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How to Avoid Unwelcome Household Pests Before They Move In

November 7, 2022

After a long day’s work, your home is where well-deserved rest and recovery takes place. The last thing anyone wants is to share their personal space with an unwanted guest, but the more comfortable your home gets, the more attractive it becomes to pests. According to the US census, approximately 28.8 million households reported seeing either roaches or rodents in their homes in 2019. Even after diligent cleaning and regular house maintenance, pests know how to find a way inside. However, if you follow these few tips, you can ensure that your home remains pest-free. Keep CleanFinding a trail of ants or a mouse in your house doesn’t mean you’re a slob. Bugs and rodents will eat most anything, and usually pests that find their way into a home will break their way into sources of food or water. Still, there are a few cleaning habits and tips you can employ to avoid attracting any unwanted guests. First, don’t leave out any food when it is avoidable. This includes securing bags and boxes, cleaning up spills and crumbs as quickly as possible, and changing pet food regularly. Building these simple healthy habits is the first step to combating pests. It

Haunted Places Series: Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

October 17, 2022

Location: Toronto, Ontario, CanadaArchitectural Style: Hexagonal LimestoneBuilt: 1808 With each passing week, we take another trip across North America to some of the most intriguing (and possibly haunted) structures standing today. This week features a last vestige of war and a mysterious disappearance. On the banks of Lake Ontario, we’re visiting Toronto’s own Gibraltar Point Lighthouse! HistoryAs commissioned in 1803, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was one of three Lighthouses erected with the intention to bolster the town of York’s defenses while tensions remained uneasy between northern British holdings and the newly established United States. Gibraltar Point was a peninsula named after the famous, strategic territory overseeing the strait between Spain and Morocco. The peninsula in Lake Ontario was thought to serve a similar purpose as a powerful fortifying point, intended to protect traveling British vessels. By 1808, the construction was complete and the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was brought fully into service. Quickly, the lighthouse saw considerable action, standing sentinel during the War of 1812 and standing as direct witness to 1813’s Battle of York. Over its lifetime, the lighthouse watched York become the city of Toronto, and the peninsula it stood on transformed into the Toronto Islands. Today, the Gibraltar

Haunted Places Series: House of the Seven Gables

October 10, 2022

Location: Salem, MassachusettsArchitectural Style: Colonial, GeorgianBuilt: 1668 For our next entry in this year’s Haunted Places Series, get ready for falling leaves, a legendary author, and a set of infamous trials. This week, we visit the historic House of the Seven Gables. BackgroundIn the height of Puritan New England, Captain John Turner I constructed a home for his family on the coast of Massachusetts Bay. This simple two-story, two-room home circled a tall chimney in its first iteration and would expand considerably over the years. Features would be added, removed, and added back again to match various styles over the decades, but its famed “seven gables” would become the home’s most iconic feature. From the Turner family’s hands, the property would be sold to another family of wealthy sailors in the Ingersoll family by 1782. From this, the home gained the colloquial name of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion. However, it was during this time that Nathaniel Hawthorne, a relative of the Ingersolls, would begin to visit in order to spend time with his cousin Susannah Ingersoll. Though the historic home had already established itself within Salem’s history, it was this association that won the home its fame. Photo by State Library

Haunted Places Series: Ohio State Reformatory

October 3, 2022

Location: Mansfield, OhioArchitectural Style: Romanesque RevivalBuilt: 1886–1910 There’s an eerie chill in the air and the souls of the restless are stirring. This can only mean one thing . . . the return of our haunted place series! Every year, we break from our usual content to visit some of the strangest, most unsettling locales of the U.S. and Canada in celebration of the spooky season. This year, our first edition was a clear lock: the Ohio State Reformatory! The Reformatory Founded as a holding for intermediate first-time offenders, the Ohio State Reformatory, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, was designed with rehabilitation in mind. Even today, its beautiful arches and bright brick exterior make this defunct prison appear more like a mansion or a castle. These design choices were purposeful, intended to inspire all who enter its halls. In this setting, inmates would learn practical trades (such as engineering or plumbing) and invest into skills meant to turn their lives around. This system worked remarkably in those initial years. Compared to other reformatory facilities, convicts who finished serving their sentences at Mansfield were considerably less likely to become repeat offenders. In fact, Mansfield boasted one of the lowest re-sentencing

Maintenance Minutes: Clearing Vegetation Away from Your Home

July 25, 2022

Whether you’re preparing for an inspection or just doing your own outdoor beautification project, clearing vegetation away from your home’s exterior is crucial for both cosmetic and maintenance purposes. Excessive shrubbery around your property can cause clogged drains, damaged roofs, and trapped moisture pockets. These issues can cause problems to your home’s interior and could even lead to insect infestations. To prevent these problems and more, we’re sharing tips on the best method of landscaping maintenance for a healthier home. Choosing a TechniqueThe most common technique used to clear vegetation away from a home is the by hand method. This is the safest way to clear unwanted debris from your home. However, this technique is the most time consuming, so you’ll want to block out a half day just in case. For the purpose of clearing light branches and smaller shrubs away from your property, the clearing by hand method is your best bet, as it’s the most cost-effective, safest, and easiest method to manage. While clearing smaller plants and trees, you’ll want to make sure to follow a few handy tips. Tips for Clearing Trees, Plants, Shrubs, and Bushes While clearing vegetation, it’s important to remember a few essentials

