Cold temperatures create problems for garage doors

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) It’s well known by now how cold weather can affect pipes in your home. But it can also damage your garage door, which can create an added danger for you.

In the summer heat, you’ve probably heard how concrete expands. There’s an opposite effect that happens in winter and things like metal springs on your garage door can contract and break, making it difficult to get in and out of your garage safely.

Tuesday’s dangerously cold temperatures created plenty of business for Reddi Overheard Door. The company’s phones rang all day for people needing service on their garage doors.

The company says complaints about failing garage doors aren’t uncommon this time of year.

“It puts more stress on the springs and so things are just bound to go more wrong when it’s colder,” says technician Zack Beden.

He says people often don’t realize how much they rely on their garage doors until one of the door’s springs breaks.

“I would say most people use their door on average between eight to a dozen times a day and don’t even really think about it,” Beden says. “That also affects how often your spring breaks. The more you use your garage door, the more wear and tear the springs get.”

A spring breaking can leave you vulnerable.

“It is a scary thing when your door or operator breaks and it’s wide open and you (have) valuables in your garage and you don’t know what to do about it,” Beden says.

He says it’s important not to try to force your garage door open or closed because it can burn out the operator motor and pose a safety risk if the door falls.

He says if you think a spring on your garage door is breaking, call a certified technician to fix it.

Link to the article: http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Cold-temperatures-create-problems-for-garage-doors-469630283.html

Related articles: https://dynamicgaragedoorsinc.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/the-top-10-reasons-your-garage-door-wont-work/

For further assistance in home securiy, click here for more: http://www.locksmithmilwaukee.net/

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Easy Ways to Unlock Your Car without Key during an Emergency

Locking yourself out of the car with the keys inside is not a rare incident. If it’s not an emergency, you might have taken time to find your spare keys or waited for the help of a tow truck service or roadside assistance. But, what if it is an emergency? You may have to attend an important meeting or your kid is locked in the vehicle on a warm day. To avoid any accident, you have to know how to unlock your car without key.

4 Easy Ways to Unlock Your Car without Key

You can use these following methods to unlock your car without key. However, almost all of them will set the car alarm off, so don’t use them for breaking into a car illegally. Besides, if it’s an emergency and you have the opportunity to call the police or fire department, do that.

Pick the Manual Lock with a Locksmith Wedge

There are several types of simple wedges such as plastic, vinyl, and metal. You have to use it to pull the door and create enough space to insert a long, thin metal rod to pull the locked door pin. You can also make use of a clothes hanger to use its hook to grab the locking pin and pull it. Be careful not to damage the door’s weather stripping while inserting the tool.

Unlocking an Automatic Lock

This is an effective way to unlock your car without key when you have an automatic lock. Use a wedge tool to create a space between the car’s body and door. If the auto lock is located on the armrest of the driver’s side, you can activate it by just pressing with a thin metal rod. If the button is on the central console, attach a hook at the end of the tool or use a clothes hanger to reach the lock.

Unbolting with a Slim Jim

A Slim Jim is a thin metal strip used for unlocking car doors. It needs some practice to open a locked door with this tool. Also, it is more likely to tear the door’s weather stripping and the wires inside.

Insert the tool into the passenger-side door because the driver’s door has more wires. Push the Slim Jim through the weather stripping and use its hook-like end to clasp the inside of the locking mechanism (which is underneath the locking pin). Once the hook firmly grips the lock, pull it up to disengage the lock.

Enter Through the Trunk

If the car has a manual lock, there’s a chance that the trunk is open despite the doors are locked. In that case, you can get inside through this way. Open up the trunk and push the rear seats forward until there is an opening spacious enough for you to crawl inside. Then, you can manually open the car’s door.

Remember that you are using a tool to unlock your car without key, you may need to try for a couple of time. Be careful not to damage the weather stripping or scrape the window glass along the way.

Besides interesting knowledge about cars, you can also check our stock list of Japanese used cars here!

