Floods can occur anywhere, with floodwaters rising gradually or flash floods striking suddenly. Flash floods are the number one weather-related killer in the United States — most flood fatalities happen because people try to drive through deadly waters rather than avoid them. (Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2005) Water’s powerful force can easily overtake vehicles caught in […]
We’ve all seen the pictures on TV and social media of people stocking up on water before a natural disaster. Many times, store shelves usually full of water and other necessities are bare. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure you and your family have clean, fresh and safe drinking water should you […]
Extension cords are a common and convenient way to bring power to electrical devices. But used without proper caution, they can become fire hazards and pose risks to your personal safety. Follow these tips to help keep your home safe when using extension cords: Selecting extension cords Purchase only cords that have been approved by […]
The words “vacant home” can have a pretty negative connotation. You probably picture a decrepit house with boarded up windows in a dilapidated area that no one would touch with a 39 ½” pole. In reality, nice, normal homes go vacant every day. Occasionally, people may buy an empty house to fix it up and […]
Does your home often feel dry? Or too muggy? If you are experiencing chapped/dry skin, or difficulty breathing while in your home, you may need to get your humidity level checked out. Humidity levels that are not between the averages of 30- 50 percent can be potentially dangerous for your health. You can personally check […]
Whether or not you know it’s coming, a power outage can be a major disturbance. It never hurts to be prepared and to know what to do once the lights go out. Before Power outages can happen at any time and are unavoidable, but the costs associated with them can be lessened by installing a home […]
Many cities have friendly neighborhoods with great properties. However, it’s important to know what to look for in a rental listing, so you can make a smart assessment about each rental listing you’re interested in. Use this rental property viewing checklist to stay organized and prepared when viewing properties. What is the cost of rent? […]
Every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of people in the U.S. die from carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning—and the invisible, odorless gas sickens thousands more. The numbers seem even more tragic when you consider that most of these deaths and illnesses are preventable. Here are tips from the Consumer Product Safety […]
There are three main sources in your home; the first being air leaks. Air can leak into the home through walls, roofs, and floors and have damaging effects on a house. Uncontrolled airflow through the envelope of the home not only carries moisture into framing cavities, causing mold and rot, but it can also account […]
Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States in more than a decade, made landfall on the Texas coast late Friday as a Category 4 storm, destroying homes, overturning vehicles and sinking boats, severing power lines, and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee, while leaving ten dead. As […]