Archive for the ‘Home Safety’ Category

Lead Paint Rule’s Opt-Out Provision Ends July 6

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

The EPA has gone forward with its proposal to eliminate a provision to its Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule that previously allowed owners of older homes to opt-out of the lead-safe work practices mandated by the rule if no children under six or pregnant women resided in their home. An amendment that makes this rule change official was published in the Federal Register on May 6, with an effective date of July 6. This means that after July 6, 2010, renovations in all 78 million pre-1978 homes could be subject to the new work practice standards as stipulated in the rule. This is despite EPA’s own estimates that a significantly smaller portion of homes — more like 38 million — still contain lead paint.

The new rules also require a post-renovation notification to be presented to the home owner. This means that the remodeler must give the property owner and/or residents a copy of the post-renovation checklist or similar form. Importantly, the EPA has also extended the expiration date for any certified renovator who completed his or her training before April 22, 2010. The new expiration date is July 1, 2015.

One more thing to keep in mind: the EPA has previously given notice that it is writing another rule to require more complex dust-wipe or clearance testing, effectively requiring remodelers to fill the role of lead-paint abatement workers. If approved, this rule would become effective in July 2011.

New Lead Paint Rules for Contractors

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Beginning Thursday, April 22, Earth Day, contractors working on homes built before 1978 must prove that they are following the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules regarding containment and cleanup of lead paint – or face fines of up to $37,500 a day.

The new regulation requires painters and renovation contractors to be trained and certified in EPA-approved lead-paint management methods.

The EPA estimates that the new procedures will add $8 to $167 to the average interior remodeling project. Contractors say the cost will be much more.

Source: Washington Post, Deborah k. Dietsch (04/17/2010)

Your Home’s Components Do Not Last Forever

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Many aspects of a home last little more than a decade. Home buyers should be especially vigilant about inspecting these household components because they have a relatively short lifespan, says the National Association of Home Builders.

  • Aluminum roof coating: 3-7 years
  • Enameled steel sinks: 5-7 years
  • Security systems: 5-10 years
  • Carpet: 8-10 years
  • Smoke detectors: fewer than 10 years
  • Faucets: 10-15 years
  • Garage door openers:10-15 years
  • Air conditioners: 10-15 years
  • Asphalt: 12-15 years
  • Termite-proofing during construction: 12 years

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/22/2010)

5 Home Remodeling Trends for 2010

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Remodeling and decorating trends in 2010 are likely to reflect the fact that many home owners are settling in for the long haul.

Here are some ideas for updating homes and gardens from decorators and leading real estate practitioners:

  • Environmentally sensitive furniture. Natural fibers, sustainable woods, and recycled products are key to attracting environmentally concerned buyers.
  • Classic neutral colors. Deep gray browns and gray blues, muted beige, and chalky white will be particularly popular shades, Pittsburgh Paints predicts.
  • Backyard gardens. First Lady Michelle Obama led the way in 2009 when she installed one at the White House.
  • Backyard living. Wood-deck additions offer an 80.6 percent payback, according to the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine and REALTOR® magazine. Simple fire pits and outdoor fireplaces also will be popular, trend-watchers say.
  • Made in America. As more people feel compelled to support local employment, U.S. manufactured products and antiques will become more popular, says Patricia Shackelford, author of design blog, Mrs. Blandings.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, Jean Patteson (12/26/2009) and Kansas City Star, Stacy Downs (12/27/2009)

Winter Home Maintenance Reminder

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

winter11As colder weather approaches, The B.O.L.D. Company want to remind you to take a few key steps to ensure that your home serves you well through the coming months. Please take time to check these items in and around your home and attend to any that need maintenance:

* Clean and test smoke alarms.

* Test and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.

* Change or clean the furnace filter.

* Operate the heating system. If service is needed, you can avoid “emergency” after-hours charges.

* Adjust registers and confirm that cold air returns are clear of furniture or draperies.