Link to the article: https://carfromjapan.com/article/industry-knowledge/unlock-your-car-without-key-during-an-emergency/

Related articles: https://roanokelocksmith.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/are-you-locked-out-of-your-car-or-home-near-roanoke-virginia/

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What To Do In An Emergency Car Lockout Situation?

Getting locked inside or outside a car is a common occurrence. This is probably due to the hectic schedule of people, thanks to the advancing society. Well, locked situation is a kind of incident feared by all. It can happen to anyone, anytime especially when you do not expect something like that.

So, what to do in such situation?

1. Evaluate the Danger
Getting locked in or out of a car can be dangerous. This is why, the first thing that you need to do is evaluate your situation. If you are locked on a deserted highway or at midnight while coming back from party, it can prove to be dangerous, even sometimes threatening your safety. Many people will consider calling the police. It is a good idea, but often relates to lot of questioning, violation of rules and regulations, and so on. So, the best alternative is to call an automotive locksmith company as soon as possible. They are professionals who react immediately whenever you are in need. They would understand your emergency situation and prioritise your safety by making it to your location quickly.

2. Contacting the Locksmith
When you call the automotive locksmith, make sure you keep these points in your mind:

1) The team must be from the nearest location.
2) They must have a physical address.
3) Locksmiths must be experienced and skilled to manage all kinds of key related problems.
4) The locksmith company must have a license to perform such complicated tasks.
5) They must care for your car and not damage it during the process.
6) A professional team of automotive locksmiths generally charge standard rates as per the problem.

Make spare keys to avoid such problems in future
To avoid such horrible experiences altogether, it is always a good idea to make spare keys for your car. You can easily get them from automotive locksmiths. They can not just help you during lockout situations, but also serve you with duplicate keys, repair the locks of your car, open locked doors and replace lost car keys in Sydney.
If you want, you can also order more than one spare key. The extra keys can be provided to someone whom you trust, like a friend or a member in your family.
Consider calling the reputable locksmiths whenever you are in a lockout situation. Hiring them will not only give you satisfaction, but save you time, money and hassle.

 

Link to the article: https://brain2bloghub.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/what-to-do-in-an-emergency-car-lockout-situation/

Related articles: https://locksmithsolutions.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/what-to-do-during-an-emergency-lockout/

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7 Apartment Security Tips to Consider This Spring and Summer

As temperatures begin to rise and you’re excited for the warmer seasons ahead, it’s still a good idea to remain vigilant with your apartment security. Spring and summer might be a tempting time to leave the windows in your apartment cracked open while you’re away at work or to document your every spring break activity via photos posted on social media. But, neither of these actions are good ideas because you’re opening yourself up to potential theft.

Here are seven security tips to consider to help protect your apartment and valuables this spring and summer.

1. Use Outdoor Lighting and Timers

Does your apartment come with an outdoor light? If so, you may want to consider turning it on each night. This lighting may help deter potential burglars from your place, says Apartment Therapy. Some apartment buildings also try to keep walkways, parking areas and courtyards well lit. If you notice a light is out, or there’s an area that may benefit from some additional lighting, notify your landlord right away, says the Insurance Information Institute (III).

And, when you’re away from your apartment — particularly if you’re heading out of town for some time — consider installing timers to power a light or two, or a TV, to help give the appearance that someone is home, says the III.

2. Install a Security System

If your apartment doesn’t already come with a security system, you may want to talk to your landlord about having one installed, says Apartment Therapy. There are many kits you and your landlord can look into purchasing that do not require an invasive installation. You may be able to simply hang the devices in your place without much hassle. Some of these systems may also be able to be controlled by a smartphone. So, you can have the extra peace of mind of checking in on your home while you’re away.

3. Store Important Valuables in a Safety Deposit Box

To help protect important documents like a Social Security card or precious jewelry like your grandmother’s pearl earrings, you may want to consider getting a safety deposit box at a local bank to give yourself another level of security in case of a potential burglary in your apartment, adds Loyola University Chicago.

