Tag: electrical

Lights Out: Preparing Your Home for a Power Outage

November 9, 2020

An unexpected loss of power to your home is not only a nuisance, but also a serious problem. Whether it’s from strong winds knocking down power lines or a sudden electrical surge, extended outages are a hazard. It’s important that you know what to do in a situation like this to keep your home and your family safe. Gather in a safe meeting place inside.The first step you should take when the lights go out in your home is to locate everyone. A severe storm may have forced you all close together, but if you aren’t, safely guide all friends, family and even pets to a single location inside. Once everyone is accounted for, you shouldn’t leave the space alone. Maneuvering in the dark can lead to someone falling or running into furniture and getting injured. Unplug all of your electronics. There’s a good chance that you had multiple devices in use before your power went out. You might have been watching the news for weather updates, cooking a meal or possibly using a power tool. Go around your home and turn off or unplug anything that was in use beforehand. The power could come back on at any time,

The Importance of an Emergency Radio

September 21, 2020

When an emergency strikes, you need to be prepared to keep you and your family safe. You’ll of course need a solid safety plan, then you’ll need to make sure you have the right tools at the ready. One often-overlooked device you should include in your kit is an emergency radio. Keep reading to learn more about why an emergency radio is one of the most important gadgets in your arsenal. Why Do You Need a Radio? In the age where information can be accessed instantly in the palm of your hand, you might be asking yourself why you need an “older” piece of technology. The answer to your question is simple: phones don’t always work. If you experience a storm with high winds, cell towers could be damaged, hindering service in your area just when you need updates the most. Plus, if you experience a lengthy power outage, your phone could be dead for days without a backup charging solution. The same applies to your TV, which you might be tempted to rely on for updates. Receive Accurate Information Before and After During an emergency situation, it’s important to know where to go and what to do. With the

The Benefits of a Smart Home

April 28, 2020

Years ago, people dreamed of houses with electronic gadgets and robots to make life simpler and more luxurious. Today, those far-away dreams are a common reality. For a long time, smart homes were not an option for most people due to high cost. However, smart homes are becoming more and more affordable and homeowners are realizing the benefits that they have to offer. If you have been thinking about upgrading your home, the following information could help you decide. Benefits of a Smart HomeDefined, a smart home is one that connects the different appliances and components in your home through electronic devices on a wireless network. From your thermostat to your fridge, the system you use tracks usage data and energy consumption. Having all the items in your house at your fingertips increases ease of use and accessibility. You can monitor everything, and notice if something has an issue before it gets out of hand. Many homeowners agree that this simplicity and security are big draws to upgrade their homes. Choosing the Right SystemThere are many different companies that offer home upgrades, and it is important to choose the right one. The big names like Amazon, Google and even Apple

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

January 7, 2020

The process of buying or selling your home is a complex process. From the moment you put your house on the market to the closing paperwork, there are a lot of moving pieces all working in sequence to make sure things go smoothly. One of the most important steps that’s often overlooked is your home inspection. You may be familiar with the concept, but what does a home inspector actually do? What a Home Inspector DoesA home inspector is trained to make a complete assessment of a home and its many components. This assessment, which is comprehensively documented in a report given to the home buyer or seller, is designed to provide useful information about the current condition of the home. This most often includes information about the age and condition of a home’s most costly structures like the roof, HVAC and electrical systems. Home inspections give peace of mind to home buyers that they’re making the best decision possible with their investment, and home sellers can benefit from knowing what repairs should be completed before starting negotiations with buyers. A Visual, Non-Invasive InspectionWhen you hire a home inspector, you’ll see that they describe their services as a “visual and

Building Permits: Why You Need One and How to Get It

August 22, 2019

As a home improvement guru and self-styled master of DIY projects, you might have the idea that building permits are a nuisance. After all, shouldn’t you be able to just build what you want, where you want on your property? While it’s true that building permits can be a pain, they actually serve a very important role that makes the process worthwhile. We’ll explain why building permits are a thing, why you need one and how to get one. Building Permits and Building CodesTo understand why building permits are important, we need to start by talking about building codes. Building codes, simply put, are the standards put in place by local governments to ensure buildings are constructed using the best methods for your area. While some building codes are practically universal, others vary by your local jurisdiction. If you’re building a deck, for example, how deep your footings need to be will be different depending on where you’re building it—in colder environments with a deeper frost line, footings need to be deeper to be considered safe. In other places, such as coastal areas that regularly deal with high winds, your home’s roof and other features may need to be built