* Clean the humidifier and change the evaporator pad per manufacturer’s instructions.

* Adjust or replace weather-stripping on exterior doors as needed.

* Check the fit of exterior doors: thresholds are adjustable—use a quarter to turn the screws.

* Check caulking, inside and out, and touch up.

* Drain your sprinkler system.

* Remove hoses from exterior faucets. “Freeze-proof” faucets will suffer a broken water line if the water in the hose freezes and expands into the pipe.

* Inspect chimney and air intake for nests.

* Review safe fireplace operation. Provide professional cleaning at regular intervals.

* Check garage overhead door, tighten bolts as needed, and lubricate springs with motor oil. Have other repairs done by professionals.

* Clean gutters, check downspouts; confirm that splash blocks drain away from the building.

* Check the foundation, concrete, and yard for settling; fill in as needed for positive draining.

* Seal concrete surfaces.

* After snowfall, brush snow off of gutters and away from downspouts.

* Remove ice and snow from concrete as soon as possible; avoid using de-icing agents with damaging salts.

* On pleasant days, open windows to allow the house to “breathe”.

* Decorate safely for the holidays. Do not overload circuits or use worn extension cords.

If you have any questions, please refer to your Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines, or phone our office for information.

Difference Between GFCIs and AFCIs

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

ghcgelecgfciintSpecial circuit breakers in your home protect you and your family from fire, shock, and electrocution.

GFCIs

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are a special type of breaker used for circuits that supply bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, and outdoor outlets. If your power fails in just one of these areas, it probably means that a GFCI has been tripped. You can find GFCIs in either your circuit breaker panel or at outlets. If your home has GFCI circuit breakers, they’re located on your circuit breaker panel and have an extra button marked “test.” If your home has GFCI outlets, they look like ordinary outlets with the addition of two small buttons marked “test” and “reset.”

2bb7ec9b-ccbf-4165-a37b-d48fcdc740ca-GHCGElecGfciINL01GFCIs detect the slightest amount of unwanted electrical current flow and trip immediately, cutting power to the circuit and protecting the person using the outlet. Without GFCI protection, a person could be shocked or electrocuted.

One of the best ways to think about the difference between a normal circuit breaker and a GFCI is to remember that a normal circuit breaker protects your home, while a GFCI protects you.

AFCIs

In addition to GFCIs, some municipalities may require another type of electrical protection called Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs). While both AFCIs and GFCIs are important safety devices, they have different functions. AFCIs 891f30b6-5005-4ffe-b32d-5ff8655c0214-GHCGElecGfciINL02are intended to address fire hazards; GFCIs address shock hazards.

AFCIs are installed on circuits that service bedrooms. They detect dangerous arcing in a circuit, extension cord, or appliance that could cause a fire. Unwanted arcing typically occurs because of loose connections along the circuit, cords pinched by furniture, and cables in contact with vibrating machinery. When arcing is detected, the AFCI trips immediately, cutting electricity to the circuit. Conventional circuit breakers respond only to short circuits and overloads, not to unwanted arcing. If your home has AFCIs, they’re located on your circuit breaker panel and have an extra button marked “test,” making them look similar to GFCI circuit breakers.

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Wall Oven Recall

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

GE Profile and Monogram along with Kenmore wall ovens manufactured between October 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003 may have a door latching problem. Read below to get the details and check your model.

GE Recall Hotline: 888-569-1588

Recall to Inspect and Repair Certain GE Wall Ovens

Dear Customer:

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the General Electric Company (GE) is announcing a recall to inspect and repair certain GE®, GE ProfileTM, Monogram® ane Kenmore® wall ovens. According to GE’s records, you have sold some of these products. Please read this Notice carefully and call the GE Hotline if you have records of any persons to whom these ovens were sold.

This recall includes 244,000 wall ovens manufactured from October 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003. The affected models are included in the attached list of models and serial numbers.

