps to take to minimize the risk. This is especially important when it comes to home remodeling. An asbestos professional can take a sample of the material to test it.
For more information read the article Asbestos in Your Home.
More information on Asbestos:
Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. PleuralMesothelioma.com has the most up to date and comprehensive information about Pleural Mesothelioma on the web today. With information ranging from a complete list of symptoms, to treatment options, as well as mesothelioma survival rate. http://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/
