Entries Tagged 'home safety' ↓

As a hunter and outdoors-person, you realize how important it is to protect your guns, knives, and other potential weapons. You know how to use and respect them, however others around may not. Usually the first concern is children, followed by the thought of a thief taking them and doing harm to you, others you care about, or any random stranger they could come about later.

Gun safes are in high demand today as a result of these concerns. You can literally lock up your guns, ammo, and other supplies (such as black powder) in a fashion that makes them inaccessible to children, and those with harmful intent. Then you can rest better knowing that your weapons and family are safe while you are away from them.

The Stack On Gun Safe makes all of it’s safes in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. Beyond gun safes they also make storage solutions for many other things including tools, lawn & garden equipment, and much more. They are held in high regard with respect throughout the industry for their rugged but affordable products.
The Stack On Gun Safe product line is available in all sizes with a number of choices for each. These externally fireproof, and internally fireproof insulated to protect your valued guns, ammo and effects from fire. But the most importantly they are very heavy. This will surely deter thieves from trying to open them, or carry them off.

As far as the storage space goes, you will no doubt appreciate the dimensions to store whatever weaponry you have to keep safe in them as well. Whether you want to store your old shotgun collection, the latest Remington you got this week to be sure you are ready for opening day, or your prized handgun collection that hasn’t been fired in decades; there is a Stack On Gun Safe for you.
When choosing also consider how easy it is to fasten whatever Gun Safe you ultimately buy down so it stays where you intend it to be. Between heavier weight, and other methods (such as bolting) or the shear size of the safe, odds are they will walk away without your valuables.

Please note Stack On Gun Safes aren’t the lowest price out there, however you do get what you pay for. Do you really want the lowest protection? In reality though, when you shop around, you will indeed find the best value for your money and cheaper then many of comparable choices. You should be prepared to spend between $500 and a thousand for a good sized safe to store a reasonable sized gun collection. Of course if it’s all handguns, you may still want the weight to be sure they don’t carry it off to never be seen again, or worse yet; seen in an evidence locker.

Of course there are alternatives out there to these great storage solutions, and they may work as well. Finding the Stack On pistol Safes you need at the price you want is quite possible. Take your time and check out your options. Where you are now reading is a great place to continue looking.

For most of us on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other social sites we aren’t too concerned about safety. Well maltreatment, pedophiles, stalking, and other crimes are now a priority social networkers should have. Formerly I have been pretty open on my Facebook page, although there is a stark difference between being open and being brainless. Here are 5 ways to safeguard yourself and your identity.

1. Keep Personal Info Private
Individuals Everyone doesn’t need to know your private information. Never put in writing your social security number, address, and phone number out there. Only give it to people you know in person. Also, be selective about the people you add. You never know who may turn out to be a hacker, stalker, or someone trying to pinch your identity. Also consider using a user name that isn’t your real name. And don’t tweet where you’re going because that makes you easy to follow or even break into your house.

2. Be careful of Strangers
Although this might seem a little basic, there’s nothing wrong with a review course. Some individuals that might seem like friends could in reality be spammers that just want to hijack your account. Or they may just want to get traffic to their links. If you don’t know them, and your friends don’t know them, don’t add them.

3. Strange Behavior
If friends on social sites seem to be acting odd, don’t take gifts from them or open their messages. Someone may have hacked into their system so who you thought was a friend really isn’t. So, if you have a friend pushing “muenster cheese is the best” but you know they’re a vegan. Then it’s probably a signal that you shouldn’t click on the URL. It could be a malicious program that will mess up your computer software.

4. Condensed URLs
Some URLs for web site addresses are really long and consequently by using tools like bit.ly you can have a link with a shortened URL. While these may be handy, they can also allow scammers and spammers the ability to hide where you are actually going. If it’s possible make sure to preview the URL before you go onto it. An easy rule is that if you can’t observe where the link is going, don’t go there.

5. Be aware of your Privacy Options
All of these social media tools allow you to adjust your security settings to a specific point. Make sure that you evaluate and alter them to the uppermost privacy setting they allow. However, don’t set the settings so great that the tools don’t work right. Many of these settings are not the default so make sure that you alter them so some random visitor can’t find your data through the search engine. If you don’t like or are nervous about some of the privacy settings on the site, then don’t use it. Look for another site that meets your privacy protection standards. Regularly examine and upgrade your browser privacy settings.