An incorrectly re-attached wall oven door will not open into the flat position. As a result the oven rack placed in the lowest position in the oven cannot be extended fully. Correctly and incorrectly re-attached oven doors are shown in the attached guide. “Is My Wall Oven Door Re-Attached Correctly?”

The extreme heat used in the self-clean cycle can escape if the oven door is incorrectly re-attached and damage or ignite adjacent kitchen cabinets. If the oven door is re-attached incorrectly the consumer should not use the self-clean cycle and call GE for a free repair. The consumer may continue to use normal baking or broiling functions in your oven until any needed repair is completed.

GE is aware of twenty-eight incidents in which adjacent kitchen cabinets may have been damaged due to improperly re-attached wall oven doors. There have been no reported injuries.

Please notify us if you have any information on the current identity of the current owners of these ovens, so we can send this Notice to them. Please call 1-888-569-1588 between 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Eastern time.

Affected Modles:

Brand

Model:

Serial Number Begins With:

GE/Profile

JCT915, JT912, JT915, JT952, TD, VD,ZD

JT955, JT965, JT980*, JTP20,

JTP25, JTP28, JTP48, JTP50, AF, DF, FF, OF, HF, LF, MF, RF, SF, TF, VF, ZF

JTP86

Monogram

ZET3058, ZET938, ZET958

Kenmore

4771,4775,4781,4904,4905, 2T, 2V, 2Z

(All model numbers

4923*

start with 911.)

3A, 3D, 3F, 30, 3H, 3L, 3M, 3R, 3S, 3T, 3V, 3Z

* Lower oven only

Refrigerator Recall

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Refrigerators sold by Maytag and affiliate companies between January 2001 and January 2004 are being recalled. Check below to see if you own one of these.

Maytag

March 10 2009

Dear Valued Trade Customer:

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), May tag Corporation is voluntarily recalling about 1.6 million Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side-by-side and top freezer refrigerators.

An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. May tag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

We are asking for your help in locating sales information for consumers who purchased an affected refrigerator. Your cooperation is essential for us to reach potentially at-risk consumers.

The affected units were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004 for between $350 and $1600. They were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel and have model and serial numbers with the following combinations:

Serial Numbers ENDING with AND Model Numbers BEGINNING with
Side-by-Side AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, CA, ARS, CS, JC, JS, MS, Ml, PS
Refrigerators CC, CE, CG, CJ, CL, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU,

ZW,ZY,ZZ

Top Freezer AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, ZK, AT, CT, MT, PT
Refrigerators lM, lQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ

NOTE: Refrigerators wifh freezers on the bottom are not included in this recall.

For your convenience, we have developed an online tool that will allow you to record and transmit your. consumer information directly to May tag Corporation through a secure Internet connection. You may access the tool by visiting http://registration.whirlpoolcorp.com/refrigeratortp/default2.asp. First, create a profile and log in to the site. Next, select the tab called “Enter Consumer Data (Web Form)” or “Upload Data File.” You will find detailed instructions and examples of how to use the tool. You may also fax your consumer data to Maytag Corporation at 1-866-231-1478 or email ittoCLE_Trade_Customer@Maytag.com.

In accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Act, you are required to respond to this request. If you have questions or are having difficulties finding this data, please contact the Maytag Recall Team at 1-817-329-3304.

How to Put Out a Grease Fire on Your Stove

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

This is a dramatic video (30-second) about how to deal with a common kitchen fire … oil in a frying pan. Read the following introduction, then watch the show … it’s a real eye-opener and life saver!!

At the Fire Fighting Training school they would demonstrate this with a deep fat fryer set on the fire field. An instructor would don a fire suit, and using an 8 oz cup at the end of a 10 foot pole toss water onto the grease fire. The results got the attention of the students.

The water, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated. The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out. On the open field, it became a thirty foot high fireball that resembled a nuclear blast. Inside the confines of a kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room.

Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One cup creates the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite. This is a powerful message—-watch the video and don’t forget what you see.

Share this message with your entire family. It could save their life!

Click for Video about GREASE FIRE!