As spring approaches, it’s the time of the year where home improvement projects begin and spring cleaning is a must.
We spoke with Ken Turnage of K2GC in Antioch who specialize in home remodels and insurance repair who offered some advice this spring to ensure your home is safe.
Turnage says he sees a lot of homes damaged this time of year caused by fire and water. A lot of the repairs he does could have been prevented with a little common sense.
For example, garage fires sometimes starts because people pack their garages full of items. He explains that often time’s people place combustible materials (paper bags, cardboard, wrapping paper) next to the water heater which is the last place you should place those items. He says that is a bad idea because a quick burst in the system could catch your home on fire—he says be especially careful if you have an older system.
“Combustible material next to a pilot light is a bad idea,” says Turnage. “The area should be clean and free of anything that could catch fire. Another tip is different materials in the garage could combust if they are next to one another for long periods of time with direct sunlight shining through the window of a garage. If it hits the same spot every day, it could catch fire.”
Turnage also noted that he sees one fire every year, for one reason or another, started from an electric blanket because an animal peed on it when it was on. He says animals and electric blankets are not a good mix.
Turnage also encouraged being responsible when barbequing. He says be sure briquettes are completely out before throwing them into the garbage.
“Often time’s fires start because people throw their embers away briquettes away before they are completely cool. If they smolder in a garbage can or on the side of the house, it could start an outside fire which then could expand into someone’s attic if not caught quickly enough. We see this many times a year where it goes up the side of a house and into the attic vent and soon the roof is gone,” explained Turnage. “The solution is really easy, soak them before you dump them or let them sit for 24-hours.”
In the springtime, Turnage notes that water damage is another big problem homeowners are faced with. If a homeowner is not paying attention, their sprinklers may be allowing water to hit their home for long periods of time.
“We see a lot of dry rot from sprinklers because of misappropriated sprinkler heads,” says Turnage. “I encourage everyone in a home to go around checking your sprinkler heads before you use them in the spring.”
Turnage also noted that along with sprinklers, any homeowner who has added an attachment that it needs to also be checked and inspected because the last thing a homeowner wants is water getting under a home.
Not all is doom and gloom with maintenance on a home, Turnage says this is the time of the year where homeowners are planning improvements to a home. From adding patio covers, exterior kitchens to gazebos, this is the time of year where people are thinking about outdoor living with warmer weather approaching.
“This is the time of year for summer fun projects,” explains Turnage. “These projects add value to a home and they are great. Just have fun and be safe while using some common sense.”
Turnage provided the following tips to get your home ready for a safe and playful summer.
Safety Tips
- Check you smoke detector batteries
- If you don’t have one install a carbon monoxide detector
- Check your exterior walkways for displacement or trip hazards
- Make sure any standing water features are treated to minimize mosquitoes
- Exposed exterior gas lines to BBQs, use dish soap and put it on any unions, elbows our couplers. Then turn the gas on, pressurize the line and carefully looking at each connection if you see any bubbles turn the gas off because there is leak.
- Turn on your sprinkler system to make sure your heads are pointed in the correct direction. Sprinkler water is the number 1 cause of exterior dry rot
Energy Tips
- Change your heat and air filters
- If you are going to use your sprinklers set each station for 5 minutes every other day
- During the day turn off all the lights, then look at all exterior doors to see if light is coming through the weather stripping. Houses shift during the winter.
- Make sure you switch ceiling fans to summer direction (yes there is one) your ceiling fan can go 2 directions.
- Check dry vent for lint build up. This is not the filter it is actually behind the dryer where the exhaust hose hooks up.
Those are 11 tips on how to make your home safer and more energy efficient this summer. Always keep in mind when looking at items, if it doesn’t look right it probably isn’t!
About K2GC
K2GC is a general contracting firm that provides Easy Bay homeowners with home remodeling services, repairs, maintenance programs, kitchen and bathroom design, water and fire damage restoration, and emergency repairs and tarping.
Owner Kenneth (Kenny) Turnage II has been in the construction industry for more than 25 years. He spent many years in his family’s construction business, holding positions ranging from project foreman to Chief Operating Officer. In 2000, Kenny earned his general contractor’s license and started K2GC soon after.
For more information, visit www.k2gcinc.com or call them at (925) 754-5232.
