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Your home is your safe place and there’s no doubt that you do all you can to keep it protected, from installing fire alarms to adding a security system. Making sure you have smoke alarms in place on every level just as you should is a must. However, even though having a smoke alarm is important, many homeowners rarely if ever test them, and many fail to replace them as needed. Check out what you should know about how to test a smoke alarm and when these necessary fixtures should be replaced. How to Test a Smoke Alarm the Correct Way According to the National Fire Protection Association, simply making sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly can reduce your chances of dying in a fire by half. This being said, learning how to test your fire alarm is important. Most battery smoke detectors have a test button that you … Continued

Smells, good or bad, stick around. To eliminate bad smells in your house, you’ll need to get rid of their source. If you can’t, some deep cleaning is in order. The air inside your home can be 100 times as polluted as outside air. Sometimes, chemical air fresheners are of little or no help. Other times, common odors are too tough to lift. To deep-clean your home, lift the smells and make sure they don’t return, check out the following tips. 7 Tips for Eliminating Bad Smells in Your House Tip One: Apply a Mixture You can mix three parts water, one part cheap vodka, and 15 drops of essential oil into a spray bottle. Then, you can use the spray bottle to lift unwanted odors. If your home smells bad, consider spraying the mixture around the bedroom, the bathroom, and in other high-traffic areas. Vodka, in particular, is effective. … Continued

How to Clean Smoke Damage There are few accidents that can leave such a big mark on your home like a house fire. Once the danger has passed and it’s safe to enter your home again, it’s important to act quickly to remove any traces of smoke damage. While it may be hard to know exactly where to start, with a few helpful tips, you can learn how to clean smoke damage on your own. However, professional smoke damage cleaning may still be necessary to restore your home to its former glory. Fire and Smoke Damage Cleaning Tips If you’re interested in doing some of the smoke damage cleaning after a fire, it’s very important to follow proper safety steps to prevent any respiratory issues. Soot and charring are common issues after a house fire, so be sure to invest in the following items before you begin the cleaning process: Rubber … Continued

Mold spores do more than hide in your baseboards. They may be the cause of those lingering symptoms. Do you have symptoms of asthma that grow worse in your house? Are you positive your shortness of breath, coughing, and fever is just a short-lived cold? Is it possible what you call allergies is actually mold spores floating in the air your home? Is the same air that is putting your children or older family members in risk of these same symptoms? These questions are not meant to be scary, but to point out unseen potential causes of many health problems. And to give you some easy steps you can take to eradicate that mold and make everyone in your house a little healthier. The Symptoms Caused By Mold Mold is a layman’s term for various types of fungus found in homes. Sometimes referred to as mildew, mold can grow in damp … Continued

Here is how to test for mold in your house. Mold can be expensive to eradicate. The longer it is allowed to live and grow and spread, the bigger that bill is ultimately going to be. Second, and most important, toxic mold can create health problems for those exposed to it. Even healthy people can feel the effects. The children or elderly family members who share your own are even susceptible to respiratory issues and skin irritation caused by mold. If you think you might have mold, there are a methods to know for sure. Here’s how to test for mold in your house.   Home Test Kit It is best to start the mold discovery tour of your home with an inexpensive molding testing kit. Because even if you cannot see or smell the mold, you may still have toxic spores floating in the air in your home. You … Continued

Water damage can strike at anytime. Whether it’s from a backed up drain, burst pipe, flooding, or any other reason. Water damage can leave behind a huge mess and cause serious damage to your home and furniture. Most homeowners are faced with a million questions immediately after water damage occurs. What’s going to happen? Where do I begin to assess the damage? If my furniture ruined? Is water damage covered by my homeowners insurance? Much like any disaster or emergency, the process can seem daunting, and even stressful at times. Depending on the severity of the water damage, it could impact the market value of your home and even raise health and safety issues for your family if mold sets in. Before starting your water damage insurance claim, keep these helpful tips in mind. 1. Flood Damage is Different Than Water Damage It might seem natural that flood damage would … Continued

When it comes to water damage, we’ve seen it all. Water damage can happen over time or overnight, and can strike anytime. The start of water damage can be as obvious as a broken pipe leaking throughout the floor. Hidden water damage is more common and can be harder to see, usually going unnoticed for a long period of time. The effects of hidden water damage can be catastrophic to your home and health. Below are some tips on how to spot hidden water damage in your home. 1. Wall or Ceiling Stains or Discoloration Perhaps the easiest way to spot hidden water damage is by inspecting your walls and ceiling. Discoloration, stains, or faint outlines are obvious signs of water damage. Bubbling and droopy paint can also be a sign that there might be water soaking in your drywall. 2. Warping in the Wood Floor or Baseboards When wood … Continued