Jun 28, 2017 | Homeowners
You’ve seen fire extinguishers in commercial environments, such as schools, stores and workplaces. Does it make sense to have one in your home?
According to the experts, yes. In fact, a fire extinguisher can quickly put out a blaze that would otherwise quickly grow out of control.
There are several types of fire extinguishers that are made especially for residential use. That means they put out the most common fires that occur in the home (Class A, B & K fires), and they are easy to handle and use.
Since most residential fires happen in the kitchen, that’s the best place to keep your extinguisher. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it.
Keep in mind that a home fire extinguisher is meant for small fires that are easy to put out, such as a pan of vegetable oil igniting on the stove. If you find you can’t control the blaze within a few seconds with the extinguisher, get everyone out of the home and call the fire department.
Also, never attempt to fight a major fire yourself. Leave that to the professionals
Jun 12, 2017 | Homeowners
Over the summer, the demand for water to maintain lawns and gardens can stress supply and reservoir systems, and increase costs for taxpayers and users. Bearing in mind watering restrictions that may apply in your municipality, consider the following ways to minimize your overall water consumption during extended periods without rainfall.
First, check your hose or irrigation equipment for leaks, and position sprinklers so that you’re not wasting water on hard surfaces such as driveways and patios.
To apply water more directly to the soil and reduce evaporation, use a soaker hose placed on the ground at the base of plants.
Whenever possible, water slowly to avoid run-off, ideally in early morning – before the heat of the summer sun can cause evaporation.
For conservation, direct rainwater from your roof gutters and downspouts to one or more rain barrels, but be sure to use insect screening to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Jun 5, 2017 | Homeowners
Once a luxurious comfort available only at golf clubs, terrace restaurants and outdoor bars, patio misting systems are becoming very affordable options for homeowners. For those with exterior living spaces that get too much unshielded sunlight exposure or too little breeze during the height of the summer, these systems can be a welcome cooling option.
Depending on your budget and needs, including the size of the area in question, you can choose an inexpensive do-it-yourself system, or pay a plumbing professional to ensure top performance. Either way, before you decide on a system, be mindful that you will need to have access to sufficient water pressure, and may also require proper drainage or an adequate runoff slope to avoid unwanted pooling.
In addition, consider attaching your system to a supply splitter that lets you divert your water for other purposes, such as watering your lawn. For optimal performance and easy maintenance, choose a system that has nozzles that can be easily cleaned to prevent calcium build-up, and lines that can be easily drained.
May 15, 2017 | Homeowners
If you go through the process of decorating your outdoor living space to make it more inviting and comfortable for the warmer weather, consider taking the added initiative of creating a unique ambient environment with complementary LED lighting.
Not only are the new lighting systems energy efficient, they are also extremely versatile, offering you an inspiring range of possibilities in a dazzling array of colours.
From subtle pathway lights to strategic spotlights and energy-efficient floodlights, there’s no better way to wake up your garden, patio or balcony at nightfall.
Apr 19, 2017 | Homeowners
It’s the time of year when many homeowners want to improve the appearance of their outdoor decking. If that means you need to replace old, tired-looking boards, or power-wash and sand, paint, stain or urethane the entire surface, you may be feeling discouraged.
So, before going through the rigors of maintenance, consider resurfacing your walk-out area with a completely different material that can be installed directly over the existing surface.
Presuming the structural frame is sound, you can choose from a range of lightweight artificial decking for the do-it-yourselfer, or choose heavyduty tiles and planking that require professional installation. Either way, they’ll give you new inspiration for your outdoor living space.
Apr 10, 2017 | Homeowners
If the hallmarks of advancing technology are portability, flexibility and economy, then home security systems may provide the best examples of progress in recent times. For example, in addition to cameras and alarm systems that can be managed and monitored from your smartphone, you can now install a surprisingly affordable system that alerts your phone to motion in specific areas within your property perimeter, according to your designated preferences (e.g. gateways, driveways, walkways or play areas).
In addition, you can speak to front door visitors or unwanted intruders that can be seen on the built-in camera. Furthermore, all of the monitors’ footage can be recorded via cloud technology, and downloaded to your computer for a permanent record. That means you are never far away from your home, even if you’re far away.
