Category: Homeowner Tips

In the last blog we shared 6 tips for spring-cleaning and safeguarding your yard and home exteriors.

This month, we’ve got 6 more tips just for the interiors of your home.

By taking the time to thoroughly clean and inspect your home – especially with these 6 pointers – you’ll have a shiny, fresh, and SAFE place to enjoy during Georgia’s beautiful spring and summer seasons.

1. Be aware of your security system when you’re redecorating.

Does your spring to-do list include a new big-screen TV or furniture purchase? Re-arranging or changing furniture and appliances may cause a change in the efficiency of your security system. Make sure that when you re-decorate, your security cameras are not blocked and your motion detector sensors are clear.

2. Check your window locks.

Spring is a good time to clean the interior and exterior glass—it’s safer when you can see more clearly! It’s also the perfect time to open and close every window and make sure the locks and seals are properly securing the window. If any of the locks seem loose, tighten or replace them. It’s also a good time to install inexpensive window pins. They’re available at any home improvement store, and are easy to operate—just pull the pin out to unlock and open the window.

3. Check batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you read this tip a lot when you’re scanning articles about home security and maintenance, it’s for a good reason. These detectors could mean the difference between life and death. According to the Consumer Products Safety Division, two-thirds of all home fires occurred in residences without working smoke detectors. It’s also a good time to test your smoke alarms.

4. Clean your light fixtures.

Not only will your home look brighter, but you’ll also see better—and that’s a big safety plus! Dust those hard-to-reach chandeliers and ceiling fans thoroughly. An accumulation of dust and dirt can cause operating issues, which could lead to big trouble if there’s a short-circuit in the wiring. One spark could start a fire!

5. Clean out your fireplace.

If you’ve got a wood-burning fireplace in your home, it’s time to call in a chimney expert to make sure the flue is clear and there’s no creosote buildup. Discard any ash, clean the grate and surrounding areas, and close the flue. A clean fireplace will freshen the air in your home.

6. Clean around your refrigerator and washer-dryer.

Spring is a great time to pull your fridge out from the wall and give the floor behind it and around it a good cleaning. Sweep, wipe and mop as much as you can. Take a brush/duster specifically designed to clean the coils in major appliances and give it a good deep-cleaning. The amount of dust that gets into the bottom of a refrigerator is astounding. And when you’re doing the same to your washer-dryer combo, use that brush to clean out the dryer vent. Make sure you’re in the habit of cleaning your lint screen after every time you run your dryer. Remember, anywhere you’ve got dust and major electrical equipment, you’ve got the potential for a fire!

Before summer vacation explodes upon us, it’s time for all you Georgia homeowners – weekend warriors – to do some home improvements that will help make your dwelling more secure.

Exterior maintenance goes hand-in-hand with home security. Here are six must-do tasks to tackle this Saturday!

Even if it’s not quite warm enough in Georgia to get the A/C cranked up, it’s a good idea to do a quick visual inspection of your units. Perform basic service and replace the filters. It’s not too early to call in an expert to check the performance and parts of your air conditioner, either. An A/C unit that’s on the fritz can mean comfort and safety issues for everyone in the home.

1. Do Basic Landscape Maintenance.

Winter takes a toll on Georgia yards. Remove dead shrubs and trees. Clear out fallen debris and branches. You don’t want to leave any overgrown areas near the home that could provide cover for prowlers.

2. Inspect Your Tools and Tool Storage.

Pull out your yard toys and make sure they are in good working order. Ensure that the gasoline that powers them is stored properly – you don’t want a yard fire ruining your summer! Make sure the doors and locks for exterior storage sheds, outbuildings basements, and garages are not rusted or broken. Make repairs as necessary. Broken locks and yard tools are an easy mark for burglars!

