Traveling Safely During the Holidays

Here are some important links for travel information:

Transportation Security Administration - http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

Travel Forecast - http://www.travelforecast.com/

Directions – http://maps.google.com

Many people are traveling this time of year, so planning ahead is smart.  Keep track of weather, whether you are traveling on the roads or by air.  Be sure to know your route and have it printed out.  If you have layovers, if there is construction going on- all of these things can delay and cause stress while traveling. 

At this point most of your travel plans should be arranged so what can you do to make sure things play out smoothly:

1.    Have your information easily accessible, whether on a mobile device or printed out on paper (recommended since technology is never 100% reliable).  Keep directions, flight information, itineraries where you can easily reference them.

2.    Keep your energy up, make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before travel and have a bottle of water and snack with you.  If there are long lines or things are closed while on the road, having your own supply will help. 

3.    Have some cash in your wallet.  Just in case an emergency does come up, cash is always smart to have readily available.

4.    Keep an extra set of clothes in your carry on or travel bag.  Just in case the climates change from your starting point to ending point.  Also, if you need to layer up or have a spill, this is always a smart move.  If you have children traveling with you this is a VERY smart move.

5.    If traveling by vehicle, an inspection before you leave to check fluids, tire pressure and so on.  Also, plan out restroom and gas stops along your journey.  Remember:  Children, pets and adults need to stop, eat, rest and take a break to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

6.    Entertainment:  portable DVD players, road games, books, think of things to do with your family that will keep everyone interested and entertained during your journey.

Be safe and enjoy your holidays!

Fire Safety - Holiday & Cold Weather Prevention Tips

Heating Equipment Safety
Heat Equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Almost half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

Thanksgiving Safety
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving. Make sure to keep it and your family safe.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
• Be aware the steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.  Test them by pushing in the button.

Holiday Decorating Safety
Be careful when buying and putting up your holiday decorations.  Things to consider...

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

Christmas Tree Safety

As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly.

Picking the tree

• If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing the tree

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1–2” from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to 

After Christmas
Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry.  Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

Thanks to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) for such useful information.

For great safety tips sheets – ready to print out.  Please go to:

http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1979&itemID=46567&URL=Safety%20Information/Safety%20tip%20sheets

Winterizing Your Vehicle

Here is a list of things to consider when getting your vehicle ready for the winter weather:

• Have all fluids topped off - anti-freeze, washer and power steering.
• Check the battery
• Replace windshield wiper blades
• Check your tires - air pressure and rotate if necessary
• Check all lights - head and brake lights, turn signals and fog lamps. Be sure all bulbs and fuses are working
• Winter is a good time for an oil change and adjust the viscosity grade
• If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, check that it is working properly
• Winter is also a good time for a tune up.
• Carry an emergency kit inside the car
• Jumper cables
• First Aid kit
• Flares
• Maps
• Tool kit
• Flashlight
• Water
• For a more detailed list and further information check out http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/43798/article.html
• When it’s below freezing outside, start your vehicle a little early to allow it to warm up

Remember when weather conditions change be a safe and cautious driver.  We are all going to be out on the road with you and appreciate it!

Getting Ready for the Snow

I know we don’t want to think about this but the time is almost here.  We will wake up one morning to beautiful white snowflakes falling and then remember:  We have to go outside, walk and drive in it.  Are you ready?

Here is a list of things to consider so you are prepared, around your house, when the first snow falls:

·         Check your snow blower, to make sure it’s working and purchase fuel for it, if needed.

ü  Safety:  Don’t ever put your hands/feet near the blades of a snow blower while on, turn it off before checking for a jam.

ü  Safety:  Keep all shields in place at all times.

·         Mark your driveway edges with driveway markers, make sure obstacles that might not be seen with snow on the ground are marked (ex. Ornamental plants, lawn décor)

·         Pull anything in from sidewalks that could get caught in snow blower (ex. Hose guides)

·         Put your shovels close to the garage and front/back door to shovel driveways and sidewalks

·         Buy a bag of salt to have near your shovels to spread out after shoveling or snow blowing.

·         Get out your warm gloves, hats, coats and boots.  You want to bundle up when you go into the cold weather.

Check out our prior blog on ‘Weatherizing Your Home.’ http://spectrumhomeservicesdc.blogspot.com/2010/10/weatherize-your-home.html

Look for our next blog on vehicle preparation for snow and cold weather.  Have a safe and fun winter!

Press Release - Announcement of CAPS Induction

News-spectrum-home-services-announcement-of-caps-induction

New-spectrum-home-services-announcement-of-caps-induction - Another Release

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween and Trick-Or-Treating is a fun party of the fall season.  We hope you go out and enjoy yourselves and have fun with your family.  Here are some quick tips on how to make your Halloween safe!

P - Plan a route.  Make sure you and your parents know where you are going before you head out to trick-or-treat.
U - Use caution while walking around.  Stay in groups, hold hands while crossing the street.
M - Make yourself visable.  Make sure to wear something that can be seen in the dark.  Glow jewelry or flashlights.
P - Pass up unlight houses.  If the lights are off then move to the next house.
K - Kindness counts.  Make sure to say 'Please' and 'Thank you' when trick-or-treating.
I - Inspect all candy.  Make sure your parents go through and check all your candy before you start eating it.
N - Nutritious Meal.  Eat a healthy meal before you head out so you are not tempted to eat before inspection.
S - See what's around you.  If you are wearing a mask, make sure you can clearly see in front and to the sides.

These are great things to consider and go over as a family and with friends before you begin your Halloween celebration!  Enjoy and Be Safe.