If there are some items you still want to keep in your apartment but you want to restrict access to, it may be a good idea to look into getting a safe, says Apartment Therapy.

4. Keep Spring Break Plans Off Social Media

When you’re on vacation, it can be tempting to share those memories and experiences on social media. However, you may want to hold off on posting until you’re back. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, these postings may be a sign to potential burglars that no one is home.

5. Get to Know Your Neighbors

To help report any suspicious activity around your apartment complex, it may help to get to know your neighbors a little bit, says the the III. You may be able to watch out for one another and notice when someone or something is out of the ordinary.

6. Always Lock Doors and Windows

According to the Baltimore County Police Department, most burglaries are likely the result of unlocked doors and windows. If you’re running down to get the mail or up to the rooftop deck to enjoy a fresh breeze, the last thing you want is to return to your apartment to find your valuables have been stolen. Keep all doors and windows locked, and make sure there’s a security bar in sliding patio doors or windows, says the III. Work with your landlord or the apartment complex’s management company to make sure exterior doors and those to common areas, laundry rooms, etc., are also kept secure, says Zillow.

7. Be Aware of ‘Deception Crimes’

Deception burglars are criminals who masquerade as contractors, utility workers, or some other type of professional repairman to take advantage of unsuspecting residents, says the Baltimore County Police Department. Be cautious of anyone coming to your door asking to make repairs, or requesting for access to your apartment for any reason. Request identification and call the company to get authorization before you ever consider allowing someone in, the Baltimore County Police Department advises. They also suggest keeping an eye out for similarly suspicious activity in the neighborhood, such as:

• Unmarked trucks with out-of-state license plates.
• Workers with no identification cards.
• Workers offering special deals and bargains.

A bit of caution may go a long way in helping protect your place and all your stuff. But if you feel like you need additional advice, or some tips that are specific to your unit, considering speaking with your landlord or your apartment complex’s management company for more help.

Originally published on April 9, 2013. 

Link to the article: https://blog.allstate.com/7-apartment-security-tips-to-consider-this-spring-and-summer/

Related articles: https://laforceinc.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/what-is-lock-bumping-break-in-prevention-apartment-security-tips/

For further assistance in home securiy, click here for more: http://www.locksmithmilwaukee.net/

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Homeowners’ Top Smart-Home Security Concern: Did I Lock the Door?

Lead with this on your next security pitch. Smart-home security survey by Wakefield Research and Schlage find that 75% of Americans second-guess whether they locked their front door.

Steve Karantzoulidis · July 14, 2017

A recent survey from Wakefield Research and Schlage, an Allegion brand of smart locks, reveals Americans’ No. 1 concern when it comes to smart-home security: “Wait… did I lock the door?”

Out of the 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed, 75 percent have felt uncertain about whether or not they locked their doors upon leaving the house. The data jumps to nearly 81 percent among parents and 83 percent among Millennials (we’re a forgetful bunch).

The survey also reveals that 43 percent of consumers have experienced or know someone who has experienced a break-in when they were not home.

“As technology evolves, locking devices will continue to advance and offer additional capabilities,” says Ann Matheis, marketing director at Allegion.

Security dealers and integrators should take heed of this new information. As the popularity of smart home devices continues to increase, there are a number of solutions available to ease end user’s fears. For example, the August Smart Lock Pro and Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt allow end users to double-check (and control) the status of their locks from anywhere with their mobile devices.

Additional Findings from the Home Security Survey

• Break-Ins: More than two in five Americans have personally experienced or know someone who has experienced a home break-in while away.
• Key Management: 56 percent of Americans have lost or misplaced the key to their home. Millennials and parents are more likely to do this, as 69 percent of millennials and 66 percent of parents have misplaced or lost the key to their home.
• Uncertainties: 75 percent of Americans have felt uncertain about whether they locked their doors when they have left home. Specifically, 83 percent of millennials and 81 percent of parents have experienced this.