Social sites can be awesome. You can reconnect with old friends, improve existing relationships, and at the same time make new friends. Just be careful about what information you are putting up there, and take into account these 5 tips in order to keep yourself and your identity safe.

About the author:
Diane Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Utah. She likes to write about the news, politics, college degrees, online education, and the college experience.

When you walk from a mall or store to your car, you probably feel pretty secure. You may not even think about this daily activity, but it can actually be quite dangerous. As shopping centers grow bigger and larger, so do their parking lots, and the distances you must walk between your car and the store. Although this is excellent exercise, there are also many risks with doing this. Potential risks, ranging from theft or purse-snatching to assault, rape, an even kidnapping, tend to increase at night. You are especially at risk if you are a woman walking to your car by yourself after dark. Few people realize the dangers inherent in this commonplace activity.

If you plan to be in the store after dark, park in the closest parking spot you can find. Even if you have to go around the lot a couple of times, parking nearer means a shorter and safer walk to your car. After the car is parked, get out promptly and walk directly towards the building. Don’t spend time sitting in your car checking a shopping list, talking on your cell phone, or reapplying your makeup. If you do, you’ll be distracted enough to not notice a stranger approaching your vehicle.

Once you get out of the car and lock the doors, take note of your parking spot, the lighting, and potential hiding spaces such as walls or large bushes. Look for loiterers; if they are still there when you’re done shopping, watch out.

When walking to your car at night, take advantage of any help presented by the store. Most store security guards will be willing to accompany you to your car. Though you might seem silly taking them up on this, your security is worth it. If no help is available, try to time your exit when others are walking out of the store, so you won’t be alone in the lot. If you sense danger, remain inside until it is secure to walk to your car, and alert security to the issue.

At all times be conscious of everyone around you in the parking lot. This includes people sitting in parked cars, particularly if they have parked near your vehicle in an otherwise empty parking lot. Carry a stun gun, canister of pepper spray, or personal alarm to foil any potential attackers.

When placing an armful of purchases into your car, pay attention to how you load them into the backseat or trunk. Avoid turning your back to the parking lot for a long period of time. Once you’re done loading your purchases, get in the car and drive away. Once more, it’s not safe to sit in an remote parking lot for a long period of time, because this will place you in a vulnerable situation, making you a key target for attack.

Distractions are abundant when you’re out shopping, especially as you enter and leave the store. This makes it easy to become absorbed into your thoughts. Do you find yourself going over your shopping list in your head, rather than thinking about what’s going on at that moment? Parking in parking lots every day can make you forget the fact that these areas are somewhat isolated and unprotected locations where something bad could happen. You can never be too cautious when out alone, specially when walking to your car after dark.

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Heater Safety throughout Cold Weather

By Montgomery County Fireplace Marshall’s Office

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — As temperatures plummet over the next few days, residents can have lots of issues, such as looking after the 3 P’s ( Pets, Plants & Pipes ). As Firefighters, we tend to are involved that there’s another danger that is commonly overlooked, which is a risk of injury or death from home heating fires.

It looks estimated that there are approximately sixty-four,000 home heating fires annually during the United States, ensuing in nearly $1 Billion greenbacks in harm, 540 civilian deaths plus 1,four hundred injuries.
The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities has caused a lot of Americans to have a look for various home heating sources such as wood burning stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces. Heating is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Over one-quarter of here fires result from improper maintenance of kit, specifically the failure to dust the equipment.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is another danger when using heating equipment fueled by fossil fuel. It happens most often when equipment is not vented properly. CO deaths have been on the increase as 1999. On average there were 181 unintentional non-hearth deaths from CO poisoning related to consumer products regarding year from 2004-2006 compared to 123 from 1999-2001 (Supply: Consumer Product Safety Commission). Carbon monoxide poisoning is nearly all fatal to adults age sixty-five or older.

The range one safety recommendation is to first plus foremost have functioning smoke detectors throughout the home, particularly in every one sleeping areas. Homes with gas appliances have to even have a Carbon Monoxide Detector on every floor. Having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. Weather Safety Advice
Preventing Home Heating Fires

In 2003-2006, the leading issue contributing to home heating fires (twenty-eight%) plus deaths (forty-six%) was heating equipment too near things that will burn, like upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding (Supply: NFPA). Lots of heating fires can be prevented by following basic safety tips when dealing with any heating equipment:

- Keep or maintain a three foot clearance between every one heating equipment plus something that can burn. More Winter Advice

- Examine and maintain heating equipment frequently for safety.
- Be certain to get mounted house heaters put in by a certified technician, according to manufacturer’s instructions or applicable codes. Or, create sure a professional technician checks to see the unit has been properly installed.
- When buying a recent, portable area heater, create sure it’s the label showing it’s listed by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

- Area heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and prior to going to bed.

