Calcium Magnesium Acetate won't put pock marks in your concrete steps, walkway or driveway. It won't bother pets, track in on your carpet nor stain as much as good old table salt, Sodium Chloride will. Click on image for link. #safety #concrete #popular

This photo shows security film on a bathroom window. Before the invention of the film the glass within 18 inches of the floor, or over bathtubs had to be tempered. Also any bars on windows need to be able to be opened from the inside. See a lot of this in DC. But this new film is remarkable. Click on image for link. #exterior #safety

Current code recommends Ground Fault Circuit Interupters, in basements, garages, outside and within 6 feet of water inside. They are easy to update, Beware of the ones with "safety" covers that are "tamper resistant" because these commonly get jammed and may lead to more serious damage to the wiring or encourage alcoholism. This model actually sings when tripped, making it much easier to figure out which other receptacles are connected to it. One of these can be connecte

Most of us are more worried about waistline expansion than that of our water. Have I said before that home inspection is a lot like medicine? You are going to have different valid opinions, much is based on the condition of the particular patient and accepted practice will change over time, especially with new procedures. There are some hard facts that won't change: in this instance, however. 1) Water expands when heated; and, 2) Water is heavy. These expansion tanks hav

Radon is a decay product of Uranium, which has 92 protons. Lose six and you get Radon. Lose four more and you quit with Lead (82). Radon (86) decays into Polonium with 84 protons. Polonium is what Marie Curie found in pitch blend, she named it after her native Poland, but her exposure to it gave her leukemia and killed her... after she was the first to ever get a Nobel in Chemistry and Physics! Polonium releases alpha particles, two protons and two neutrons, a Helium nuc

Video doorbell can be operated from anywhere with your smartphone! Not home? Say you can't come to the door now because the pitbulls are ornery! Click here for link! #detectors #safety

This system costs $15 a month...that's it! No wires, total control from your phone. SimpliSafe. Click on image for link. #detectors #safety

Click on image for Wired's take on five new kinds of smart locks, so you can key in on other, more important things in your life. Here's an updated list of options. #safety

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PHOTOELECTRIC SENSOR. LOOK FOR A "P" ON THE PACKAGE. Smoke detectors are now recommended in each bedroom, hallway and each floor. They are to be placed not less than 4 nor more than 12 inches from a corner (presumably because smoke adheres to walls as it rises). Combination smoke/CO detectors are now available. Note also continunous radon detectors can be purchased (see previous post on this blog). Now all we need are detectors that will beep right

Those springs that run perpedicular to your garage door track can wear out and break and go through the rear garage wall. So get some of these and park easy! Click on image to buy. Find instructions on You Tube. #safety

Go outside right now and check to see how your stairs are attached to your deck! I just inspected a set that was 18 feet long and was only attached with a couple nails into railing posts! In the graphic above, notice the lovely 4 by 6 bolted to the stair stringers and then to the deck joist.... How about those lovely straps! Finally, with a really long staircase why not put in two posts in the middle to reduce strain at the top and give you some assurance that heaven can wa

This device uses your home wifi to call you if your ordinary detectors start beeping! Other systems require their own wireless devices at a significantly higher cost! Just plug it in and download the app! Click on image for link. #detectors #safety

Paints used before 1978 may have lead in them. If it's not pealing and won't be disturbed then it's no problem. However, if you are going to renovate, workers will have to wear bunny suits and respirators. This inexpensive test gives instant results. Click on image for link. #detectors #safety

Mold is everywhere! Get those towels totally dry! Spray bleach down the overflow holes in your sinks! Use bleach spray or Softscrub with bleach on your tubs every week! Most of all, keep that fresh air coming in! It's the airborne spores that get you...if they are sucked outside they can't grow more mold nor harm you presently. These kits promise results that previously required a sample be sent to a lab, in five minutes! Click on image for link. #mold #detectors #safety

Who doesn't love data? These monitors help you stay in control of your family's safety! Radon amelioration is all about improving venitilation. There are many benefits of improving air flow in your basement and/or crawlspace... getting rid of moisture, spores, combustion materials and radon. Be sure to check out the fans designed for this on previous blog posts at this site. For radon, usually a vent pipe is placed in the sump and a fan run continuously. Sometimes, just