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Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Change your clocks for fall or spring; change you smoke alarm batteries!.
All smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month to make sure
they operate properly. If a smoke alarm is battery operated, replace the batteries at least once a year to make sure the alarm
will work when it is needed. It’s a good practice to make replacement of batteries a seasonal routine, such as when
resetting clocks in the fall or spring. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing smoke alarms and replacing
the batteries.
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If your battery-powered smoke alarm
begins to emit a low-power warning, usually a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately with a fresh one. This will
ensure that your smoke alarm will continue to provide protection.
12:52 pm est
Friday, February 25, 2011
Keep AC discharge tubes clear:Condensate discharge tubes that run from your AC have
a tendency to become clogged with mildew, algae. bacteria and other icky items. To prevent this; flush the pipe with 2 TBSP
of household Chlorine Bleach dissolved into 1 cup of hot water every couple of months.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Deck Safety
Is your deck one of the 40 million
in the US that’s more then 20 years old?
If so, call a home inspector now. Conventional
wood decks have an life expectancy of 10 -20 years.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tank Water Heater MaintenanceTank Water heaters consist of a glass lined or vitreous enamel-coated steel tank covered by an insulated metal jacket.
They are gas-fired, oil-fired or electrically heated. • Gas-fired tank water heaters have an average life
expectancy of about 6 to 12 years and a fairly high recovery rate.
• Oil-fired heaters have an average life
similar to that of gas-fired heaters. Their recovery rat is also high.
• Electric water heaters have an estimated
service life of 5 to 10 years. They have a low recovery rate and thus require a larger storage tank. Part of your maintenance
plan is that the tank should be drained regularly (at least once a year) to remove sediment and rust. here is how to do that: 1.
shut off the cold supply valve that should be located above the tank on the cold water supply pipe.
2. Next shut
off the fuel source or breaker if electric.
3. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve. and open the valve. Now
open two hot water faucets in the lowest part of the home. This will allow the water to drain out of the tank.
4.
When the tank has been drained close the drain valve and remove the hose.
5. slowly open the cold water shut off valve
and allow the tow open faucets to run until all of the air has been purged out of the lines.
6. close the faucets
and turn on the fuel supply or electrical breaker and if needed light the pilot.
7. your tank is now cleaned and it will
take about an hour to reheat the water. Plan to replace a tank that is near the end of its life expectancy.
Watch for signs of leakage on the bottom of the tank, such as rust or water stains at the fuel burning components or on
the floor. Leaking tanks cannot usually be repaired and must be replaced.
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