- Choose space heaters which flip off automatically if they tip over.
- Never use a house heater to dry clothing.

- Do not use your oven to heat your home.

- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping space, plus on each level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect every one smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

- Take a look at smoke alarms monthly.

- Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Wood Burning Stoves plus Fireplaces

- Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
- Be sure the hearth or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (three feet) from flamable surfaces and correct floor support and protection.

- Wood stoves ought to be of good quality, solid construction and design, and is going to be evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

- The stove must be burned hot twice a day for fifteen-30 minutes to scale back the amount of creosote buildup.

- Have your chimney inspected annually plus cleaned if necessary, especially if it’s not been used for some time.

- Don’t use excessive amounts of paper to build fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.

- Create certain your fireside incorporates a sturdy screen to forestall sparks from flying into the room.

- Keep flammable materials away from your fireside mantle. A spark from the hearth can easily ignite these materials.

- Before you attend sleep, be sure your fireside fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes during the fireplace. A closed damper can help the fireside to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house. If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package.

NEVER break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than just one log at a time. They often burn erratically, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.

- Don’t use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.

- Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal may give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
-Permit fireplace plus wood stove ashes to cool down before disposing in a metal container.

Electric Heaters
- Keep area heaters a minimum of 3 feet away from anything that will burn – as well as furniture, blankets, curtains, plus paper products.

- Check to make sure the heater has a thermostat management mechanism.

- Choose a heater that will flip off automatically if it tips over.
- Never dry clothes or store objects on stop of the heater.

- Never use extension cords with electrical heaters.

- Stay anything that can burn a minimum of three feet away from the heater.
- Never allow kids to play with, or round, the heater.
Sources: United States Fireplace Administration, National Fire Protection Association

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Bats are blood suckers. Though it is true that bats are blood suckers, their feces and bites can be all the more unsafe. If you have a bat infestation you need to learn a little more about the type of bat you have and then learn how to get rid of it.

Once your attempts to wipe them from your home is successful, the next important step is to ensure that they do not make their once again.

How to get rid of bats

The bats which make their way into our homes are actually hunting for a day time habitat. Bats ensure that they house themselves in darker places like a garret or a topmost floor where there is no light. They usually leave at night to hunt for food.

The only real way to keep bats out of your home is to make sure they can not get in. You should check around your roof area for holes or spaces where they could get in and seal them off. Make sure that your chimney trap is in good condition and also check out for any cracks or crevices. Cracks or crevices in holes should be filled in with either cement or concrete so as to prevent entry of bats.

Bats can not chew through materials to get in. Before resorting to sealing, we need to be doubly sure that the bats have made their way out. Bats hunt during the night and thus you should seize the opportunity to seal the holes or cracks during this time, so as to prevent them from entering again.

Bats do not like fiberglass insulation, so if you do not have any installed in your attic then you may consider doing so if bats are a huge problem. You can also leave on the lights or use a fan in the area as this will deter bats also.

Some bird repellents will also work to keep bats away when it is applied to the area around entrances. Bats can be really destructive and annoying too. The only advantage of having a bat in your home is that they eat the other possible pests which infest your home.

Hiring expert services would help in solving the problem.

Find out how to How to get rid of ants too.
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Fire Safety and Protection

Fire safety is a particularly important consideration, since the roof is vulnerable to fire from overhead or airborne sources. The fire resistance of roofing materials is tested by the Underwriters’Laboratories, Inc. (UL), an independent, not-for-profit public safety testing laboratory. UL established the standard for the testing of roofing materials with the assistance of nationally recognized fire authorities.

Manufacturers voluntarily submit materials for testing. The materials then are classified and labeled according to the classes below. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a voluntary organization concerned with the development of consensus standards, testing procedures, and specifications.

Class A. The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing as per ASTM E-108. This class rating indicates that the roofing material is able to withstand severe exposure to fire that originates from sources outside the building.

Class B. This fire-resistance rating indicates that the roofing material is able to withstand moderate exposure to fire that originates from sources outside the building.

Class C. This fire-resistance rating indicates that the roofing material is able to withstand light exposure to fire that originates from sources outside the building.