 

Link to the article: https://www.cepro.com/article/smart_home_security_lock_door

Related articles: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/door-locks/buying-guide/index.htm

For further assistance in home securiy, click here for more: http://www.locksmithmilwaukee.net/

Aricle source here: Homeowners’ Top Smart-Home Security Concern: Did I Lock the Door?

How to protect your home from flooding

By: Sam Kantrow

(WTNH)–Lots of rain appears to be headed our way on Friday, and that’s cause for concern for many. With all of the snow on the ground right now, the rain and warm temperatures could cause some flooding, and you don’t want that water ending up in your basement.

Whether you’ve seen flooding before or not, the risk of flooding in your home is real over the next week. Combine a frozen ground, a foot of snow, and inches of rain in the forecast and your basement might not be dry for long. There are signs that flooding is likely, and the first sign is a crack in your foundation that has white or brown powder around it.

“Those are where the salts and other minerals get left behind as the water evaporates around your foundation. That’s an indicator that you have a water pressure build up outside your home,” said Jason Weinstein of Budget Dry Basement and Waterproofing in Killingworth.

Related: Basement flooding season begins

Any cracks that are thicker than two credit cards back to back are considered structural and should be inspected regularly. Also if you have any cracks that have been repaired, check those too.

“If the concrete is flaking off on any repair, it’s not of sound quality,” said Weinstein.

Also check to make sure windows are clear of water and snow, and that your hatchway is also dry.

“If the water builds up along side of the window, it’s going to want to come in and equalize. It will flood in, typically right underneath the frame,” Weinstein said.

Also if your house has a sump pump, shut the power off and put your pump into a five-gallon bucket filled with water. If it sucks up the water, it’s working fine.

Now on the outside of your house, make sure your gutters are cleared and that they run away from your house. If your land is graded towards your house, shovel a path in your yard so that rain water can run towards the road, and not towards your foundation.

Just so that anything that’s running is diverted, it’s going to help. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s going to help in this situation.

 

Link to the article: http://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/how-to-protect-your-home-from-flooding_2018040310320810/1097674589

Related articles: https://getwifed.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/how-to-protect-your-home-from-frozen-pipes/

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Amazon’s Door Lock Is Amazon’s Bid to Control Your Home

Interesting essay about Amazon’s smart lock:

When you add Amazon Key to your door, something more sneaky also happens: Amazon takes over.

You can leave your keys at home and unlock your door with the Amazon Key app — but it’s really built for Amazon deliveries. To share online access with family and friends, I had to give them a special code to SMS (yes, text) to unlock the door. (Amazon offers other smartlocks that have physical keypads).

The Key-compatible locks are made by Yale and Kwikset, yet don’t work with those brands’ own apps. They also can’t connect with a home-security system or smart-home gadgets that work with Apple and Google software.

And, of course, the lock can’t be accessed by businesses other than Amazon. No Walmart, no UPS, no local dog-walking company.

Keeping tight control over Key might help Amazon guarantee security or a better experience. “Our focus with smart home is on making things simpler for customers ­– things like providing easy control of connected devices with your voice using Alexa, simplifying tasks like reordering household goods and receiving packages,” the Amazon spokeswoman said.

But Amazon is barely hiding its goal: It wants to be the operating system for your home. Amazon says Key will eventually work with dog walkers, maids and other service workers who bill through its marketplace. An Amazon home security service and grocery delivery from Whole Foods can’t be far off.

This is happening all over. Everyone wants to control your life: Google, Apple, Amazon…everyone. It’s what I’ve been calling the feudal Internet. I fear it’s going to get a lot worse.

Link to the article: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2017/12/amazons_door_lo.html

Related articles: https://novictims.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/supercharge-your-home-security-system/

For further assistance in home securiy, click here for more: http://www.locksmithmilwaukee.net/

Aricle source here: Amazon’s Door Lock Is Amazon’s Bid to Control Your Home

Couple Who Hid Secret Home With Fake Garage Door Slapped With Fine

There’s often a hitch when it comes to extending your home into an uber-pad – your next door neighbours and local authorities might not be all too happy with it.

