Home Fire Escape Planning
A fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as three minutes to escape safely. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning – a home fire escape plan that everyone in your home is familiar with and has practiced. These tips can help you put together and practice an effective home fire escape plan. Fire Facts • Most fire deaths in Alberta happen in homes, especially at night when people are asleep. People, who die in home fires, often die from breathing the smoke and toxic gases from the fire—not from being burned by flames....
Read MoreHome Safety
Finding things getting a little boring this February, why not check your home for safety concerns. I often see dangerous things when I inspect a home, let me give you some things to help get you started on checking your home for safety. Does your home have a Carbon Monoxide detector? Where is it located? Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas that is odorless. It is heavier than air and can only be detected with a Carbon Monoxide detector. The ideal place for a Carbon Monoxide detector is on the lower level near the furnace and hotwater heater, near a garage door or a fireplace. (Gas or Wood...
Read MoreWinter Maintenance
Winter is a quite time and your home requires very little maintenance, however there is always a few things to do. Here are some tips. Your furnace is running a lot these days so the filter gets dirty quickly. Clean or replace it monthly, this helps the furnace circulate warm air throughout your home and saves you valuable energy dollars. Drain a bucket or two of water from the clean out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank, you may have to consult your owners manual. This will control sediment and maintain efficiency, saving you more energy dollars. Clean your humidifier two or...
Read MoreManaging your home’s Humidity
The level of humidity in your home will affect your health as well as the health of your home. If you have asthma, allergies or have had respiratory infections, humidity that has been very high or very low is a contributing factor. These factors will also have an impact on the condition of your home. Humans are most comfortable and healthiest in an environment where the humidity is maintained at a level around 40% (Every home should have a hygrometer). When levels drop below 20% humidity, it means the air is very dry. There is an increased level of dust and allergens in the air, our skin...
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