Home Safety

Ever wondered how healthy your home's drinking water really is? The list of contaminants in America's water is astonishing. Everything from human and animal feces, lead, pesticides and other...

Hiring a professional inspector when looking to buy a house is a good idea but sometimes they miss some details too. So it is an advantage if you know how to inspect a house for problems or...

Splashing or soaking in the bathtub is a favorite pastime of many, but safety is also a concern when taking a bath, especially for those who are elderly or very young. Prevention, preparation and...

In some cases you may find it necessary to obtain your drinking water from a fresh water pond. Drinking the water from the pond as it is can be dangerous to your health due to contaminants or...

Do you have an earthquake survival kit? When an earthquake hits you want to be prepared to deal with the aftermath. If you have an earthquake survival kit already put together you will be better...

Mold requires moisture to grow and can appear almost anywhere in a home, including on wood, paper or carpet, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Mold releases spores into the air,...

Rain barrels, also referred to as cisterns are efficient ways to collect and capture natural water or rain run-off from the roof through its gutter and downspout system. During the rainy season,...

Your hair dryer could be hazardous to your health, especially if you use it or any other electrical appliance in the bathroom. The combination of electricity and water is dangerous; these...

With water appliances and wet surfaces, a bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places in a home. But it's also a place that your children use regularly. When you give your child a bath,...

Life is full of surprises. Unfortunately, not all of them are good ones. Although you may never be able to predict when an emergency disaster such as an earthquake, fire, blackout, tornado or...

Peppermint oil is used to cure many ailments, such as eliminating bad breath, easing an upset stomach, curing muscle aches and killing bacteria and fungus. Peppermint oil can be used full strength...

What do you do when the power suddenly goes out? Whom should you call if you smell a natural gas leak? During power outages or other utility failures, you suddenly have a lot of things on your...

Water tanks have been used for thousands of years to collect water for various purposes. In modern water systems, a tank can provide drinking water and irrigation water for people, plants and...

WaterCop is a system that helps prevent flood damage. It consists of flood sensors and automatic shut-off valves that work together to prevent water damage to valuables.

Most office and public buildings are equipped with sprinkler systems to lessen the damage from fires and save lives. These days, many homes are also equipped with sprinkler systems. In addition to...

Clean water filtration is the process of moving water through natural or artificial barriers to purify water. In one of the earliest forms, the Italian doctor Lucas Antonius Portius designed water...

High winds can be terrifying. Any serious brush with nature can result in degraded services and utilities that ensure a safe and comfortable home life. The damage caused by high winds may be so...

One of the most common causes of corrosion in well water systems is high acidity levels in the water. High levels of acid in water can cause corrosion of faucets and sink fixtures and can also...

If you are worried about stocking an adequate supply of drinking water in case of disaster or power outage, it is important to consider sanitation. Clean water in a properly prepared container can...

Throughout the history of humankind, much of the fire fighting equipment consisted of a bucket and a line to pass this water-filled "extinguisher." Some early civilizations adapted different...

Jumbo rock salt is a larger version of rock salt that is used in homemade ice cream makers. It can also be used to dissolve ice on driveways and walkways. Creating jumbo rock salt at home is a...

If you live in an area where there is even a possibility of an earthquake, you need to have your water heater properly fastened. The reason is that if the water heater falls or becomes...

Contaminated drinking water can cause a slew of health problems and serious diseases. In order to make sure it is completely safe to drink, drinking water must be analyzed for a number of...

In case of a power outage or other emergency that interrupts water system delivery or prevents a well pump from operating, every household needs to have sufficient drinkable water on hand. To...

Cloudy pool water is not only an aesthetic problem, it also can cause health issues. Cloudy pool water can sting the eyes of swimmers and hold bacteria and other microorganisms. The causes of...

Dry rot is a very serious condition in which a fungus infects the dampened wood of a building and causes it to decay. Knowing the symptoms of dry rot can keep repair bills low if you can catch it...

Sulfur is often found in drinking water in the form of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. This compound produces the highly unpleasant smell of rotten eggs in very small amounts and is especially common...

Ants may be small, but they can be a big problem inside your house. While your first thought may be to reach for a pesticide, that isn't the best solution for your health or the environment,...

Liquified petroleum (LP) gas--which is also known as propane--has an odorant added to aid in leak detection. If you smell gas, don't try to light the water heater. Pay attention to the crucial...

It is recommended that all households keep a water storage of one gallon per person per day for a total of two weeks. This means that a total of 14 gallons of drinking water should be kept on hand...

While water is the most commonly used suppression material in firefighting, foam has grown to be a popular choice for certain applications. Because of foams ability to float on a liquid and resist...

Chloroform is a colorless liquid that has a sweet smell and taste. Chemically its full name is methane chloride. It was initially used as one of the first general anesthetics for surgery as the...

A fenced pool is a fine addition to a home. It can add to the property's value and give years of enjoyment. Unfortunately, no one will enjoy it if the water is too cold. Having a professional come...

You can construct a dam using sand bags and wood as a prevention against flooding, or to create a drained portion of an existing body of water. Unlike many other types of dams, the sand bag method...

There are several components to a residential system, including control valves, an alarm system, draining pipes, backflow preventers, fire hose connections, manifolds and specialty valves....

Starting your home storage food supply can be very pricy. Instead of buying large quantities of food all at once, build your food supply gradually. With each regular grocery shopping trip, pick up...

Red Devil Lye is often found around the home because it is used as a drain cleaner. When used properly, it can eat through tough blockages such as hair in minutes and leave your drain clear...

The ozone layer is an invisible barrier of gas thousands of miles from the surface of the Earth. Because of pollution and other factors, the ozone layer is growing thin. There are even places the...

Frozen water pipes can burst, and cost you a lot of money. When cold weather is coming, it is better to prepare for the weather than pay for the repairs. When pipes burst you are without water,...

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that results from the breakdown of uranium. It can dissolve in water and contaminate the water supply. When it is sitting in the ground or inside pipes, radon...

Oil tanks installed outdoors are prone to weathering and leaking. Fuel oil is primarily used for heating homes. Homeowners who have changed to gas, solar, or other sources for heating often...

Owning a home includes owning safety hazards. One of the most dangerous rooms in a house is the bathroom---so navigate safely following these few simple tips.

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you can't see it or smell it, but it may be in your home. In fact, an estimated one out of 15...

Fire sprinklers have been in homes and businesses since 1806, when the first fire sprinkler was invented in England by John Carey. The invention made working in highly flammable buildings safer....

Midges may be annoying, but they are non-biting, unlike their similar-looking counterpart, the mosquito. Male midges are also referred to as "fuzzy bills." Midges are found near water, as they...

Floods cause more damage and deaths each year than any other natural disaster, according to National Weather Service statistics. Recent flooding in the southeast illustrates the catastrophic...

Fire hose nozzles are specially designed appliances that deliver an optimal amount of water at a given rate of pressure. There are a variety of nozzles that come in different shapes and sizes....

Floods are a relatively common and extremely destructive severe weather phenomenon in the United States. Being prepared for a flood and knowing what to do when floods occur can protect your...

Storing water in preparation for any emergency is encouraged by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its recommendations include to have at least three days of water on hand at all times....

Having enough food and water during an emergency can literally mean the difference between life and death. You can prepare for the unexpected by canning and preserving your leftover garden fruits...