FLOODING and MOLD PREVENTION TIPS

With tri-state area experiencing widespread flooding and local rivers predicted to rise through the weekend, please consider an interview offering  “SEVEN HOME FLOOD AND MOLD PREVENTION TIPS ,” with Mike Dunphy, Editor in Chief  and Publisher of Holmesmagazine.

Dunphy has over 20+ years experience as a professional contractor and recently launched the shelter publication Holmes: The Magazine To Make It Right, with Mike Holmes, America’s Most Trusted Contractor and star of “Holmes on Homes” and “Holmes Inspection,” as seen on HGTV.

IMMEDIATE MUSTS:

1. Unplug all electrical appliances before the water enters to prevent electrical fires.
2.  When using a sump pump, make sure no debris surrounds it that can get sucked in, clog it, and prevent the pump from keeping up with the rising water.
3. Ensure the pump hose removing the flood water is discharging that water at least 16 feet away from the house – otherwise that water will just come right back into the home.
4. During flood cleanup, pull back or remove any item that can retain moisture like carpeting to discourage mold growth.
5. Turn on the heat in your basement to dry out any excess moisture to help prevent mold.

TO PREVENT FUTURE FLOODING:

1. Ensure your home’s lawn slopes AWAY from the house!  Ground sloping towards the home channels water right into it. If this is an issue, have a contractor or landscaper re-grade the  property.
2. Check your foundation annually to ensure that moisture is not penetrating the house --  and repair it BEFORE an emergency situation arises.

HOLMES: The Magazine to Make it Right - HOLMES: The Magazine to Make it Right is the recently launched shelter publication by Mike Holmes, the star of “Holmes on Homes” as seen on HGTV. Distributed by Time Warner Retail, HOLMES: The Magazine to Make it Right is designed to serve as a manual for every homeowner, man or woman. Covering an array of home renovation related topics, this publication strives to “make it better” by “building it right the first time.” The first issue hit stands in the US in November 2010 and will soon be introduced in the United Kingdom and Australia. (www.holmesmagazine.com)

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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5 Essential Tips For Surviving a Winter Storm

5 Essential Tips For Surviving a Winter Storm

www.eHow.com

1. Prepare your home

Shut all of your windows and exterior doors. Insulate all interior water pipes with a heavy foam wrap or insulation to stop the potential of freezing. Ensure flashlights have batteries, cellular phones are completely charged, and candles are available.

2. Have a blizzard kit handy

Keep an emergency blizzard kit on-hand at all times. Have it loaded with non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, batteries, blankets, warm clothing and a first-aid kit. Stock enough supplies to last each family member a few days. Store the kit in a safe, accessible area of the house.

3. Plan for power outages

Plan for an alternate source of heat if you rely on electricity for heating and cooking. Power outages are very common during blizzards and may last for a few days. Backup generators are great for powering a few appliances, but make sure you have enough gas to run it.

4. Prepare your car

Keep a blanket, water, food, a shovel and even a little bit of sand in your car at all times. The shovel and sand will be essential if you get stuck in the snow. The blanket, food and water will sustain you until help arrives.

5. Get ready to dig

Gather tools like shovels, snow blowers and other equipment used for snow removal. Leave them inside your garage or back door so you have access to them after the blizzard.  If they must be stored outside, make sure they are secured to withstand high winds. 

Content from www.eHow.com, the leading online destination for practical, trusted advice and know-how. The site offers informational articles and videos spanning a variety of topics including Home, Food, Health, Money, Style, Family, and more.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. 

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New Tips article on troubleshooting home appliances

Most home appliances take AC voltage, supplied to your house from the utility company, and use it to make heat, light, turn a motor or, commonly, all three at the same time. But when the appliance stops functioning, a logical approach to troubleshooting comes in handy.  The most common problems with household appliances are mechanical in nature: a broken or worn out component (such as a switch or motor), a loose wire, or a bad connection.

Troubleshooting appliances comes down to checking for proper voltage at each circuit component, typically 110 to 120 volts AC, as well as checking the integrity of components and connections using functions found on Amprobe multimeters.   

Step by Step Troubleshooting:

1.      Check the AC supply voltage:

To measure the AC supply voltage at a receptacle, first set the DMM (digital multimeter) function switch to ac volts and, if using a manual ranging model, select a range greater than the voltage you expect to measure (greater than 120 volts).  If using an auto-ranging meter, the meter will automatically select the most appropriate range.  Next, connect the test leads to the volts input and common jacks on the meter.

Carefully, insert one probe of the DMM in one slot of the receptacle, and the other probe in the other slot of the receptacle. You should read about 120 volts.  The power cord from the appliance usually has three wires going to the plug: black, white, and green. Black is usually the “hot” wire, white is usually “neutral”, and the green wire should be ground.

If you measure no voltage, check to make sure the circuit breaker or switch controlling the receptacle is ON.  If voltage is detected at the receptacle, you could have a problem in the power cord.  That will be your next test.

2.      Check The Power Cord:

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Over time, and sometimes through accidents or flexing, the internal conductor in the power cord can break while appearing perfectly normal on the outside. To check a power cord, first disconnect it from the outlet.  For this next part, you will need to gain access to the internal connections on your appliance.

Set your DMM to the resistance or “Ohms” function and measure the resistance between each prong of the plug and the point where the power cord connects to the appliance. The flat, narrow blade on the plug should be connected to the black wire. The flat, wide blade goes to the white wire. The round pin connects to the green wire.

A good power cord will have less than one ohm of resistance from the plug to the end of each wire. Anything higher than one ohm may indicate a cord that is starting to break down and could become overheated when in use. Replace the entire power cord if any wire shows high resistance or “OL” is displayed on the meter.

3. Check the Current Draw:

Current draw is measured in one of two ways: using a clamp accessory attached to your DMM, or using a clamp meter.

To make a current measurement with a clamp accessory, insert the clamp leads into the current jack and common jack of the DMM, and set the DMM to the AC mA range. Clamp the jaw around one conductor (wire) of the circuit to be measured. The current clamp will act as a step down transformer, taking the higher current consumed by the appliance and transferring it to a much smaller current (usually 1000 to 1) which the DMM can handle.   Be careful not to clamp the jaw around both conductors, this will cancel the signal showing zero current.

To make a current measurement with a clamp meter, select the AC current function and clamp the jaws around one conductor. The display will show the current being measured.

4. Checking Switches:

You can check switches in a couple of ways. If the appliance is plugged in, you can check both the input side and output side of the switch for voltage.

With the leads plugged into the volts and common inputs, set the DMM to the AC voltage function. Touch one probe to ground (the metal frame of the appliance) or to the neutral connector on the power cord (the white wire). Carefully touch the other probe to the connectors on the switch, first one side, then the other. With the switch in the “ON” position, the voltage should be present on both input and output lugs.

Another way is to check the continuity through the switch. For this test, remove power from the switch first by unplugging the appliance.

Next, isolate the switch by removing the wire or wires from one side of the switch.

Then, set the DMM to the continuity function and place one lead of DMM on the input lug of the switch and the other lead on the output lug of the switch. When the switch is on, the DMM should sound the audible continuity signal and read about zero ohms. With the switch in the off position, the audible tone should stop and the DMM will display “OL.”   If it doesn’t, you have found your problem; a defective switch.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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