Author Archives: Kevin Michaels

Holiday Home Safety Tips

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents. Home Inspector, Kevin Michaels, an InterNACHI Certified Inspector and Hudson Valley Property Inspections recommends that you follow these guidelines to help make your holiday season safer and more enjoyable.

Holiday Lighting

  • Use caution with holiday decorations and, whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant and non-combustible materials.
  • Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
  • Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings, and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. If you have any questions about electrical safety, ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next scheduled inspection. Do not overload extension cords.
  • Don’t mount lights in any way that can damage the cord’s wire insulation.  To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples–don’t use nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
  • Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
  • Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
  • Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.  
  • Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
  • Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground-fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
  • Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

  • Use only non-combustible and flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel and artificial icicles of plastic and non-leaded metals.
  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
  • In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp and breakable, and keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children.
  • Avoid trimmings that resemble candy and food that may tempt a young child to put them in his mouth.

Holiday Entertaining

  • Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S.  When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
  • Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays, and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding.
  • Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet).
  • Test your smoke alarms, and let guests know what your fire escape plan is.

Trees

  • When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “fire-resistant.”
  • When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.
  • When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators and portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
  • Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
  • Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
  • Make sure the base is steady so the tree won’t tip over easily.

Fireplaces

  • Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
  • Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten.
  • Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Toys and Ornaments

  • Purchase appropriate toys for the appropriate age. Some toys designed for older children might be dangerous for younger children.
  • Electric toys should be UL/FM approved.
  • Toys with sharp points, sharp edges, strings, cords, and parts small enough to be swallowed should not be given to small children.
  • Place older ornaments and decorations that might be painted with lead paint out of the reach of small children and pets.

Children and Pets

  • Poinsettias are known to be poisonous to humans and animals, so keep them well out of reach, or avoid having them.
  • Keep decorations at least 6 inches above the child’s reach.
  • Avoid using tinsel. It can fall on the floor and a curious child or pet may eat it. This can cause anything from mild distress to death.
  • Keep any ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than 7 inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around their neck and choke.
  • Avoid mittens with strings for children. The string can get tangled around the child’s neck and cause them to choke. It is easier to replace a mitten than a child.
  • Watch children and pets around space heaters or the fireplace. Do not leave a child or pet unattended.
  • Store scissors and any sharp objects that you use to wrap presents out of your child’s reach.
  • Inspect wrapped gifts for small decorations, such as candy canes, gingerbread men, and mistletoe berries, all of which are choking hazards.

Security  

  • Use your home burglar alarm system.
  • If you plan to travel for the holidays, don’t discuss your plans with strangers. 
  • Have a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home.


KEVIN MICHAELS, HOME INSPECTOR & HUDSON VALLEY PROPERTY INSPECTIONS WISHES YOU
A SAFE & JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON!

 

Indoor Air Quality Testing for Mold During the Home Inspection?

Hudson Valley Property Inspections has performed over 1000 air quality tests since the devastation caused by super storms Irene, Lee and Sandy in the Northeast over the past few years. I have seen the incredible damage that mold can do. The scariest scenarios happen when you can’t see the mold. Oh, it will appear eventually,… Continue Reading

Next step….the Home Inspection

Kevin Michaels, NYS Licensed Home Inspector – Hudson Valley Property Inspections, llc So you’re buying a home. You will want to get a home inspection and here’s why….. It costs a few hundred dollars, but the information you receive is invaluable. During a home inspection, certified, licensed person will take a very detailed look at… Continue Reading

Radon….What you need to know.

  Radon is a carcinogenic gas that is hazardous to inhale. Build-up of radon in homes is a health concern and many lung cancer cases are attributed to radon exposure each year. About 12% of lung cancers and more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year. The Surgeon General of the United… Continue Reading

Hudson Valley Property Inspections Now Offers Customers a FREE Subscription to the Home Owners Network! (video)!!

  Hudson Valley Property Inspections will give you a FREE subscription to The Home Owners Network (a $199 value!!) As our way of saying Thanks and Good Luck! Your home is your single largest investment. The Home Owners Network is your single resource to receive real-time tech support for questions about your home. Honest, reliable… Continue Reading

How to Buy a Storm Damaged Home

Hudson Valley Property Inspections has been inspecting homes and properties in the Hudson Valley of NY since 2009. During that span we have seen three “once in a lifetime” storms pound the region. The number of homes damaged has been unprecedented. Now that we are on our way to recovery from Super Storms Irene, Lee… Continue Reading

What To Look For When Purchasing A Log Home

  Log homes and cabins tend to have unique problems and often it takes someone who has specific expertise in log homes to be able to recognize these problems. When I have done home inspections on log buildings, sometimes I discover major problems that need to be addressed. Here are some the helpful tips on… Continue Reading

Hudson Valley Property Inspections teams up with The Home Owners Network!

Welcome Home !! The ‘Home Owners Network’ has been created to help you enjoy your house more! When you get your home inspected by Hudson Valley Property Inspections, you get a subscription to the ‘Home Owners Network’ A $199 value, for FREE!! Your home is your single largest investment. The ‘Home Owners Network’ is your… Continue Reading

Our New Website

Welcome to Hudson Valley Property Inspections newly redesigned Home Inspection website!  Whether  you are at the tail end of this stressful and emotional Real Estate transaction, or you are just beginning, you depend on our research and insight to guide you into your new home.  We have rebuilt our site to make it much easier… Continue Reading

Main Navigation