Many communities require new roof coverings to meet at least the UL Class C standard. This requirement has the backing of nationally recognized authorities such as the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Some roofing materials, such as slate and clay tile, offer natural fire protection. Asphalt shingles are manufactured to meet the Class C standard or better. Readily combustible materials, such as wooden shingles, do not meet the UL standard unless they have been chemically treated for fire retardancy.

Wind Resistance

UL also tests shingle performance against high winds. To qualify for the UL wind-resistant label, shingles must withstand continuous test winds of at least 60 miles per hour for two hours without a shingle tab lifting. Wind-resistant shingles demonstrated their effectiveness under hurricane conditions during the winds brought to Florida in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew, which at the time was the worst hurricane ever recorded in the United States.

Self-sealing asphalt shingles that bear the UL wind-resistant label are manufactured with a factory-applied adhesive. Once the shingles are applied, the sun activates the preapplied thermoplastic sealant and each shingle is bonded to the one below it. Although self-sealers originally were developed specifically for high-wind areas, they are standard in most parts of the country today.

Estimating Life Expectancy

In addition to fire and wind ratings, roof coverings have a life expectancy. Manufacturers offer a guarantee or warranty for their products. For example, most of today’s asphalt shingles are designed to provide satisfactory service for 15 to 25 years.

Generally, the longer the life expectancy, the more expensive the shingle material. You might find, however, that a more expensive shingle is more economical in the long run because the cost of materials and labor is amortized over a longer period of time. Keep in mind that while the labor cost to apply the shingles varies with the product, it is the same whether the life expectancy of the shingle is 15 or 25 years.

Estimate the probable annual cost of a new roof by adding the cost of labor and materials and then dividing the total by the shingle’s design life. The formula for determining the annual cost of use is:

Total cost (material and labor)/design life = annual cost of use.
For more information just see interior architecture and interior decoration design.

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What is the lifespan of the average water heater? This is important information for homeowners to know. As their water heater gets older and begins to need part replacements, people want to know at what point replacing the parts is no longer cost effective. In general, based on a search of plumbing blog sites, most online plumbing experts describe the “average lifespan of a water heater” as somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-12 years, with variations. With that said, it is important to note that many plumbers take offense at the idea that a water heater has an average lifespan, especially if the figure will be used to determine when it is time to make a licensed Baltimore plumbers

On perusing through plumbing web sites, I noticed that a number of plumbers strongly recommended that owners go with the old heater as long as it holds out. Many people reported having heaters older than 20, 30 even 50 years old. Some of problems with older heaters involve corrosion. So while performance can be improved and leaks can be fixed with replacement parts, there is a danger that if corrosion is extensive the water heater will leak around the new part. Water heaters are more susceptible to corrosion than most plumbing appliances because they foster corrosion. Also, water heaters sometimes act as an electrical ground, and this stimulates corrosion.

Some reasonable indications for getting a new water heater include significant loss of hot water production capability, leaking around the plumbing fittings, obvious external signs of corrosion, and an age greater than 8 years, under these circumstances.

The bottom line, though, is if the heater begins to leak and water is dripping from the body than this is an indication of major corrosion and suggests the heater should be replaced.

Because of the danger of a heater bursting and causing a lot of damage from flooding, some plumbers will recommend replacing the heater as signs of corrosion mount, even though it still functions. Minor leaking is the herald to a more serious corrosion level that could cause the heater to burst.

This article was sponsored by A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore. The licensed Baltimore plumbers of A-1 are experienced in working with water heaters. If you live in the Baltimore Metro area and need work on your water heater they will be happy to be of assistance.

Pin hole leaks in copper pipes are not that common, but when they occur they are a costly problem. Just locating the leak can be troublesome, with the process often involving the removal of part of a wall or the ceiling. In the mean time, before the leak has been found, it can be spewing out water which is rotting wood in the frame of the house. And over time, the rot will lead to depreciation of the house, termites, mold and mildew, an increase in homeowner’s insurance premiums and visible damage.

When one leak is discovered, homeowners rightly worry that pipes may be leaking in other areas as well, or they may be more likely to develop leaks in the future. All in all, the prevalence of pin hole copper tubing leaks is trouble enough that at least two states, Maryland and Washington State, have formed task forces to study the problem.

Step one in the war against pinhole leaks is the process of defining just what they are. According to the Maryland Taskforce on pin hole leaks, the leak is a small breakthrough in the pipe from the inside out, which was proceeded by and caused by internal long standing pitting corrosion of the copper tube. There is currently a vast amount of copper plumbing tubing in homes, and the task force stated that discovering a way to recognize inner pipe corrosion before it results in a pin hole leak is an important priority.

