Tips to Prevent Electrical Fires

None of us can prevent a natural disaster, but many electrical fires are preventable. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 28,000 electrical fires in homes each year and these numbers can decrease if more of us would take a little time to make our homes safer.

You should be aware that any house that was built before the 1970s may be more susceptible to wiring issues. If you are concerned about your home, you can ask a licensed electrician to evaluate and get upgrades if needed.

Here are some things you can do on your own:

-Use light bulbs with the correct wattage. The wattage should be at or below the manufacturer's recommendation for the light fixture.

-Check to be certain that the capacity of your extension cords is not below that of the appliances that are plugges into it.

-Do not overload extenstion coards

-Repair or get rid of appliances that blow fuses or cause the circuit breaker to trip,

-Replace extension cords that are frayed.

-Do not run extension cords under rugs.

Where Will You Live When You Retire?

For those of you who see retirement on the horizon, some planning is in order, not only for you finances, but for your residence too. You probably want to avoid having to make hasty decisions about where you will live, if it is at all possible. Researching your options ahead of time can make things smoother once you find that you are advancing in age.

If you have decided that you do not want to stay where you are and are looking for a new home, remember that single-level homes are the most accommodating. Many seniors find that they are relieved to downsize and move into a smaller home. Also, think about location. You will want to be close to public transportation and retail--at the very least a grocery store. No one likes to think about being incapacitated, but if you find that you cannot drive, you will want food and transportation options nearby.

If you are staying put, think about adjustments you will want to make to your home. Even if you are not ready to add railings for safety or special handles that make it easier to grip cabinets to your home, investigate whether or not it will be easy to have this kind of work done on your home.

For more on this topic, read:

Preventing falls in the home

Fireworks Safety

This time of year, everyone is looking forward to fireworks. Some of you will go to a park or some other gathering spot, while others will want to set off some sparklers at home. If you decide that you want to light your own fireworks at home, be certain to follow local guidelines and only obtain fireworks that are legal for consumers in your area. (Read more about laws concerning fireworks in Maryland.)

Here are some other safety tips for handling fireworks--

-Only use fireworks outdoors, in am area that is well-cleared.
-Keep some water nearby for used fireworks.
-Light fireworks one at a time.
-Do not attempt to combine fireworks
-Do not try to relight a firework that is a dud. If a firework fails to light, set it said for 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
-Fireworks should not be handled by children.
-The shooter should wear goggles to protect his/her eyes.
-Be sure that spectators do not sit or stand too close to the shooter.

Of course fireworks are not the only Fourth of July fire hazard. You should also be sure to set up your grill safely.

Stay safe and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday weekend!

Five Tips for Protecting Your Home While You are Away

If you are able to get away on a vacation, you a probably very excited to leave familiar surroundings for something new, but you still want all to be in place when you return.

Here are five tips for vacationers to make sure that when you return home sweet home is all that it was when you left:

1. Request that the post office hold your mail while you are away. You don't want mail that has piled up to clue a burglar to your absence. You can also have packages delivered to your office or to the home of a friend or relative during this time.

2. If you have the newspaper delivered, have the delivery put on hold while you are gone so that newspapers don't pile up at your door.

3. Leave a car parked in your driveway.

4. Put your lights and television(s) on timers. If possible, get one that goes on a off at various times, so it seems as if someone is home.

5. Ask a friend, relative or neighbor to drive by and check on your home. They can make sure everything looks alright and pick up any packages that you may have forgotten.

Tips for Cleaning Up after Water Damage

With all of the rain that our area has received recently, some of you may have found that too much rain has caused some damage to your home and belongings. It is advisable to go over your property and document any water damage in a list and with photos so that you have written and visual records. You will need to document both structural damage to the home itself (wall, roof, HVAC, windows, doors, septic system) and damage to other items in your home (electronics, furniture, appliances, clothing).

Here are a few tips to recover from water damage:

-Don't wait to clean. You want to keep mold from growing.

-Water can be removed with fans and dehumidifiers. Also, keep windows and doors open for as long as you can.

-Be careful about cleaning items that use electricity and have been exposed to water.

-You can disinfect using a solution that of a gallon of water mixed with 1/4 cup of bleach.

-It may be possible to hold onto carpets if you clean it, then wet vacuum it and let it try completely.

-Items that need to be discarded if they are damaged by flooding include: mattresses, pillows and building materials (such as ceiling tiles, drywall, and paneling).

