Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Its not to late to get ready. A couple hours of checking things could save you a lot of headaches this winter.

Winter Maintenance Tips For Your Home

• Remove screens from windows and install storm windows
• Clean out gutters and downspouts
• Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic
• Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home
• Familiarize responsible family members with the gas main valve and other appliance valves
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer
• Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections
• Check the attic for adequate ventilation
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
• Test all ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI) outlets

Remove the screens from the storm window frames and install storm windows.

Storm windows help reduce the cost to heat your home and help prevent windowsills from rotting.

Clean out gutters and downspouts.

Cleaning debris and fallen leaves reduces the chances of an ice dam forming. One good step is to spray water down the downspouts to wash away leaves and other debris. A good tip is to place gutter screens over gutters. Read more about ice dams at attic ventilation and water damage.

Extreme caution should be exercised when working on or around the roof. Consider hiring a professional.

Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic.

These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.

Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.

This will reduce a home's fire load and the chance of attracting termites.

Familiarize responsible family members with the main gas valve and other appliance valves.

Responsible family members should be familiar with the location and operation of valves. If you are unsure of the location and operation of these valves, contact a qualified plumber.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.

Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct and may cause a fire.

Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections.

If possible, use 3-prong plugs and cords. The use of 2-prong adapters, which permit 3-prong plugs to be used in 2-prong outlets, doesn't always provide grounding to protect against shock. Unplug decorations when not in use.

Use of extension cords should be temporary. To help reduce the chances of overheating, electric cords, including extension cords, should never be bundled together or run under rugs and carpet.

Check the attic for adequate ventilation.

Check the exterior wall to be sure the ceiling insulation is not blocking the outside air from the soffit vents from getting into the attic. Make sure the attic has plenty of vents. Caution should be taken in all attic spaces that are unfinished. Read more at Attic ventilation and water damage.

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop fire from spreading.

Check water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles.

Replace hoses that show signs of leaking. Read more about Preventing water damage in your home.

Test all ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI) outlets.

These need to be tripped and reset once a month. If they do not trip or reset, have the outlet changed by a qualified electrician. These types of outlets are required around wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens to offer protection against shock. Only a qualified electrician should make changes in your home's electrical system.

*Taken from www.State Farm.com winter

Candles

December is a great month. December is also the month when most residential fires are started by candles.

Please use caution when using candles in the home. I know we all love the scented ones and all the holiday cheer they bring with them. But nothing is worse than living through a home fire especially this time of year. I once heard a claim representative say, "the only safe candle is one that has someone standing next to it watching it."

The link connected here takes you to the National Fire Protection Association web site and addresses the issue of candles in their view. Look at the top days of the year that candle fires are reported!

Look at these statistics:

• Although home candle fires fell 8% from 2004 to 2005, more than twice as many were reported in 2005 as in 1990.
• Candle fires accounted for an estimated 4% of all reported home fires in 2005.
• Thirty-eight percent (38%) of home candle fires started in the bedroom, resulting in 41% of the associated civilian deaths.
• December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 13% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.
• More than half of all candle fires started when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses or bedding, curtains, or decorations, was too close to the candle.
• Falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths.
• The top five days for home candle fires were Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Halloween.

Source: NFPA's "Home Candle Fires" report by Marty Ahrens, September 2007.

How do you liked to be thanked for your business?

As a business person I am always looking for ways to thank and show appreciation to my customers and clients. I would like to get feedback from you to tell me what you think are good ideas?

As a give away item would you like?:

*State Farm Road Atlas

*Calendar

*Gas card

*Discount coupons from other local & national businesses

*Gifts from the birthday table.

These are just a few of the ideas I currently use but I want some feedback on what you think.

If there is anything you think we could add or change drop me a line to feedback@davidhopewell.com or simply answer the poll on the right hand side of this page. You can also add your comments to the bottom of this post.

Thanks for your input!

'Tis the season to be "careful".

Have fun but be cautious!






Read these newspaper headlines from this time last year illustrate just how dangerous unattended deep-fryers can be on Thanksgiving Day.

