More Winterizing Tips

WINDOWS AND DOORS:


Check windows and doors to prevent air from seeping into your home.

Checking for air gaps is done best on a windy day because you will be able to feel where the drafts are more easily. Light a few incense sticks and run them around door and window openings, watch the smoke trail and if there is a leak it will be real easy to spot.

A small 1/4" gap at the threshold of a door is equal to a 4" hole in the wall!

The rubber insert on thresholds tends to get hard and brittle with age and they tend to collapse so it may be time to replace it.. Most thresholds can simply be removed and a new rubber insert threaded in.

Don't overlook your wall outlets, its amazing how much outside air comes in around the openings.

Quick Fix: Install foam precut pads in behind the plates. Most all home building centers and hardware stores carry them.

Use a good quality caulking compound and seal up any cracks between the side walls of the house and the window frames. Clean and lubricate the window frame channels, if there are any gaps you can seal with one of the many strip adhesive backed weatherstrip available at local home centers and hardware stores.

Clean gutters & downspouts.Check the gutter supports.

Exterior paint-check for peeling, holes, cracks,soft and rotten wood, chalking.

Check siding-hammer in nails that have popped, replace rusty nails with galvanized nails.

Caulk any leaks or cracks in basement walls and seal.

See that all doors and windows close & lock properly. Lubricate hinges and door locks.

Winter will be here soon

Winter may be a few months away, but now is a great time to start getting ready for it. With energy prices on the rise, it is important to find ways to cut costs and reduce the amount of energy you use in the winter. Let’s go over a few quick ways to help lower your energy costs and get ready for winter.


First, one of the easiest ways to dramatically reduce your home heating costs is by sealing your windows. There are many different kinds of window kits available that will completely seal off any gaps or drafts. Summertime is a great time to purchase these kits since they will typically be marked down by 50% or more. This means instead of spending $5 or more per window, you can do it for about $2.50 a window. If you’ve got a lot of windows in your home, this can really add up.

Summer is also a good time to start thinking about your insulation and the shape it may be in. If your home is fairly new, you should not have to worry about this. However, if you have noticed that no matter what you do your house still feels pretty cold, poor insulation may be the culprit. Look at the R rating on your current insulation and double check to make sure that it is meant for your area. If it is, it may have degraded, or you may need a little more to make your house feel cozy.

If you have a forced air heating system, it’s time to get those filters out and replaced. Having a clean filter in your furnace can reduce your heating costs significantly. Once again, you can take advantage of summer discounts and stock up on filters for the entire year. You should be replacing them at least every month, or more if you live in a particularly dusty area.

Some Hot Weather Tips

Some tips to help you keep your home a  little cooler during these very hot summer days.

Reduce the cooling load by employing cost-effective conservation measures. Provide effective shade for east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities such as dishwashing until evening on hot days.


Over most of the cooling season, keep the house closed tight during the day. Don’t let in unwanted heat and humidity. Ventilate at night either naturally or with fans.

You can help get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the incoming air is 77 F or lower. (This strategy works most effectively at night and on cooler days.) Window fans for ventilation are a good option if used properly. They should be located on the downwind side of the house facing out. A window should be open in each room. Interior doors must remain open to allow air flow.

Use ceiling fans to increase comfort levels at higher thermostat settings. The standard human comfort range for light clothing in the summer is between 72 F and 78 F. To extend the comfort range to 82 F, you need a breeze of about 2.5 ft/sec or 1.7 mph. A slow-turning ceiling-mounted paddle fan can easily provide this air flow.

Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.

Seal all air conditioner ducts, and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements, crawl spaces, and attics.

Keep the thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher if using ceiling fans. Don’t air-condition unused rooms.

Maintain your air conditioners properly to maximize efficiency.

When an emergency arises, call 1st Response.

Some tips for summer living

Light and Airy - Make your home as light as possible. Invest in some thin and sheer curtains that look beautiful, provide privacy and keep the room cool. Heavy, synthetic drapes are definitely a no-no in the summer months. Beautiful cotton drapes in bold patterns and bright colors look good.

