Safety
In case of an emergency you should know how to turn off the gas in your home from the meter. The following steps will show you how.
Step 1. It is important to know exactly where your gas meter is located (See above image) so that in the event of an emergency, you know how to shut it off.
* DO NOT turn off your meter unless you smell gas, hear the sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a leak.
Step 2. As you face the meter, you will see a pipe running from the ground to the meter. There is a shut-off valve running parallel with the pipe usually located about 6 to 8 inches above the ground.
Don't forget safety when thinking about a backyard pool. Install it the right way and enjoy your oasis with peace of mind (and no liability).
A fence is almost always necessary with any backyard pool over 24" deep. If you install an above ground and have a non-climbable railing completely surrounding it, you won't need a fence. Otherwise, count on it being necessary.
A lockable gate is also going to be essential for pool safety. Look for products specially made for pools that have lock mechanisms built right in. Some states and municipalities also require a gate to be self-closing.
Water damage repair can be hazardous. The most common types of hazard? Contaminated water and mold. Both pose a huge threat to you and your family.
Thankfully personal protective equipment, also known as PPE, is readily available this day in age.
In this third part of our series on water damage repair, we look at recommended PPE for both contaminated water removal and mold removal. As always, these articles are merely suggestions, and we do not recommend removing toxic materials unless you are certified to do so and you understand the risks!
Your PPE protects against three major forms of contamination:
+ Inhalation - Breathing contaminated air.
+ Ingestion - Contaminated materials entering your mouth, nose or eyes.
+ Skin Contact - Contaminated materials touching your body and exposing you to illness.
Sounds delightful, right? Use the following PPE to combat these elements:
Many homeowners are looking to vinyl decks for a true maintenance free solution. PVC (or Polyvinyl Chloride) will last for decades without a drop of stain. But will your deck become dangerously slippery in the rain?
A completely flat vinyl or plastic surface would surely become a hazard with any kind of moisture. But thankfully, vinyl deck boards are not made that way.
Manufacturers have perfected the technology of creating vinyl decking that mimics a wood grain. Those grooves and swirls not only look more interesting and natural, but they provide a non-slip surface when moisture puddles on top are broken up with a rougher texture.
A few months back we featured a series on identifying, isolating and drying water damage in the home. The series left off after an effective drying system is set-up, and your home is on its way back to a livable condition.
Over the next week or so, we will look at how to actually repair water damaged material. Here's what we will cover:
* What materials can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded
* Personal protective equipment
* Safely removing contaminated or moldy materials
* Tips for making the repair easier on yourself or your contractors
Before getting too far into the series, here is a refresher on water remediation category terms. These terms will be used throughout the series:
Universal design to benefit seniors and the physically challenged is an under served sector of home and interior design. But with the aging boomer population, there is an opportunity for manufacturers and designers to work with people who have special needs when it comes to living in their home.
There are some designers who do focus on the kitchen and are well-versed in universal design, but a properly designed bathroom is even more vital for people who need assistance.
#2 in our 3 step series of how to buy a rental property without being gashed.
Lesson 2: Speak Loudly and Carry a Big Stick
I was in a back bedroom of one home the other day, and heard a scream from the back yard. This was not the scream of a child or a woman, but that of a grown man. A large grown man. He was running for his life. From a pit bull. He shot through the back door and into the living room, startling all of us with both his yelps of fear and his surprising quickness for a man of his girth.
It was my HVAC guy, and he was procuring serial numbers off a condenser in the back yard that needs replacement. Apparently the neighbors dog had been vacationing in this homes back yard since it went vacant months ago. She was not too happy people were prodding through her stomping grounds.
When I was in 6th grade my parents had a beeper system that I took with me when I left the house to ride my bike in the neighborhood. When it was time to come home for dinner or play time was up they would buzz me. Much like the fancy light up buzzers that are handed out at the Cheesecake Factory that let you know when your table is ready but with probably a shorter range.
This was way before cellphones and even before pagers were the rage. It seemed very high-tech at the time and it was too cool to be dorky or frowned upon (or at least I thought so).
In 2010 the Protector from Taser has arrived that makes my beeper system seem like the dark ages.
The Protector is one of the more interesting product announcements we found at CES 2010 and should be available to the public this year.
Once the Protector software is installed on your mobile phone system you can set a plethora of alerts that will notify you of your child's behavior. We thought these were the most scary or useful - depending how you look at it.
1. Using your child's mobile GPS the Protector will alert you when your child goes 10 miles over the speed limit or enters a zone specified by you to be a bad part of town or an area that is off limits when driving.
2. You can interrupt or listen into any mobile phone conversation your child is having as you are alerted to their phone use.
The Consumer Electronics tradeshow in Las Vegas is a lot to take in and although the gadgets and audio/video components are really the heavy hitters, we did find some jewels that may be helpful for homeowners looking to setup a home security system.
Archerfish Video Monitoring
This video monitoring system is smart enough to look for specific events you define while filtering out video you don't need. It's motion based and will anticipate events and alert you to your mobile device if something unexpected is detected.
Skylink Home Security
Nothing revolutionary here but they offer a household kit that includes a garage door monitor, motion sensors and water alerts (in case a pipe bursts or there is flooding of any kind). The system is wireless and operated by rolling code which creates a new security code each time the system is turned on and off which makes it tougher to hack. There is also no monthly monitoring fee.
Dakota Alert
This wireless alert system is perfect for homeowners who live on large properties. The wireless motion detector can sense a person or vehicle from about 50 feet away and will send a signal back to a receiver up to 1/2 a mile away.
Usually we are in no rush to take down Christmas lights and will wait until the first weekend after the new year. As always its important to not forget these safety tips for removing lights as we may feel rushed to get them down as soon as possible and want to take shortcuts.
We did hear a frightening story this year about a friend who was on a ladder and reaching to wrap lights around a banister and was standing past the top rung and trying to reach much to far which caused the ladder to tip over which left her hanging. Fortunately someone else was home to help her out or else she would have experienced an ugly fall.
Use the Handy Hook to help you get at the hard to reach lights.
Step Ladder safety should be at the top of the list for home skills that everyone should know.
Don't leave your lights and extension cords in a big mess. Here are some techniques for folding the cords so they are easy to access and prevent wear and tear on the lights.
Follow these light hanging safety tips in reverse when taking lights down.