Swing Set Safety Tips

You may have read how the Obamas recently had a swing set installed on the South Lawn of The White House for their daughters Malia and Sasha. There was also talk that the Obamas planned to open up use of the swing set to the children on White House staffers as well. As an added bonus, the manufacturer of this custom-designed swing set also threw in a picnic table. This bonus picnic table has brass plates with the names of past U.S. presidents engraved on them.

If you are thinking of installing a swing set yo give your kids and their friends some warm-weather fun, consider these safety tips:

-Read up on product recalls and do your research before making a swing set purchase.

-When installing a swing set, you cannot pay too much attention to making sure that is securely anchored/

-The swing set should be inspected at least once each season.

-Do not install the swing set in an area that will get full sun exposure because this will make a metal swing set/slide too hot.

-To ensure soft landings, make sue that the area under and around the swing set is covered by something like sand or mulch.

Safe Grilling

If you are grilling outside of your house this Fourth of July holiday, make sure you are doing so safely. Your yard is an extension of your home and it pays to take precautions before throwing stuff on the grill.

Here are some tips for safe grilling:

-Place your grill on a spot where the ground is even.

-At a minimum, you should set the grill up four feet away from any structures. Of course you'll place the grill away from your house, but you also need to keep it four feet from lawn furniture and swing sets.

-Be careful with oven mitts because you don't want them to catch fire. If you can, get a high-heat silicone mitt and avoid cloth.

-Use utensils designed for grilling.

-Keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby to quickly dampen any flames that shoot up. If a flame shoots up, aim the spray under the food.

-Make sure people playing games that involve running/jumping steer clear of the grill.

-Start the bug patrol early. Spray for insects or put out citronella candles, bug zappers, etc. the day before your outside event.

Storm Safety Tips

A lot of older people used to cease all activity once a storm began. These days, we figure that modern technology and safeguards are so sophisticated, that we do not need to be so cautious. This probably is not a good idea.

If there is a storm, you should do what you can to make sure that you do not put yourself in unnecessary danger. The phone lines, plumbing and fixtures in your house can conduct electricity if lightning were to strike. Now you don't have to turn off all lights and remain completely still as some people used to do. But you should not take a shower or bath or talk on a corded phone during a storm. It is better to be safe than sorry. Once the storm is over, you will be able to do all of these things. Lightning can do terrible damage to a home, just as any electrician.

If you know a thunderstorm is coming, you can unplug as many appliances as you can before the storm hits. When you know you will be away and thunderstorms are likely, unplug appliances before you leave.

Fire Prevention Tips

A friend recently told me that one morning she awoke to find a candle she’d lit the night before still burning. She went to bed without realizing that she had not extinguished the candle. Thankfully, there was not harm or damage done, but everyone is not so fortunate.

Some fires in residential areas are definitely preventable. Take the time to go around your house and make sure that you are not at risk for fire. Take care when cooking. And be certain that you do not leave burning candles unattended.

Another frequent cause of fires in the home is cigarettes. It is better if you can smoke outside, but if you cannot, take some precautions. Use deep ashtrays and place them on a stable surface. Don’t just toss cigarette butts into the trash; run them under water first to make sure that they are completely extinguished.

Here some other fire prevention tips:
-Do not leave the stove or grill unattended while you cook.
-Keep things like dish towels and other flammable materials away from the range top.
-Only use candles that are in a stable holder that won’t burn (glass, metal, etc.)
-Don’t bring gasoline into the house.
-Don’t plug in too many appliances at once.

Preventing falls in the home

If you are over 65, live with a relative who is that age, or frequently have guests who are that age spending time in your home, you should take some precautions to prevent falls.

Every room in your house can be “fall proof” if you take the time assess possible dangers and do some rearranging.

Bathroom:

• Use non-skid adhesive strips on the floor of the bathtub or shower. These strips can serve as decoration and as a safety precaution.
  

• Put grab bars on the walls near the toilet and bath/shower area. Having these bars to hold onto can make a world of difference.
  

Kitchen:

• Don’t try to get to high cabinets on your own or by standing on a chair, and don’t allow your guests to do attempt to do this either. Use a sturdy step stool, preferably one with a handrail.
• If you must wax your floors, use the non-skid variety.
• Don’t allow spills to go unnoticed because they create a safety hazard.

Throughout the house:

• Get rid of wobbly furniture.
• Get rid of furniture that sits really low. If you cannot part with these pieces, warn guests about this furniture or offer to help them get up.
• Be prompt about repairing loose floorboards.
• Don’t allow electric cords to block walkways.
• Use slip-resistant backing to keep area rugs in place.

