Garage Floor Cleaning Tip

Did you know that prolonged exposure to road salts can cause spalling of your garage floor? (Spalling is a result of water entering brick, concrete or natural stone and forcing the surface to peel, pop out or flake off. This is because there is salt in water. Salt pushes outward from the inside. Eventually, spalling can cause crumbling and destruction of a structure.)

Here is a fun and easy trick to help prevent damage to your garage floor:

1.    Sweep your garage floor with a large brush broom.

2.    Shovel a few of small piles of snow into your garage.

3.    Sweep it around, let it sit for a little while (30 – 60min)

4.    Sweep the snow out.

Along with that snow goes the salt build-up on your floor, the dirt and grime that has collected after having your garage closed up and your vehicles dragging in the weather from roads. 

Try this once a month during the winter months to prolong the life of your garage flooring.

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!

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.