Archive for the ‘Fall’ Category
Posted by Lindsey Richardt on October 14th, 2011
It has been unusually warm for October, but the brisk night air it is sure sign that summer is long gone. Though you may not have turned the heat on yet, it is coming. Take an afternoon to prepare yourself and your home for the long winter months by checking your windows and doors for air leaks, making sure the gutters are clean after the leaves have fallen and clearing out the junk that may have piled too closely to your furnace since your last “Spring Cleaning”.
If you do have older windows it is no secret that you are potentially tossing money away with all of the air that is coming and going from your windows. Now is the time to get the caulk out and look for cracks, holes or gaps in your windows and seal them up. Goodhousekeeping.com suggested inserting a dollar bill in the gaps around your window. If the dollar bill can slip through, you know air can also. Use rope caulk for easy application and easy removal. You can also consider covering the inside of the window with plastic or even place insulated strips around the window.
Gutter cleaning is a necessary evil this time of year. The leaves will be steadily falling for some time and as autumn turns to winter, moisture is surely on its way. For one thing, water does not do good things to your home, which is why gutters were created to carry the water away from the home. If these gutters are clogged, moisture will build up and get underneath your roof. Now just imagine this happening when the temperatures fall and everything begins to freeze. You are in a load of trouble then because moisture will just continue to run in a cycle: build up, freeze, melt and repeat. By spring time you may be forced to think about replacing or repairing your roof, soffit, fascia or gutters.
It is advised to have your furnace maintained by a professional to keep it running longer and more smoothly. And since the furnace guy is stopping by it may be a good time to clean out the area around the furnace. Be especially aware of flammable items that may be near your furnace such as paint, chemicals or papers. Keep the area clean and clear to prevent a house fire.
Autumn maintenance is fairly simple to perform; the difficult part is making time in your schedule to actually do the work. Unique Home Solutions has a handyman service available. For a consultation with an experienced Service Technician, please call us at 1-800-800-1971.
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Posted by Greg McMullen on October 3rd, 2011
Take a good look at your home this autumn. Do you notice any damage on the west side of your home that is not visible any where else?
The west side of your home is extremely vulnerable to weather and sun damage. Why? Well, put simply it’s because of the weather patterns and the setting sun. The sun can cause paint to dry out and crack, while also causing other siding materials to fade. You may also notice cracks in your home’s foundation or brick from water getting into the porous concrete or brick and freezing during the colder months. However, it’s not just the exterior of your home that you need to worry about.
East and West facing windows get an equal share of sun exposure time due to the sun rising and setting. Therefore it is important to have blinds or curtains to keep closed when the sun is beaming in. Using these preventative measures, you can increase the life span and condition of your furniture, carpet or other flooring since the sun can cause materials to fade.
Make sure to inspect your home for damage every few months and call a professional to help you remedy any issues. Also, if you have any questions that you’d like answered email us at AskUnique@uniquehomesolutions.org.
Posted by Lindsey Richardt on September 30th, 2011
As the temperature cools, many homeowners notice water in the form of condensation on their windows. This is because when air is warm it holds more moisture; you can notice this in the form of humidity in the summer. Then when the warm air cools, it contracts releasing this moisture in the form of condensation.
Exterior condensation occurs typically when a cool night follows a warmer day; which we are experiencing now in the autumn. The warm air holds moisture, comes into contact with the cool window surface which causes the air to contract, which then leads to window condensation.
Interior condensation happens when you are performing some of your most common daily activities—such as cooking, showering, or even breathing. Whenever there is humidity in the home, it turns into condensation when it makes contact with the coldest area of the wall which is typically the window. The warmer the air, the more moisture it may retain; therefore when the warm air touches the cool window surface it will turn into condensation.
Condensation is a problem because moisture can turn into mildew or mold and can rot windows if they are made of wood. To prevent exterior condensation replace your windows with a glass package that includes Low-E and inert gas fill technology. These windows keep the glass surface temperatures higher, reducing the changes of condensation. To prevent interior condensation, keep a vent on during cooking, showering, using the fire place or other heating units. Also try to reduce the type of cooking that produces a large amount of steam and keep the bath vent running 15 minutes longer than the shower.
