Air Quality

Air Quality For more information on Air Quality in your Home, ask your local home inspector. Quick Facts… Indoor air quality can be worse than that of outdoor air. Problems can arise from moisture, insects, pets, appliances, radon, materials used in household products and furnishings, smoke and other sources. Effects range from minor annoyances to

Asbestos

Asbestos For more information on Asbestos and your Home, ask your local home inspector. What Is Asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them

Biological Pollutants

Biological Pollutants Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continues to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest – your home. Many ordinary activities such

Child Safety

Child Safety 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today. Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough

Conserve Energy & Save Money

Conserve Energy & Save Money Are your energy bills too high? Is your home not as comfortable as you want it to be? Do you want to do more to protect the environment? Do you have teenagers at home giving your hot water bill a beating? Whatever your situation, this will help you to find

Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety Electricity is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires

Elements of an Energy Efficient House

Energy Efficiency Designing and building an energy-efficient home that conforms to the many considerations faced by home builders can be a challenge. However, any house style can be made to require relatively minimal amounts of energy to heat and cool, and be comfortable and healthy. It’s easier now to get your architect and builder to

Foundation Insulation

Foundation Insulation Introduction Homes being constructed today are more energy efficient than those built even just a few years ago, primarily due to significant improvements in building products and techniques as well as development of high-performance heating and cooling systems and other appliances. However, the benefits of foundation insulation are often overlooked. Heat loss from

Home Insurance Tips

Home Insurance Tips The largest single investment most consumers make is in their home. The consumer can protect their home, possessions, and liability with a homeowners’s insurance policy. The Homeowner’s insurance policy is a package policy that combines more than one type of insurance coverage in a single policy. There are four types of coverages

Lead in Paint, Dust & Soil

Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil Did you know the following facts about lead? FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing

Home Maintenance Tips

Maintenance Tips Upon Taking Ownership After taking possession of your new home or property you should consider doing the following improvements: Change the locks on all exterior doors, for security purposes. Install smoke detectors on each level of the home; install carbon monoxide detectors where any fossil fuels may be burned. I.e. near heater, gas

Mold, Moisture, and Your Home

Mold and Moisture Mold Basics The key to mold control is moisture control. If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly andfix the water problem. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. Why is mold growing in my home? Molds