CAPS Certified Kevin Wilson

Yea, we are excited to announce that Owner/Vice President Kevin Wilson has completed his CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists) Training and Certification.  Check him out in their directory below:

Kevin Wilson - CAPS

Client Thank You Notes

We love to hear from our clients and know that they were happy with Spectrum Home Services of Du Page County, Inc.!

Weatherize Your Home

Air leaks generally increase your energy bill by 15-35%. There are two main components to help fix this issue.  Caulking and weather stripping will help alleviate drafts and keep your home feeling warmer when it's cold outside.

1.    Accessing air quality

Because caulk and weather stripping limit indoor/outdoor air circulation, you should assess your indoor air quality before you apply them. Some homes contain dust, mold, carbon dioxide, and other indoor air contaminants. Sealing air leaks in these homes, without proper ventilation, can also seal in their indoor air pollutants. Therefore, any plan to tighten the thermal envelope of a home should be accompanied by a look at your home's ventilation needs.

2.    Detecting air leaks

You may already know where some air leakage occurs in your home, such as an under-the-door draft that makes you want to put on socks. But you'll probably need to search to find the less obvious gaps.

Look between foundation and walls, and between the chimney and siding. Also inspect around the following for any cracks and gaps that could cause air leaks 

• Door and window frames
• Mail chutes
• Electrical and gas service entrances  
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Bricks, siding, stucco, and foundation
• Air conditioners
• Vents and fans.

Depressurize your home to help detect leaks.  On a cool, very windy day, turn off the furnace, shut all windows and doors.  Turn on all fans that blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents.  Then light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites.  Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there's a draft.  Or just turn on all your exhaust fans (don't need to turn off the furnace) and try this:

• At night, shine a flashlight over all potential gaps while a partner observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of light. Not a good way to detect small cracks.

3.    Caulking/Weather Stripping

Since caulking is a major element of weatherization, access to an air compressor would come in very handy. Fitted with a caulking gun attachment the air compressor allows a smoother, almost effortless application in all areas needing caulk.

Be sure the seam or crack you are filling is free from any built-up paint or old, deteriorated caulking. Use a putty knife or a large screwdriver to scrape the opening clean. There should be no moisture in the crack before applying the caulking, or it will be trapped inside once the caulk sets up.

Make sure to choose a type of weather stripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location.

If you have questions contact your local hardware store to help you find what you need and follow directions.

Our Current Deals!

Home Repair Specials for this holiday season!

Holiday Cleaning and party help for this holiday season!

Press Release

Spectrum Home Services of Du Page County Press Release

Spectrum Home Services of Du Page County - Another Press Release

Toughen up your turf for spring... NOW!

Fall is the time to restore and strengthen your lawn for the winter and a fast start next spring. Like trees and shrubs, grass plants take in nutrients to store for the winter and convert for the energy needed to grow in the spring.

Aeration is a popular service that improves drainage, promotes deep root growth and turns the soil to help cycle nutrients and loosen the soil. Aeration now provides better absorption of late fall fertilizer applications.

Effective aeration requires at least two passes of the aerator at angles to leave a pattern of evenly- spaced cores. The depth of the cores should be around 2” or more for best results. Soft soils make this possible without great effort; sprinklers or rain before an aeration is important.

The mess left behind is the plugs of soil and grass which need to break down into the lawn. Sprinklers and rain will help speed the breakdown process. Raking and time are also helpful. Heavy clay concentration takes longer.

Aeration is also effective in the Spring if a fall aeration isn’t possible but must be done before an application of a pre-emergent weed preventer or the barrier will be broken and weeds will proliferate.

Like any plant, grass grows best when the roots are unrestrained by dense, packed soil. Aeration is the best way to soften things up for a denser, lush lawn next year

Fall Cleaning Checklist

It’s Fall, if you want to get serious about your cleaning, here is a big list of helpful things to consider!

OUTSIDE:

• Clean and store patio furniture and garden supplies.
• Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks.
• Check caulk around windows and doors.
• Inspect external doors and garage doors.  Install weather-stripping around outside doors, if necessary.
• Clean out garage of possible dirt accumulated over summer.  Organize to store summer items.
• Wash exterior windows.
• Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots.
• Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary.
• Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

INSIDE:

• Clean from top to bottom.
  • Vacuum drapes and window treatments.
  • Clean window sills and window wells.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners.
• Clean upholstered furniture, move and vacuum beneath and behind it.
• Wash interior windows.
• Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
• Launder or clean all bedding.
• Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month!  Warmer weather allows for open widows and faster drying.
• Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, baking supplies, pans and equipment.
• Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not being used regularly.
• Pull refrigerator away from the wall, vacuum the condenser coils and clean underneath.
• Wash light fixtures.
• Clean or replace summer rugs, doormats with winter ones.
• Clean or replace humidifier elements before you need to turn on the heat.
• Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
• Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, or debris. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
• Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don't wait for the first cold night!
• Buy a winter's supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings.
• Drain sediment from hot water heaters.

Tips for Fall Lawn Care Maintanence

Some important things to remember in lawn care include, watering, fertilization and setting lawnmower height.  Here are a few tips that will help your lawn to shine next spring!

1. Most rainfall will cover the watering necessary for your lawn during the Fall months, you should water about 1 inch of water/week.
2. Now is the best time of year to repare or renevate your lawn to get it ready for next Spring.
3. The most critical fertilization occurs in October.
4. Mother nature will take care of lingering weed problems until Spring, when pre-emergents should be applied.
5. Mower height should be reduced at the end of the season to protect your grass during the winter months.

If you have any further suggestions please share them in a comment below.