Now one UK couple who tried to hide the fact they’d converted their garage into a secret home by fitting it with a fake garage door have been slapped with a fine.

Dr Reeta Herzallah and Hamdi Almasri, of Enderby, Leicestershire, used the false door to hide the doorway and window of the new building from planning inspectors, reports the Leicester Mercury.

This was despite the fact that permission for the new build had already been refused by the local council, as they went ahead and did it anyway. Naughty, naughty.

The pair were convicted at Leicester Magistrates’ Court for breaching a number of planning conditions after authorities caught wind of reports that the couple had been carrying out unauthorised work on the garage.

The couple now face having to return the garage to its original purpose. Can’t imagine that a garage would be nice a place to live in, can you?

“The development included the conversion of their garage to habitable accommodation and the erection of fencing, preventing off street parking at the property,” a planning authority spokesman told the Leicester Mercury after the court hearing.

“The couple also undertook illegal works within the highway and created an unauthorised vehicle access onto the busy B4114 dual carriageway.”

The couple’s home only got planning permission in 2007 with the condition that it had permanent car parking facilities to ease potential issues with on-street parking. Permission was also required to build a driveway.

After the council became aware of the breaches in October 2015, the couple made an application to keep the works in July 2016. A six month battle ensued but their appeal was finally dismissed in February last year, leading them to come up with their ploy.

A spokesperson for Braby District Council said: “After further correspondence from the council, some remedial works were undertaken by the defendants in May and June of 2017, which included the removal of fencing.

“Inspections by officers in July and August 2017 confirmed, however, that the garage had not been restored to its approved use, with the inserted door and window concealed by a propped up garage door.

“A final site visit in November 2017 confirmed that the required works to the garage had still not been undertaken, following we sought prosecution for the offence.”

The couple have been issued a Breach of Condition notice and were ordered to pay a £770 fine, £1,252 in legal costs, and a £77 victim surcharge.

Councillor Sheila Scott, the council’s cabinet member for planning, called the couple’s removal of ‘valuable’ off-road parking space ‘completely unacceptable’.

“The message from this case is clear: if you breach planning regulations and ignore us we will not just go away,” Cllr Scott said.

She added: “We will be following up the successful prosecution with a further visit to ensure that all the requirements of the Breach of Condition Notice are fully complied with.”

This isn’t the only time lately that rogue landlords in England have used their garage or garden space for nefarious purposes.

Last month a London family was convicted for renting out a four-bedroom property to as many as 40 people. Some of them even lived in the garden shed.

Link to the article: http://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-couple-who-hid-secret-home-with-fake-garage-door-slapped-with-fine-20180212

Related articles: https://rollerdoor8227.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/crucial-steps-are-assessment-adjustment-repair-and-replacement/

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Aricle source here: Couple Who Hid Secret Home With Fake Garage Door Slapped With Fine

Indoor Air Quality vs. Your Garage Habits

Do you have an attached garage? I do. It’s convenient for storing tools, bicycles, and holiday decorations. Oh, and my car. That, too.

Unfortunately, attached garages are also a source of indoor air quality problems. Cars live in them, which means internal combustion engines live in them. Every time you start your car, it exhausts carbon monoxide, or CO, into the air.

In some cases, the CO can seep into your home.

Shutting the garage door is important, but it’s not the only solution.

By now you’re probably thinking, “Ok. I already open the garage door before cranking up my car. What else is there to know?”

Well, that is the main thing to remember if you don’t want car exhaust to make you sick. Always open the garage door before you put the key in the ignition. Pretty simple.