Cool Colors - Furnish your home in cool and soothing colors. Use bed sheets and pillow cases in colors like white, crème, yellow, blue, orange etc. Bed spreads and table cloths in vibrant patterns and flowery prints create a airy and relaxed atmosphere in the summer months.

Simplicity - Put away all your heavy and thick carpets that look and feel hot. Instead, invest in small and thin rugs that look good and feel great. Remember - less is more in summers!

Bring Nature to your Home - Seasonal flowers can brighten up your home. Pick flowers from your garden or invest in some fresh flowers for all the rooms of your home. Small, green plants create a cooling effect in your home.

In the afternoons, draw all the curtains of your house. This will automatically cool off the home and keep the heat out.

If you don't already have them, go shopping for some cheery wind chimes. Hang them at the entrance or high up where there is a cross ventilation. Let your home come to life with the soothing sounds of the chimes.

I you should suffer fire damage, smoke damage, water damage or storm damage, remember 1st Response.

Going Away??

If you are going on a week-end trip, business related trip, or a well deserved vacation you don't only need a "things-to-remember" list, but also a "Home To-Do List" as well. You do not want to find yourself in the middle of a business meeting, on the nice sunny beach or even just a 100 or so miles away when you get that panic feeling of "did I forget... did I remember... to do this, to do that?", pay that due bill, leave fresh water and food for the cat, etc.


So, when leaving, make these 4 tasks complete before you go, and also check out our time saving ideas as well.

It is highly suggested that you utilize automatic light timers that work just as well on radios, televisions, to make the home looked lived-in, like you are not away. Stop newspaper delivery for the time you are away, these piled up on your doorstep or end of driveway can be a real sign that your home is empty and no one is there, leaving you wide open and vulnerable. Mail too can be held at your local post office and resume delivery when you return home.

You can also use auto pay for your important bills. Pay utilities online so that the payment will be made via internet through your account, so you can rest assured that you do not miss a payment and a bill is not awaiting your return. You can even call your payments in using your Master or Visa card, and it is a secure way too. By taking the one-time payment option you can assure you will only be charged this one time while you are away enjoying yourself.

Not only do you have to make arrangement for your pets, but your plants as well. You can hire someone to water them or put them near your automatic sprinkler system if you have one. If you must leave your pets at home, make sure you ask a neighbor who is reliable and can feed and give them water daily. I also suggest they have their own vehicle to transport the pets in case of an emergency.

To save on some of the energy billing and reducing costs, turn off gas and water, unplug some of the appliances like the microwaves, televisions and other ones that you will not be utilizing. This also reduced the danger of power surges if you should experience a power outage while you are away. If you have gas stoves, turn off the pilot lights to save even more while you are gone.

There tips, as little as just paying a bill ahead of time, or using auto bill pay to putting lights on automatic timers can save you much stress and anxiety while being away from your home and assuring that your home and pets will be safe upon your return.

Water Damage: How to protect your home

The first signs of water damage might seem trivial. But warnings like water stains on the ceilings or a leak under the kitchen sink can lead to real problems, like a weakened roof or rotten floorboards. A burst pipe can even damage your furniture and other personal possessions. Why take a chance? Learn where your home is most likely to suffer water damage, and what you can do to help prevent it.

Inside your home


Kitchen

•Dishwasher – Periodically check for leaks under the sink where the hose connects to the water supply. Look around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks, such as discolored, warped, or soft flooring materials, or water damage to nearby cabinets.

•Refrigerator – If your refrigerator has an icemaker, make sure the hose connection is securely attached to the water supply line. Also, a wet spot on the floor may be a sign of a crimped icemaker line about to burst.

•Sink – Replace deteriorated caulk around sinks, and check the pipes under the sink for leaks. A slow-draining pipe may indicate a partially blocked drain that needs cleaning.

