Home Safety

It's fall, and we're cold already. Dust off your boots and think about a woodstove. Winter's coming, like it or not, and wood stove is ideal for warmth, comfort and good mystery book. Before...

Creosote is a brownish-black natural product of combustion usually found in fireplaces and chimneys after a fire has been extinguished. According to the Vancouver, Washington Fire Department, too...

According to State Farm Insurance, solid fuel-burning appliances, such as wood burners, "are the largest source of heating-related fires in U.S. homes." You should consider some safety factors...

A wood pellet stove can save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs and provide a way to recycle wood products. Pellet stoves have more venting options than traditional wood stoves because of...

A patio fire pit can add enjoyment to a pleasant evening outdoors. Take care to follow some basic safety rules regarding the use of a patio fire pit to protect your family and your home.

Although we often simply see dry rot as a rustic feature of older homes and wood products, it can be very dangerous if left untreated. Preventing dry rot requires monitoring your home for water...

Wood pellets are an ideal solution for the rising cost of fossil fuels. They are produced from commercial wood by-products such as sawdust and wood chips and are readily available in most areas.

Using your clay outdoor fireplace takes just a little care with correct positioning, proper wood use and maintenance. It is important to keep children and pets out of the reach of your fireplace...

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...

Patio doors are burglary magnets for crooks. Big, easily accessible and with locks that can be readily defeated, patio doors can be jimmied open, twisted off their tracks and forced, or just...

Wood boilers may seem like the perfect way to independently heat water and your home. They run off of natural wood power and are completely contained but have hidden dangers you should know about...

Closed shutters on windows offer an extra line of security against anyone or anything trying to get through the window. Certain shutters are stronger and better than others, and many them you can...

An in-home wood stove offers many benefits for homeowners. Who can resist the cozy feeling of a fire blazing away on a cold winter night? With soaring energy costs, a wood stove can reduce energy...

Fireplaces are pleasant places to retire to, gather around and enjoy. Whether alone or with family, friends or a special someone, owners of fireplaces need to ensure their fireplace is working...

Formaldehyde is a gas that is colorless, yet harbors a strong odor that renders it quite noticeable. It is sometimes mixed with alcohol during the manufacturing process to make a liquid chemical...

Designing the right railings for the stairs in your home is important for interior design aesthetics as well as safety when using the stairs. Most stair railings match the color, material and...

In order to extend the time people are comfortably able to be outdoors, fire pits are great for chilly fall evenings. They almost always promote a party atmosphere. But, with so many choices, it ...

If you have small children in your home, then you probably spend a lot of time keeping them out of certain areas. Child gates are a good way to keep children where they need to be, but...

Wood burning stoves are often placed in mobile homes as a source of heat and to add the feel and smell of a fireplace. However, because of the thin construction of mobile homes there are some...

Many people burn wood in their fireplaces at home, and some people choose to burn pine. When deciding whether or not you want to burn pine, you should consider safety issues as well as the time...

Termite infestations can be serious problems for homeowners because of the ability of the termites to consume vast quantities of wood. While this ability is very important for forest ecosystems,...

Concerns over exposure to unsafe levels of arsenic caused the widely used wood preservative Chromium Copper Arsenate (CCA) to be phased out except in marine applications. Since 2003,...

This is the proper way to light a fire in a fireplace.

If you have valuables and would like to keep them protected, a stationary home safe is a good option. Installing a home safe is easy and doesn't take a lot of time. With the right tools and...

Fall is right around the corner and if we start preparing now it won't be as much work when it gets here.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 9,000 residential fires occur each year due to wood stoves, and more than one-fifth of house fires are caused by the supplemental use of room...

Chopping and storing firewood can be an efficient way to heat your home during those colder months. Storage of your firewood is very important to ensure that it is not filled with bugs and mold...

Wood-burning fireplaces can create a peaceful, inviting ambiance in your home. They can also cause problems if not maintained or used properly. Safely enjoy the warm crackle on a winter's night by...

Carpenter ants are known as one of the most destructive insects. Not only are they large and unsightly, but they chew away at damp wood, often destroying window frames and wood trim. The key to...

Most new wood stoves are efficiently airtight and may be controlled by the amount of air let into the firebox once the stove door is shut. Older wood stoves and fireplaces are less controlled and...

House fires do not generate as much media attention as other disasters and they are often referred to as silent disasters. House fires are a leading cause of home deaths in the United States. It...

Kwikset dealbolts are easy to install and offer a high level of security. Kwikset offers deadbolts and locksets that feature varying levels of security for light commercial and residential...

Wood stoves provide warmth and style to homes, but in doing so present their own safety issues. Cleaning a circulating wood stove is an imperative part of maintenance safety. The threat of fire...

Why buy a baby gate that is too expensive and does not fit when you can easily build one on your own? Once your baby starts crawling and becomes stronger, you will need to install a baby gate at...

Wood stoves are convenient, cozy and attractive, but there are some drawbacks. One of the biggest concerns for many people is the pollution caused by wood smoke, which is one of the biggest air...

Cutting wood embedded with nail or small pieces of metal can be dangerous. Learn about removing nails, screws and other foreign matter embedded in wood in this free woodworking safety video from a...

Woodworking tools are designed to cut into wood, not with the wood grain. Learn tips for cutting wood with power saws in this woodworking safety video from a wood shop instructor and professional...

To help ensure power saw safety, create a push stick. Learn how to work safely with tools in a workshop in this free woodworking safety video from a wood shop instructor and professional carpenter.

Fresh air in the wood shop is an essential part of a healthy working environment. Learn about proper ventilation for a workshop in this free woodworking safety video from a wood shop instructor...

With more and more fireplaces in homes. You may wonder what type of wood is good for burning in your fireplace.

If you have ever been in a house when the creosote in the chimney from your wood stove built up to the point that it caught fire, you know how frightening a chimney fire can be. Today's wood...

A safe mobility chair ramp can give you and your wheelchair-bound or handicapped loved one peace of mind knowing they can be fully mobile across areas which otherwise would have been impossible. ...

Wood-burning heaters or tent stoves can bring cozy warmth to any tent, but there are a few things that must be done for safety and security. In order to use a tent wood-burning heater correctly,...

This article will help to explain the art of starting a fire in a wood burning stove.

Here's how to make your own hearth pads for a wood-burning stove. The main purpose of a hearth pad with a certified stove is to protect your floor from embers that may fall on it. The stove must...

An address plaque can be a creative, fun and useful addition to a home. You can make your own plaque to hang on the outside wall of your home, or perhaps create one that can be closer to the road...

Ever wonder why you bend more nails than you sink? Well, it's not genetic. You too can pound nails with the best of them.

My family of four recently went through 5 very cold days and 4 nights with no electricity or heat after an ice storm hit Kentucky on Jan. 27. Although we were relatively unprepared, we came...

The fireplace in your home is a source of relaxation and warm for you and your loved ones. The fireplace should be safe, properly maintained, uncluttered, and good for the environment. This...

As more and more people turn to their fireplace or woodstove for heat this winter, it is important to observe woodburning guidelines that will safeguard you and your family and also honor the...