The thing is, car exhaust can linger in your garage for awhile – even after you’ve backed into the driveway or after you’ve parked the car in the garage and shut off the engine. According to a fact sheet from the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering extension service, closing the garage door immediately after backing out the car might create an unintended threat to health and safety:

The effect of backing the car out of the garage should be monitored with a CO detector in the house (several detectors have digital displays and memories that can help determine if the CO in the house is elevated by backing the vehicle out of the garage). If carbon monoxide enters the house, it will be necessary to leave the garage door open after backing out until the CO clears.

Every home is different. Every garage is different. Every garage ventilates differently. If you happen to have a garage that doesn’t ventilate particularly well – or one where air inside the garage tends to migrate into your living space – you might need to change your garage habits.

Here’s how to prevent car exhaust from polluting your home.

The following primer isn’t a set of instructions. Rather, it’s a guide for determining whether CO from your car’s exhaust enters your home – and taking the appropriate steps to stop it.

1. Don’t ever close the garage door while your car is running. By the same token, don’t ever crank your car before the door opens. Doing so presents real danger. CO concentrations in car exhaust are extremely high and can harm you very quickly.
2. Keep the door open for a few minutes after parking your car. This gives the exhaust time to dissipate into the outdoor environment.
   Install a CO detector in the room adjoining your garage. This might be a hallway, foyer, kitchen, or laundry room. Whatever room contains a door that opens to your garage, put a CO detector in there. And make sure you get a quality unit with sufficient CO sensitivity.
3. Monitor indoor CO concentrations after cranking or parking your car. Does the alarm go off following normal activity? If it does, then you definitely need to heed steps 4 and 5.
4. Air seal the area between your garage and your living space. When we say “air seal,” we’re talking about applying fire-rated foam around wiring and plumbing penetrations between the garage and the living space. You should also have a quality weather seal around the door to the garage so that fumes can’t leak in.
5. Install an exhaust fan in the garage. Here’s a great way to remove CO from your garage. Install a small exhaust fan that turns on every time you close your garage door. Connect it to a timer, and it will turn itself off after several minutes. You can also use a switch to turn it on and off manually. A properly-sized fan will remove lingering car exhaust from your garage so that it doesn’t enter your living space.

Even if your carbon monoxide detector doesn’t go off while you’re testing things out (see #3 above), air sealing and/or installing an exhaust fan is smart. After all, “normal” conditions aren’t consistent. You might be in the habit of opening and closing the garage door at the appropriate times, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always remember to do so.

Forgetting to open the garage door before cranking your car is an innocent mistake, but the consequences can be serious. Good air sealing and an automatic exhaust fan can pick up the slack for our own absentmindedness.

The exhaust fan is also a good idea when:

• You’ve got a really “tight,” energy efficient house. Indoor air quality is the achilles heel of many supposedly high performance homes. They’re so well-sealed, the indoor air takes forever to escape! But while these homes are well-sealed in their entirety, the air sealing between the garage and the living space isn’t always so robust.
• You don’t like keeping the door open after you park. Maybe you’re afraid people will steal your stuff or you’re worried about letting in cold air, hot air, humidity, or rain. Whatever your reasons for keeping that door shut tight, an exhaust fan is a way to mitigate the heightened CO risk.

We’ve all got our habits.

And they can be tough to break. However, when it comes to protecting yourself and your family from CO poisoning, changing your habits is worth the effort.

If you’re like most people, you won’t have to change anything about your garage habits – and that’s good! The only way to be sure is to get a CO detector, adopt good habits, and take action to reduce your risk.

Garages are great. Just be aware of the hazards they may pose.

Link to the article: http://www.pvhvac.com/blog/indoor-air-quality-vs-garage-habits/

Related articles: https://prefabshedskits03.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/3-reasons-to-buy-prefabricated-sheds/

For further assistance in home securiy, click here for more: http://www.locksmithmilwaukee.net/

Aricle source here: Indoor Air Quality vs. Your Garage Habits

2017 Hurricane Season: How to protect your documents, home, boat

Longtime Floridians know the drill. Each year, as the heat and humidity build, forecasters begin their warnings: Hurricane season is upon us, and you’d better take it seriously.