Your 7-Item Checklist for an Efficient Air Conditioner

July 10, 2019

If there’s one thing you don’t want going out on you when you’re in the throes of summer, it’s your AC. Whether you use your home’s air conditioning system regularly or not, these maintenance tips will help you keep your system in great working order when the heat wave comes. 1. Start with your thermostat.When was the last time you replaced your thermostat? If you’ve just moved into your new home, what do you know about it? If it’s been awhile, you might be working with an outdated model. In that case, it’s worth looking into springing for a programmable, energy-efficient thermostat. Most can be controlled remotely from your phone for ultimate savings. 2. Look out for wear on exposed ductwork.Worn ductwork is one of the biggest culprits for cooling loss in your home. Look for visible signs of damage and wear. 3. Check the flow of your air vents.You never know what might be blocking airflow, from furniture to curtains to your child’s toys. Walk room to room and be sure that all the air vents are free of obstructions. We promise it’ll make a difference! 4. Make sure your drain line isn’t clogged.Mounted above your furnace, you should

After the Home Inspection: When to Request a Repair

June 24, 2019

When housing markets are hot, buyers have to be flexible when it comes to minor defects in a house they want. Because a home might have multiple competitive offers, it’s important to know how to get yours accepted so you can move into your dream home ASAP. While it would be ideal if the seller offered to fix every issue your home inspector finds, that’s not often realistic. Instead, you need to know which items are potential deal-breakers and which repairs can safely be put off until after closing. We’ll show you when you should request repairs to a home you’re looking at buying, and when asking for a repair could needlessly sink the deal. Don’t Sweat Little IssuesBuying a house is a big investment, so it makes sense that you’d want everything perfect. However, that’s not a reasonable expectation. Unless you’re building your home, every house is a used house, and they’re all going to have idiosyncrasies and blemishes that you’ll have to compromise on. What kinds of things are we talking about? Here’s a handy list: 1. Cosmetic Problems: There might be a crack in a tile, some scratched paint or old carpet you’re not a huge fan

8 Inexpensive Home Upgrades You Can Do in a Weekend

February 8, 2019

Looking for an inexpensive way to give your home an upgrade? Try any of these ideas for a new look and feel that won’t break the bank. 1. Replace your light fixtures.Light fixtures are one of those features that can age a space fast. Not only will replacing them give your space an instantly modern look, it can also increase your home’s value. When you go to replace your fixtures, don’t forget about the kitchen and the bathroom! Those areas are often neglected but mean the most to future buyers. 2. Trade in your drawer pulls and hardware.If you’re not quite ready to invest in a full cabinet overhaul, starting with the hardware is a great way to test out a new look. New drawer pulls and knobs are inexpensive and can give even tired or outdated cabinets a whole new look in minutes. 3. Give your mailbox an upgrade.If you have a boring, lackluster mailbox, setting a weekend aside to spruce it up can really pay off in the curb appeal department. You can replace the box itself, give your post a more upscale look using decorative rocks or go full DIY and find a unique tutorial. 4. Invest

Are Electric Blankets Safe? Here’s What Experts Have to Say

January 29, 2019

Electric blankets have come a long way since the first automatic model hit the market in 1936. But even with the modern versions of today, is it really a good idea to curl up under an electric blanket at night? We’ve done our research, and here’s what you need to know. Under Blankets and Over BlanketsFirst, let’s distinguish between the two types of electric blankets available for purchase: under blankets and over blankets. Under blankets, also known as heating pads, are placed directly on a mattress, while over blankets are just like traditional blankets you would cover yourself up with. We’ll go ahead and put one huge safety concern out there right off the bat: Using both an under blanket and an over blanket at the same time can create a major fire hazard, so you should only ever go with one or the other. Common ConcernsWe should exercise caution when it comes to anything that plugs into the wall, but electric blankets seem to have a reputation that precedes them. The good news is that at least with modern electric blankets, that reputation is, for the most part, undeserved. An average of 360,000 home fires occur each year, and

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

January 11, 2019

Want to make 2019 the best year yet? It all starts with a happy home. Putting even one or two of these 10 household New Year’s resolutions into practice can help you create a healthy space for making all your dreams realities. 1. Improve your indoor air quality.Make clean air a priority in 2019. Poor indoor air quality is a leading cause of respiratory issues, like asthma and allergies. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and general malaise. That’s because indoor air can harbor mold spores, dust, pollen and other nasty stuff you don’t want to be cooped up with all day. Changing your furnace filter at least once a year can go a long way toward improving indoor air quality. Make sure your ventilation system is up to par, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. You should also use low-VOC paint and burn real firewood instead of pressed wood logs. This will help keep risky chemicals out of the air for extended periods of time. As an extra measure, portable air cleaners are available to help purify air in single rooms. 2. Declutter, room by room.The beginning of the year is a great time to reevaluate your belongings.