Gas Off! We just re-set our clocks for daylight savings. Traditionally this is a good time to check the batteries in our smoke alarms but it’s also a good time to assess our overall emergency preparedness. Whether it’s a house fire, power outage, earthquake or other disaster we are all encouraged to do what it […]
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Did you know that water tanks can loose their effectiveness over time? And did you know that you should drain your tank each year? Most people never give their water heater a second thought — until it stops working or starts leaking. One thing you can do to extend the life of your water heater […]
When was the last time you inspected your deck? If you are like most of us the answer is likely to be ‘never’. Sadly, thousands of people are injured every year due to poor construction practices and maintenance of decks. According to the North American Deck and Railing association “there are more than 40 million […]
Some experts say we’ll be facing a warmer summer than usual this year. Since mild weather is the norm for most of us in the Pacific Northwest, it’s easy to be caught unprepared when the thermometer soars. Now is the time to think ahead and get prepared. Choosing an appropriate cooling method can be a […]
FunGUS is no FunGI One day a dark spot appears on the ceiling, and as things go, you ignore it until it grows ugly enough to catch your full attention. You finally call your contractor friend who delivers the news, you have black mold! You feel a sense of panic until your friend calms you […]
A recent news story about carbon monoxide poisoning has raised concern for my friends, family and clients. Some of the most dangerous situations are often the most simple and inexpensive items to address. I’ve attached a quick checklist to help identify and fix some of the most obvious items we all tend to overlook. The […]
The roof is arguably the most important part of the home and often the most neglected when it comes to maintenance. The Pacific Northwest climate is particularly harsh on all types of roofs. Rain, snow and wind are hard enough but the biggest threat is actually moss. Moss, if allowed to build can turn a […]
Killer CO! Carbon monoxide alarms are now required. Effective April 1,2012 RCW 19.27.930 requires the seller of any owner occupied single family residence to equip the residence with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with State building code before a buyer or any other person may legally occupy the residence following the sale. This requirement applies […]
Alarms serve a very important role in our everyday lives, leaving us free of worry. Our homes are filled with alarms that alert us of smoke, fire, fluid levels and deadly gases. Prior to the 1980’s homes did not have smoke detectors, today virtually every home has one or more and countless lives have been […]
Garage \Ga`rage”\, n. [F.] an outbuilding (or part of a building) for housing automobiles Is your car homeless? Does the van refuse to start in the morning because you made it sleep out in the cold? This kind of vehicular abuse is rampant throughout America. Why do aunt Alice’s third set of dishes and young […]