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Posted by Lindsey Richardt on September 28th, 2011
According to the National Fire Protection Association there are between 350,000 and 400,000 house fires in the U.S. every year which results in almost $8 billion in annual damages.
As an employee owned and operated company, we are well aware that our customer’s well-being is our livelihood. In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, we would like to keep our friends and neighbors aware of the dangers of common household habits that each of us need to pay closer attention to.
The NFPA listed some of the most common ways a house fire can start, and we have added a few tips for preventing these occurrences:
- Cooking – About 40% of all house fires are caused by cooking related incidents. Many times home owners leave the stove unattended; liquid can boil over, burners can be left on, or family members can accidently place a flammable object on the stove. Household rules need to be set so that everyone is aware of what is going on with the stove during normal cooking hours. It is also a good idea to keep objects which are flammable at least three feet away from any burning device.
- Kids playing with fire – Many children are intrigued by fire and left to their own accord they can be found playing with matches or a lighter. If they are uneducated about the risks of fire, they will not comprehend the danger of what they are doing. Teach your children the dangers of fire.
- Smoking – The NFRA reported that in 2008, 680 people died and 1,520 people were injured in a smoking related fire. Out of those who passed away, 25 percent of them were non smokers. The best household rule would be to ask smokers to go outside. Otherwise make sure you and your family members do not light a cigarette near bed time or if they feel that they may doze off.
- Heating – Furnaces malfunctioning and small space heaters being used incorrectly are a common cause of heating related fires. It is very important to have furnaces serviced annually by professionals. If you decide to use a space heater read the directions. If you catch a friend or family member misusing it, step in and stop it before it gets dangerous. Again, it is a good idea to keep flammable objects at least three feet away from any burning devices.
- Electrical – In 2007, electrical fires resulted in 270 civilian deaths, 1,050 civilian fire injuries, and $663 million in direct property damage. Faulty wires and overloaded circuits are common causes for this type of house fire. It is a good idea to have a professional electrician check your home’s wiring if you have not done so, and especially prior to purchasing a home.
Always keep an eye out for other dangers around the home such as candles, fireplaces, appliances, etc. For more educational resources, check out the National Fire Protection Association Website
Photo Courtesy of Pixomar and FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Unique Home Solutions is Indiana's trusted home remodeler, our services include replacement windows, vinyl siding replacement, attic insulation, exterior doors, gutter protection, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling and basement waterproofing. We serve all of Central Indiana, including Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, Lafayette, Carmel, Terre Haute, Columbus, West Lafayette, Anderson, Kokomo, Noblesville, & Richmond, IN. We offer
vinyl replacement windows,
vinyl siding,
metal roofing,
shingle roofing,
bathroom remodels,
kitchen remodels,
basement waterproofing,
replacement doors,
gutters, and
insulation.
Unique Home Solutions Services the Following Areas of Central Indiana: Alexandria, Anderson, Arlington, Austin, Avon, Batesville, Bedford, Beech Grove, Bloomington, Brazil, Brookville, Brownsburg, Cambridge City, Camby, Carmel, Centerville, Cloverdale, Comiskey, Coatesville, Columbus, Connersville, Crawfordsville, Crothersville, Danville, Delphi, Denver, Edinburgh, Elwood, Falmouth, Fairmount, Fishers, Frankfort, Franklin, Freedom, French Lick, Gas City, Greensburg, Greenfield, Greentown, Greenwood, Hagerstown, Hartford City, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Laurel, Lebanon, Lewisville, Liberty, Linton, Logansport, Loogootee, Losantville, Lyons, Madison, Marion, Middletown, Milan, Mitchell, Montecello, Mooresville, Muncie, Nashville, New Castle, New Palestine, North Vernon, Oolitic, Orleans, Owensburg, Paoli, Plainfield, Pekin, Peru, Portland, Richmond, Rockville, Rosedale, Rushville, Salem, Scipio, Scottsburg, Seymour, Shelbyville, Sheridan, Sillivan, Spencer, Straughn, Terre Haute, Trafalgar, Union City, Veedersburg, Westfield, West Lafayette, Whiteland, Williamsburg, Williamsport, Winchester, Worthingon, Yorktown, Zionsville