• From Delaware: “Turkey fryer explosion blamed in blaze.” This fire caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to a neighbor’s home.
• From Illinois: “Deep-fryer blamed for Thanksgiving blaze.” This fire started on a deck, spread up the back side of a home and rolled into the attic, causing severe damage.
• From California: “Home chefs ignite dangerous flames while in the process of preparing the birds.” A fire department responded to four calls of minor fires sparked by hot turkey grease last year.

Although State Farm® has not directly studied the hazards of turkey fryers, several national groups warn of potential risks.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tracked 117 reported fires involving turkey fryers from 1999 to October 2005. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent research company that tests products for safety, has decided not to certify any turkey fryers, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse turkeys in hot oil.

“From a safety and fire potential standpoint, turkey fryers are perhaps one of the worst cooking appliances in use today,” said Mike Wilson, Research Administrator at State Farm’s Building Technology Research Lab. “By design they involve large quantities of hot cooking oil that requires prolonged heating and high cooking temperatures in order to cook properly.”

The majority of incidents logged by the CPSC occurred while the oil was heating, before the turkey was placed inside. The commission advises that consumers closely monitor the temperature of the oil and immediately turn the burner off if any smoke detected. Oil in deep-fryers is heated to at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If heated beyond its cooking temperature, oil vapors can ignite, according to the NFPA.

“If not monitored constantly or used properly, cooking oil can auto-ignite or spill over, resulting in severe burns or ignition of adjacent items,” Wilson said. “Once ignited, the intensity of heat – along with the quantity of fuel involved – makes extinguishment almost impossible with any type of home fire extinguisher, and this type of fire is well beyond the capabilities of the average homeowner to extinguish.”

Water should never be used in an attempt to put out a grease fire, experts say.
Oil also can spill or splash if the fryer is jostled, or when a turkey is added or removed. It is important to determine in advance how much oil to place in the pot of the fryer, UL notes. If overfilled, oil will spill over the sides and ignite when the turkey is placed inside. (See sidebar for tips.) Also, turkeys should be fully thawed and dried, the CPSC notes, because partially frozen or wet turkeys can produce excessive hot oil splatter when added to the oil.

Weather also is a factor to consider. “If rain or snow strikes exposed hot cooking oil, the result can be a splattering of the hot oil or a conversion of the rain or snow to steam,” the NFPA Web site states. “Fires have occurred when turkey fryers were used in a garage or barn or under eaves to keep the appliance out of the rain.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to closely monitor the temperature of oil in a turkey fryer at all times and immediately turn the burner off if any smoke detected. If heated beyond its cooking temperature, oil vapors can ignite.

• Turkey Fryer Tips:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Underwriters Laboratories recommend these safety guidelines for using turkey fryers:

• Keep fryer in full view while burner is on. Never leave the fryer unattended.
• Place fryer outdoors in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures.
• Never use in, on or under a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or any structure.
• Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks.
• Make sure fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
• Make sure there is at least 2 feet of space between the liquid propane tank and fryer burner; and make sure any wind blows the heat of the fryer away from the gas tank.
• Completely thaw and dry the turkey before cooking. Oil and water don't mix; water causes oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Raise and lower food slowly to reduce splatter and avoid burns. Cover bare skin when adding or removing food; if possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or even after use, as the oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
• Check the oil temperature frequently. If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply off.
• If a fire occurs, immediately call 911. Do not attempt to extinguish fire with water.
• To Determine the Proper Amount of Oil:
• Place turkey in the pot and fill with water until the turkey is covered by about ½-inch of water.
• Remove and dry the turkey.
• Mark the water level and dump out the water.
• Dry the pot and fill with oil to the marked level.

Take from, "the News Hub", State Farm Insurance and UL site.

Call night...

We had a call night tonight at the office. This is where we all stay late and for an hour and a half do nothing but make phone calls to policyholders and non policyholders for the purpose of trying to get people interested in a free no obligation quote on their insurance.

Everyone participated. We made 274 calls and we made 64 appointments for those people wanting us to call them back.

I told the staff when I started out it would have taken me by myself, 2/3 weeks to have done the same work we did in this hour and half tonight. I am so proud of what they did tonight.

Now the follow-up work begins...!!!

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