Archive for Home Safety – Page 2

It’s a Jacuzzi, Not a Bubble Bath

Jacuzzi.It might be a nice fantasy to have an enormous bubble bath in your jacuzzi, but that’s a really bad idea. Residue ends up in the jets, and it doesn’t take long to start growing bacteria that smells just awful.

No, one kind of soap isn’t better than another. The best thing you can do to enjoy your jacuzzi is to keep it clean from anything that might cause bacterial growth. The worst thing isn’t an awful smell coming from the jets, the worst thing might be a skin infection that takes you to the doctor’s office.  Read More→

Beware Using Chemicals to Unclog Drains

Sometimes it makes sense to use an anti-clog chemical like Drano or others to get the water moving again, but there are some things you need to know.

Master Plumber Gary Skinner and great-granddaughter.For one thing, not all of the chemicals are just the same thing in different packaging. These are dangerous for many reasons, one is the caustic nature of the chemicals themselves. If more than one agent is used on one clogged drain, several bad things can potentially happen.  Read More→

Defend Your Home Against a Winter Attack

Frozen ice cubesThe cold winter nights are upon us. The fire is crackling and the aroma of holiday cooking surrounds us. Before heading off to bed we double check to make sure the fire is all the way out and the kitchen appliance knobs are turned to the off positions. These are the obvious things we do to protect our homes from a fire hazard.

It is important in the cold months to consider the possibility of a hard freeze. We need to make sure our homes are as protected as possible including the parts that are vulnerable to cold air.  Read More→

Better Get Ready, Freddy

Ripe pumpkins in a field.You’d better go around the house and check for leaks while the days are still nice! Outside faucets should definitely be addressed before the weather turns on us. If you have any drips, you want to get them repaired before it gets cold.

Outside faucets can freeze up with the cold weather, causing the pipe inside the wall to crack and cause severe damage to the interior of your home. You can go to any home improvement store to purchase hose-bib covers. These are inexpensive and highly recommended as extra insurance against freezing.

Read More→

Residential Fire Sprinklers Can Save Lives

It’s nice to have access to 911 when you need it, but adding a residential fire sprinkler can bring immediate help to a fire emergency – possibly saving lives.

Plumbing an internal fire sprinkler isn’t a difficult proposition. If you’ve been thinking about it, here are some reasons it’s become easier to do.

There are only three materials approved for sprinklers:

  • Steel
  • Copper
  • PVC

Materials approved must meet safety guidelines for toxicity in extreme heat environments. Of these three approved materials, PVC is only allowable if it is protected behind a fire-rated barrier. That additional expense can be avoided if garages, crawl spaces, attics and other exposed areas are also avoided, but those areas really need protection.

Steel is more difficult to manipulate when threading it into enclosed areas. Threading the pipe accurately can present problems, especially when trying to miss walls above.

Copper is lightweight, easy to cut on the job and thread through existing walls. It’s recyclable and won’t emit toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures. Copper will be around a long time, and for a residential sprinkler system, we believe it’s the best material to use.

Let us assess your home to see if a residential sprinkler system is a good installation idea for you. We believe it is, but also believe you need to understand how the system will work, what it will cost, and where it should be located for maximum effectiveness. Call our office today, 972-424-6479