3. Check on Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures.

Turn on your outdoor faucets and pipes. Do any of them drip or leak? Tighten them up. Leaking water can weaken exterior walls, too. If you’ve got a leak anywhere in your home – especially in your roof or your interior ceilings& – you’ve got a potentially serious security issue

4. Take a Walk at Night to Check Your Lights.

Stroll around your home at nightfall. Look up at your security lights on your roofline, the corners, and especially the lights on your entrances, front door, and driveway. Make sure all of them are clean of debris and dirt and have working bulbs. Pay special attention to your exterior motion sensor lights – make sure they’re coming on and off like they’re supposed to do! Motion sensors are an important part of your home’s security

5. Examine Your Door and Window Frames.

Winter weather can take a toll on the detailing around doors and windows, making the frames vulnerable to burglars using tools to break into a home. Get them replaced if they’re rotted or damaged in any way.

6. Protect It.

Now that you’ve read about why home maintenance is essential to keeping your home secure, why not give it the ultimate level of safety?

An EMC Security monitoring system can help you keep track of your home’s interior and exterior spaces with a touch of your smart phone. One low price per month, with no contract, ensures that your home is protected with and our 24/7 professional monitoring.

Call us at 770-963-0305.

Get an Instant Quote

In the warm weather months, many Saturday mornings in Atlanta are heralded with the drone of the lawnmower. How many of these lawnmower owners have taken the time to make sure their machine has been stored safely? And how many know the fire hazards surrounding lawnmower storage and repair? Be informed! Here’s what you need to know about storage, handling the gasoline, and operating your lawnmower safely this spring.

Before the first mow:

1. If you don’t do maintenance yourself, take your lawnmower to a shop for tune-ups and repairs.
2. Make sure the blades are sharp and not damaged.
3. Make sure the blade guards are in place
4. Make sure your lawn is dry before mowing. Damp grass can damage the mower.
5. Check the gas and oil. If there is gasoline left over from last summer and you didn’t use a fuel stabilizer, it will need to be changed.
6. Make sure the emergency shut off valve is working and not damaged.
7. Check the wheels and make sure they roll easily and aren’t loose enough to come off while you’re mowing.
8. Replace the fuel line at least every other year to prevent the hazard caused by rotten fuel lines leaking or sending rubber bits into the carburetor.

While you mow:

1. If the blade or grasses chute needs to be cleaned, stop the mower engine. Never adjust, clear obstructions, or place any part of your body under a running lawn mower.
2. Disconnect the spark plug before reaching under the mower or before turning it up to look under it.
3. Don’t use the trick of taping the shut off handle down so you can run the mower without holding it. You’ll lose control of your mower.
4. Cut across hills and slopes, not up and down.
5. If you need to add gas in the middle of a mow, stop the lawnmower and let it cool for at least 20 minutes—longer is preferable. A hot engine can ignite the gas fumes or any gasoline that spills.
6. Empty the grass catcher device often so the mower won’t tip over—with you!
7. Watch your oil level. If the level of your gas tank drops while the engine is at rest or you see the level of your engine oil has risen, or if you smell gas on your dipstick, do not use the machine until it can be repaired.
8. If your engine spews liquid out of the muffler at startup, or begins to falter or smoke when running, your carburetor may have failed and needs to be inspected or repaired. If the gas has mixed with the oil, you may think it is just oil leaking, but it can be the oil and gas has mixed. Do not use until you’ve’ identified and corrected the problem.

Cleanup:

1. Allow the mower to cool for at least 20 minutes. Take this time to rake or clean up the yard.
2. After disconnecting the spark plug wire, clean off any buildup of dirt or grass from the mower. It only gets harder to do that later.
3. Once the mower is cooled, fill the oil and gas levels to the recommended marks.
4. Make sure you close the lid tightly on the gas can before you put it away.

Safe Storage between uses, and in the off-season:

1. Don’t store gas or other flammables in a storage shed that’s connected to your house.
2. Remove old fuel from the gas tank.
3. Drain the carburetor fuel bowl.
4. Disconnect the battery.
5. Change the oil.
6. Read the owner’s manual for your brand’s exact recommendations.
7. Add fuel stabilizer to your gas can at each fill up at the gas station. It prevents water from forming in the gasoline.
8. Smell for fresh gasoline. If you smell fresh gas on your machine or storage area, roll the machine outside. Empty the gas, or call a pro for service.
9. If you suspect any problems with your lawnmower, or you smell gas after using it, do not store it indoors. Call an expert for help.
10. Call EMC Security to make sure your home is protected with fire detection devices.