Bathroom

•Showers and bathtubs – Remove and replace deteriorated or cracked caulk and grout. Water can leak through these damaged sealants, causing stains or soft areas around nearby walls and floors.

•Sinks – Check under the sink for leaks from water supply lines or drainpipes.

•Toilets – Clogs can result from too much toilet paper or objects such as hanging bowl deodorants. Also, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode internal plastic or rubber parts, leading to a leak.

Basement, Laundry or Utility room

•Washing machine – Check hoses regularly for bulging, cracking, fraying, and leaks around hose ends. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program. To help make sure the hose doesn’t kink, leave at least four inches (or 11 centimeters) between the water connection and the back of the washing machine.

•Water heater – Most water heaters last eight to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a leak. Water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home, next to a floor drain, or inside a drain pan piped to the floor drain.

•Sump pump – Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can help protect against power failure or failure of the primary pump. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.

Since water may still come through an overflowing drain or cracks in the foundation walls, make sure items stored in the basement are kept off the floor. Furniture should be on casters or shims and arranged away from floor drains.

Stopping leaks at the source

•Check for hidden leaks. First, turn off faucets and all water-using appliances, and don’t flush toilets for one hour. Then, record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator (triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leaking pipe may exist.

•Make sure everyone in your household knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it. Check it frequently for problems, and shut off the water if you will be away from your home for several days or longer.

After the Flood Tips

1.Exercise caution when first entering your home. If there is still standing water, it is prudent to wear rubber boots and gloves. Turn the electricity off at the breaker box and get all electrical appliances and extension cords up on higher ground dry them out. Make sure your home is structurally safe, which means looking out for broken sharp objects on the floor and anything you might trip over.

2.Boil all drinking water or use bottled water. All drinking water should be either boiled, put through a water purifier or use bottled water. Areas that are dry but have been exposed to sewage should be thoroughly washed down with a solution of household bleach and water. We recommend a 25% bleach to water solution.

3.If in doubt, throw it out. Toss out all water damaged rugs, particle board furniture, mattresses, suitcases, food, even photographs and books, and follow your local authority guidelines for disposal. Many electrical appliances will not survive if they have been submerged in water. Dishwashers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners are cheaper to replace than repair. Use rubber gloves and mask to clean loose debris to not inhale any toxic particles.

4.Wash and dry everything you can. This includes water soaked bedding, towels, drapes, cushions and clothing using the hot sanitizing cycle on your washing machine. Dry clean heat sensitive textiles. Put dishes through the dishwasher on hot cycle.

5.Remove remaining water and dehumidify damp areas. Clean up the last standing water with a portable submersible sump pump and a wet dry vac. Then use a high capacity, low temperature dehumidifier to take care of the rest. An auxiliary or built in pump makes this task a lot easier. It is important to open windows and ventilate rather than turn on the heat high [about 50°F] in the house or use fans, which is an invitation to grow mold spores and spread them around the house. Do not try to dry out the house too quickly, because if you do it will cause wood floors to warp and buckle.

6.Clean all surfaces thoroughly. Wash down all surfaces, such walls, cabinets, basement floors including those which were not in direct flood contact with your bleach solution. Then wipe down with clear water. Using a vapor steam cleaner on all surfaces to disinfect is an even better solution.

7.Check for interior and structural damage. Remove dry wall up to and 2 feet above flood levels on walls and remove all insulation which came in contact with flood waters. It is imperative to do this if you want to avoid future mold problems. We have heard too many horror stories from people whose houses became infested with toxic mold - so it is not worth taking a chance and skipping this step. Replace hardwood flooring especially all sub floors if they have been flood soaked. Keep ventilating with fresh air until the house is completely dry. Have the duct work professionally cleaned after the house has dried out.

8. Inspect your electrical and plumbing systems. Have an HVAC professional inspect your electrical systems and appliances. Replace all filters and switches. Check your furnace, as a burnout of the motor may be imminent. Make sure your plumbing and toilet facilities are working.