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent in 3 Easy Steps

July 18, 2022

A hidden fire hazard that’s often overlooked is the threat posed by clogged dryer vents. In fact, clogged dryer vents are the cause of 17,000 house fires each year. However, these fires are completely preventable by clearing your dryer’s ventilation systems on a regular basis as doing so not only helps to prevent fires but improves the efficiency of your dryer as well. Luckily, the process of cleaning your dryer vent is an easy one that does not require the assistance of a professional. Supply Checklist Before we begin, you’ll want to make sure that you have all necessary supplies on hand. All you’ll need is a vacuum cleaner, preferably one with a hose extension piece, and a cleaning brush. For starters, you’ll want to move your dryer away from the wall to locate the dryer vent. This is usually located near the bottom of the machine either in the back or side of the appliance. From there you’ll want to identify the short exhaust pipe to the machine. Finally, you’ll want to ensure that you unplug the appliance for safety purposes. Now that everything is in position, you’re ready to clean the dryer vent. Cleaning Your Machine You can

How to Caulk Bathroom Surfaces

July 11, 2022

Re-caulking bathroom surfaces in your home is a relatively easy process if you have the right tools. If you’ve never been through the steps of this process, there are a few items you will want to have on hand before you begin. The main supplies that you will want to make sure to add to your toolbox include: a caulking gun, a utility knife or a plastic razor scraper, painter’s tape, a sponge, a multipurpose cleaner (preferably with bleach) and of course plenty of paper towels. The first step of this procedure will require that you remove the existing caulk and clean the residue and dirt from the area lining your bathtub, sink, and any other bathroom surfaces you hope to replace. Removing the existing caulk is a crucial step, as adding new caulking on top of the old may create bubbling that could be the cause of leaking bathroom appliances. Not to mention, the addition of new caulk over old is often unsanitary and unsightly–mildew and dirt often get caught in these narrow crevices. To remove the existing caulk, you will need to use your utility knife or plastic razor scraper to help loosen its hold. By using these

Pet-Friendly Plants to Incorporate into Your Space

July 5, 2022

If you’re a pet parent looking to become a plant parent, there are some things you should consider before selecting the perfect plant addition to your home. Many plants that are not poisonous to humans can be incredibly toxic to your furry friends. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 233,000 pets are accidentally poisoned each year from plants in their homes. Consequently, it’s essential to know which plants may cause harm to your pets to avoid any potential issues. In addition to learning which plants pose a threat, it’s good to be informed of which plants provide health benefits to you and your furry friends as well. First and foremost, let’s review which plant characteristics pose the greatest threat to animals. Characteristics of toxic plants include plants with: Plants with these traits are toxic to both dogs and cats, causing various health-related issues depending on the weight of the animal. The degree of toxicity varies in each situation depending on the type of contact your animal had with each plant. For instance, shrubbery can lead to as little as mild skin irritation in pets that have perhaps just brushed up against them.

Maintenance Minutes: How to Check for Window Leaks

June 13, 2022

The most common issues that you will encounter with your property’s windows are problems stemming from water intrusion, difficulty opening and closing windows, and air leaks. If proper repairs are made following the inspection provided by your NPI inspector, you may save a substantial amount of money in heating and cooling costs. If you suspect that you may have any of these issues with your windows, there are ways to check for these problems ahead of receiving the inspection of your property from NPI. Water Damage Checking for the presence of water damage around your windows is relatively easy using a few simple NPI tips. If you suspect water damage to the interior of your windows, first visually examine the condition of each window. You’ll want to take note of signs of a water leak such as peeling paint, mold buildup, and the discoloration of the area surrounding the window. If any of these are prevalent, you will want to further inspect the area around your windows by touching bordering sides with a dry hand. If you detect any moisture or dew drops that have formed on the windowsill, this is an indicator of a window leak. Difficulty Opening &

Maintenance Minutes: How to Change Your Furnace Filter

June 6, 2022

In this Maintenance Minute video, we are going to take a moment to learn how to change the filter on your furnace. The only equipment you will need is a new filter. The information on what size is needed for the new filter should be located on the side of the unit. For this project, there’s no assembly or tools required–anyone can change out an old filter. Plus, it’s a good life skill to know as there will come a time when you need to utilize this expertise. Reasons to Change Your Air FilterThere are a few major reasons why changing your air filter is so important. The first of which being that changing out the filter on your system keeps the HVAC working at an optimal level. Also, replacing the filter improves air quality by keeping the oxygen in your home clean. This is especially important for people with seasonal allergies. Last but not least, swapping out your old air filter for a new one helps to prevent damage to the entire HVAC system. How to Change Your FilterBefore you get started, you’ll want to turn off your furnace. This can be done in one of two ways. In