Sure, it was easy to tune out the advice when, year after year, storms skirted past Florida. The Tampa Bay area hasn’t had a direct strike in almost a century.

Let the 2016 storm season serve as a warning: Destructive hurricanes lashed both Florida coasts. The bay area also endured flooding, especially in Pasco County.

What’s at stake in a storm is just about everything you own — your irreplaceable wedding photos, your pets, your windows and watercrafts. And when a hurricane is bearing down, you won’t have much time to make sure they’re protected.

Here are some specifics to guide you through the critical process of keeping your home, your boat and your belongings safe this hurricane season.

Protect your home

• Act fast: Everybody else will flood the same hardware stores to buy storm supplies.

• If you’re boarding your windows with plywood, don’t drill directly into the frame. That lets water inside. Instead, apply bolts, nails or screws to concrete or wood about every 6 inches.

• If you’re in a rush, don’t waste time taping your windows. Experts say it doesn’t keep them from shattering (though it may make cleanup easier afterward).

• Need to brace your garage door? You can buy a kit from a home-improvement store. Experts recommend using wooden 2 by 4s to brace the door horizontally and vertically.

• French doors and double doors are additional vulnerable spots that need to be reinforced. Add extra locks or slide bolts, and pay extra attention to doors that swing inward.

• Give your roof and eaves a close look. The impact of a storm will likely accelerate any damage. Same goes for broken trusses or beams. Make repairs before a storm is bearing down.

• Secure any loose items on your lawn. Hurricane-force winds will take old tree limbs, sports equipment and lawn ornaments and turn them into window-shattering projectiles. Don’t put your home (and your neighbors’ homes) at risk.

Protect your documents

• Grab a pen and paper and make a list of your important documents, then make copies of each one. When a hurricane hits, you don’t want to be scrambling to find the papers that prove your identity and verify what you own.

That means insurance policies, car titles, important receipts, passports, Medicare cards, appraisal documents, medical paperwork, birth certificates, tax returns, Social Security cards — the list goes on. Don’t forget your pets’ paperwork.

• If you’re evacuating, take photos of your home and belongings before you go. Print them out, if possible.

• Your smartphone and email won’t be much help if the power is off for an extended period of time. That makes it even more important to have physical copies of your documents on hand to help speed up the process of reporting storm damage.

• It helps to have electronic scans of your documents, which the IRS accepts, saved on an external hard drive as a backup. You can also back up files on the cloud through free and paid services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

• Sporting goods stores sell watertight bags that can protect your paperwork and photos, and Pelicancases.com stocks airtight, watertight and “crushproof” cases. Some tackle and ammunition boxes with O-ring seals can also keep documents safe from water.

Protect your boat

• The best course of action is to move your boat inland far in advance of a storm. Look for dry storage in a marina or garage.

• If you’re short on time, take your boat up creek or a river — mitigating the effects of storm surge, which raises the water level and can break deck lines. Operate cautiously, and know that drawbridges can lock down many hours before gale-force winds begin.

• Leaving your boat tied up at the marina invites more risk, but you can minimize the damage. Ensure your deck lines are strong — this is not a time to take chances. Extra-long “spring” lines help during major tidal fluctuations and are a good investment. Remove all valuables, disconnect electronics and put away loose items, such as sails and cushions.

• After the storm, remember that buoys and channel markers may have shifted. Drive your boat slowly, as if you’re in a no-wake zone, and keep a close watch for debris, fallen trees, wrecked boats and other dangers.

Information from Times files was used in this report. Contact Claire McNeill at cmcneill@tampabay.com.

Link to the article: http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/2017-hurricane-season-how-to-protect-your-documents-home-boat/2323453

Related articles: https://diybb.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/the-other-option-sun-shade-sails/

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Aricle source here: 2017 Hurricane Season: How to protect your documents, home, boat