An Invisible Enemy: Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is always present in the air in non-lethal quantities. So a carbon monoxide detector does not work to tell you that it is present. Instead, it works to alert you if there is enough carbon monoxide in the air to cause you harm. These alarms are usually quite loud since many carbon monoxide-related deaths occur when people are sleeping.

No matter how much carbon monoxide is present, you wouldn’t be able to verify its presence on your own. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas and that is what makes it so very deadly.

The appliances we use for heat and various types of engines emit carbon monoxide. Some items in and around your home that give off carbon monoxide include: ovens and ranges, clothes dryers, water heaters, space heaters, grills, furnaces and of course your cars.

Everyone that suffers from carbon monoxide poisoning does not die. The actual number of people who have been poisoned by carbon monoxide is unknown since non-fatal carbon monoxide poisoning is often not reported.

It is important that you install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to keep your family safe. You should have one on every floor in your house. A carbon monoxide detector should be installed five feet higher than the floor. It should not be placed over or even adjacent to something that produces a flame, such as a fireplace.

Prepare Your House Before Leaving on Vacation

It's vacation time. The kids are out of school, the city is hot and muggy, work is dragging, summer chores are piling up -- looks like you need a vacation! Traditionally, August is when most Americans go on vacation. They flock to the seashores, tramp through the mountains, relax around hotel pools, visit friends and relatives, take in a festival, visit the state fair -- you name it, we do it!

Prepare your house before you leave on vacation to prevent unwelcome surprises when you return.

• Security. If you have a security system, alert your service. If not, you'll want to purchase a few light timers at your local hardware store. Make sure you set them so your lights go on and off at different times to simulate normal activity patterns. Park your spare car in the driveway to make it look like someone's home. Stop the mail and the newspaper. Ask a neighbor to check your house every few days to make sure everything looks OK and pick up advertising circulars, etc.
• Maintenance. Particularly since August is usually a fairly dry month, most lawns won't start to look overgrown for 10 days to two weeks. If you'll be gone longer, hire your neighbor's energetic son or daughter to mow the grass. By now bedding plants should be well enough established to survive with normal rainfall. However, if you have hanging baskets or container plants, you might want to ask a neighbor (or that energetic kid) to drop by and water every few days.
• Final check. Before you leave, give your house a final check. Make sure your stove, dishwasher, coffeepot, iron, etc. are turned off. Unplug your TV, stereo, DVD, computer, etc. to protect your electronics in case of an electrical storm. You don't want a power surge to create a fire. Clean leftovers out of the fridge and empty the trash. Make sure outside hoses are turned off. Make sure the garage door is closed and locked.

A few simple precautions and a little planning before you leave and you'll be able to vacation with peace of mind. Enjoy yourself!

Home Remodeling Projects Get Back to Basics

Just in case the proliferation of home store ads hasn't tipped you off, May is National Home Improvement Month. The slowdown in the housing market has cooled homeowners' ardor for high-end remodeling projects. Savvy homeowners want to make certain that when they sell they'll recoup most of their investment.

Gone are the fancy faucets, fireplaces in the master bath, custom hardwood floors, Italian tile and other expensive extras that tickled the fancy of home remodelers a few years ago when a hot housing market guaranteed a 90% return on their investment. Today, with return on investment running at 70%, popular remodeling projects focus on safety, energy efficiency and home maintenance.

What gives you the best return on your remodeling dollar?

• Safety upgrades. Electric and gas systems should be in top shape and comply with current codes. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are good selling points.
• Energy efficiency. Have your furnace cleaned and your A/C checked. Add insulation to your attic. Replace old appliances with new energy-efficient ones that are cheaper to operate. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Home maintenance. Have the roof and gutter system checked and make necessary repairs. Scrape and paint peeling siding, or better yet, replace it with aluminum siding. Install energy-efficient windows. Repairs left undone can wind up costing your thousands of dollars in damage to your home, so fix problems as soon as they're discovered.

Once you've covered these important basics, if you still have the remodeling bug, you'll get the best return from updating your kitchen (75%) and bath (72%).

If you want to know what remodeling projects sell best in your neighborhood, contact veteran realtor John Day. If you're planning to sell your house, don't waste unnecessary repair and remodeling dollars, talk to John and have him take a look at your house. He can let you know what you need to do to make your house saleable in today's market. Visit John's website to see what the competition has to offer. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, realtor John Day is your key to success.