The exact number of pin hole leaks in copper pipes is unknown. While the Maryland utility department has literally thousands of reports of leaks, they recognize that many people go straight to the plumber when they discover a hole, and as a result the utility department never hears about it.

According to the Washington DC sanitary department, most copper piping leaks develop in cold water pipes. The pipes most affected are ones traveling horizontally, and the ones that are installed in older homes, built before 1970. The report does not say why.

If you see signs of a hidden or obvious leak from a copper pipe, you should contact a plumber immediately. If you live in the Baltimore metropolitan area, contact A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore. The Baltimore plumbers of A-1 are experienced in fixing copper Pipe leaks, and will come right out to your house to help you.

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My guess is that you don’t know much about dust mites aside from they are small, unseen creatures that sicken you. crawl space moisture Perhaps someone in your family is allergic to them. what is a michigan basement Here is some background information on dust mites and how you can minimize them in your house. Dust mites don’t live in your air ducts, even though most people tend to focus there when attempting to remove them. They live in soft places, prefer higher humidity, and discharge a protein which causes an allergic reaction for many people. crawl space sump pump If you don’t have any reactions to dust mite proteins then reducing your exposure may not be a priority for you but these fundamental treatment steps should still be taken to reduce their presence in your home and affect on your life. If you need motivation to do a number of these steps you can see pictures of dust mites by doing a google image search. They’re coarse enough to scare anybody into a quick cleaning spree. Dust and vacuum your house on a frequent basis.

The more dirt you have, the more dust mites you have. Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity levels in your home as dust mites love high humid environments (anything over 70%). Wash your family’s bedding in hot water at least twice monthly, possibly weekly. Get machine washable plush toys if you have children, the fabric harbors dust mites. If you have someone allergic to dust mites, there are more intense fighting steps to take. Do your best to eliminate every cloth surface as they tend to harbor these creatures. Replace your carpets with wood or laminate flooring. Take away fabric covered furniture and change to wood or plastic pieces. Wrap your mattress, pillows, and box springs in zippered covers that are dust proof and allergen proof. You probably won’t totally eliminate dust mites, but you can go a long way toward reducing their numbers by maintaining a clean healthy living environment. Your family will thank you for it.

Most people do not recognize that one of the biggest places in a house to find dust mites is in the Crawl Space under the house. The crawl space is like party central to a dust mite. There is usually plenty of moisture there. So much so it is like having an unlimited supply of water bottles. Plus there is a lot of dirt there to roll around in. There is also plenty of food. People stock up all sorts of edible insect foods down there like sticks of wood and lumber, old furniture, old sleds, and old wooden handle tools. So what do you imagine dust mites ate before people showed up? That is correct, there were insects here on planet earth for millions of years before people arrived.

It has become more economic and less problematic to secure homes by utilizing wireless home security systems. Homeowners prefer them because they are simple for installation and performance. Hence, taking deterrent measures and putting in the proper home security system ensures that you are keeping and securing your home from thieves.

Every family wishes to protect their homes and lives against the threats of modern day culture. Since the criminal offense rate increases throughout many years it renders the fact of not remembering to lock your doorways and windows look silly. A large number of individuals have decided to supply home security systems to ensure their piece of mind. Nonetheless, many security system possessors don’t realize how revealed they are because they obtained the wrong house security system.

For anyone interested in supplying a home security system, this process can often become a little difficult simply thanks to the enormous number of alternatives. Plainly, everyone needs to find the most dependable company possible that ensures first-class protection but without paying a large sum of money.

Prior to purchasing any warning device system against intruders you have to make a decision on the sort of protection imposed. Usually, customers select a system that would warn the stealer from going into the house. A closed circuit camera is a good choice for anybody who is worried about his home being broken into.

Even burglar alarm systems created with primary features as a means of frightening someone off are faddy. These warning gimmicks send signals to a managing company, which informs the suitable emergency staff. The best thing with burglar alarm systems like this is that they can easily be installed by the house proprietor in very little time and they are not hard to operate.

A home security system installation is not an easy project, yet it can be dealt with by someone with the right DIY knowledge and abilities. It’s also something that is very important for your family’s security, and thus you will have to decide whether or not you need to bring in professionals into the project. Whatever your determination may be when it comes to launching your home security system, you’re constantly making the right choice by having a security system in your place and protecting your family.