Communication Channels In less than two decades, the use of landline phones has plummeted from 90% of households down to only 40%. Of those that have landlines, the majority are run by older generations. If you don’t have a landline, you will have to rely on your cellular devices for communication. Normally, this would be
Home Safety Tips
November 24, 2023
November 16, 2023
Reasons to Consider a Standby Generator For Your Home – Part 3 of 4
Reasons to Invest in a Standby Generator Standby generators are indeed more convenient, safe, and effective than portable generators. Here are some situations in which installing a standby generator is essential to your comfort, budget, and even survival. Medical Equipment Many people depend on life-saving medical equipment to survive. This equipment is hooked up to
April 4, 2018
Beware! Spring Thaw in Vilas County can mean Wet Basements!
Here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, spring is long-waited and well celebrated. Say goodbye to shoveling, scraping windshields, and tough driving conditions! For your home, spring thaw equals a new set of problems. You have just conquered the dangers of ice dams pushing water through your roof – now that pesky snow is seeping into
February 23, 2016
Understanding Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
GFCI Receptacles Keep You Safe At some point you have probably noticed small buttons on your kitchen and bathroom receptacles (outlets), but do you know what they are? These types of receptacles are called GFCIs or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. How They Work How do GFCIs work? If you drop an electrical appliance into water,
January 7, 2016
The Importance of Egress Windows
Egress Windows Are Lifesavers! Form and Function Besides adding light to your basement and value to your home, egress windows also make your home safer for everyone. Imagine being trapped in your basement due to a fire – how would you get out? Would someone be able to reach you if you became injured or
December 10, 2015
Prevent Hot Water Scalding
Water temperature affects skin health On a cold winter day, it feels like there’s nothing better than a long, hot shower. But how hot is too hot? The ideal shower temp for your skin doesn’t stray above lukewarm. As soon as your shower starts scalding, you risk harming your skin’s health. There’s no absolute rule
November 2, 2015
Healthy Homes – The Limitations of CO Detectors
Is Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Keeping Your Home and Family Safe? Things wear out, that is a fact of life. When our home’s furnace or water heater stop functioning, we often know right away. And if you have been following a regular home maintenance schedule, you may even be fortunate to recognize a developing issue
March 30, 2015
How Do You Protect Your Family & Home From Fire?
Use the Right Smoke Alarms for Home Safety As human beings, we tend to avoid topics that are scary, such as the possibility of fire in our homes. However, when it comes to home safety, this topic becomes a lot less scary with a little bit of attention. Simply by installing the right smoke alarms
December 12, 2014
A Healthy Home Equals a Healthy Homeowner: Part 2
Improving Indoor Air Quality In the first segment of this article, we discussed the effects of poor indoor air quality and what factors contribute. Indoor pollutants, poor ventilation and high levels of moisture all come together to create what is a called a sick building. And sick buildings lead to unhealthy occupants. But what can
October 29, 2014
Controlling Moisture in Your Northwoods Home
You may be reading the title of this blog and thinking to yourself, “but moisture is good, right?”. Well, that’s not entirely true. Although a certain level of moisture in your Northwoods home is necessary for health and easy breathing, too little or too much moisture can be a big problem! Before discussing how to