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/

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

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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/

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

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/

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

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

Evaluating Your Locks & Lights to Remain Safe

If you’re about to move into a new home, there is no doubt that you have a ton of things to do before you move in. One of those things should be to have your locks evaluated. The security of your new home should be of the most importance to you. The locksmiths of Locksmith Master Milwaukee in Wisconsin are sure to be able to give you some insight into the type of locks that are best for your home. It is always in your best interest to have the locks changed prior to moving into your new home.

With so much on your plate while you are preparing to move, it may go unnoticed that you do not have sufficient locks installed on the doors and windows. While the previous owners may have locks installed, they may not be the best suited for your home. It is up to you to take it upon yourself to make sure your home is safe and secure. Doing so may require that you contact a qualified locksmith to assist you in determining if the locks that you have will do the job of keeping out intruders. You may not need to replace every single lock in your home but it is advisable to at least change the main entryway doors.

We have put together a checklist for you to consider when you are about to move into a new home:

Lock Efficiency Checklist

1. Exam the Deadbolt Locks
   

If there are already deadbolt locks installed, you may just need to have the locked rekeyed. You should also find out if the type of deadbolt on the door that you are evaluating is appropriate for that particular door. Deadbolt locks are the most useful home locks. They offer maximum security and should definitely be present within your home, especially on exterior home doors. If it is discovered that your deadbolt locks are not made from the best and most durable materials, you should have them changed immediately. A burglar is very skilled at breaking locks. If you have a deadbolt lock that can be easily compromised, have them changed. The bolt of the lock must extend into the doorframe by at least an inch. If yours does not do this, the lock can be more easily compromised. We would recommend a free-spinning cylinder lock or tapered cylinder. If you have anything other than this type of lock, you should know that they are easier to break.

If your doors have double cylinder deadbolt locks, you should know that they could be problematic. This type of deadbolt has to have a key to unlock both sides to exit. If you are unable to find one of the keys, you will be unable to exit. This could be a serious problem if there is an emergency. A single cylinder is usually the best option. However, if you’re interested in finding out more about the different types of deadbolt locks, consult with an expert locksmith in Milwaukee.

2. Examining Your Home’s Exterior Doors
   

This is important because no matter what type of lock you have installed, it won’t do much good if the door can easily be kicked in. You need a strong, sturdy door for a deadbolt lock. If the door is not of good quality, you are putting your safety and security in jeopardy. Your exterior doors should be solid core doors. They will offer maximum security because they are solid all the way through. A solid core door is durable and can withstand the pressure of the strongest kick. It also provides you with fire protection. There is no doubt that this is the best type of door to have a deadbolt lock installed on. A hollow core door isn’t as durable or heavy as the solid core door. The hollow core door is often used on interior doors, not exterior doors.

If you have a door that leads from your garage to your home, this door should also be a solid core door. This will prevent anyone who is able to gain access into your garage from making their way inside your home. Also be sure to make sure that if any of your doors have glass or are made of glass that the glass is durable. If they are not, have them replaced with durable glass right away. An intruder can easily break it if you do not have durable glass installed.

In addition to making sure you have sufficient locks to keep out intruders, you can also keep them away by making sure your home is well-lit. With lights shining on the entryways of your home an intruder is less likely willing to attempt a break-in.

3. Exam Outdoor Lighting
   

Even if there are streetlights in front of your home, you should still make sure that there are some lights that shine directly on your entryway doors. This means that if someone is attempting to break-in, they will be visible to anyone passing by. If something looks suspicious, they can then notify the appropriate authorities. In addition to having the lights shining directly on your doors and windows, you should also make sure you have porches, walkways and your driveway, well-lit. It isn’t important that you make sure all of the lights are working correctly in order for them to be effective. If you are afraid that you may forget to turn the lights on, it is a good idea to invest in motion sensors. This means that as soon as someone steps in range, the lights will immediately turn on. This will immediately alert you and others to anyone who is coming toward your home. You can also have your lights programmed to turn off and on at specific times of the day or night.

Aricle source here: Evaluating Your Locks & Lights to Remain Safe

WHAT TO DO IN DIFFERENT LOCKOUT SITUATIONS

Lockouts always seem to happen to the “other” person; that is, until they happen to you! Then, it’s a completely different matter and your whole world can go suddenly haywire! One thing about lockouts; they don’t respect income, race, level of education or age. Everyone is susceptible to getting locked out. One brief moment of inattention is all that it takes to suddenly find yourself on the wrong side of a locked door!

Lockouts happen every day here in Milwaukee, WI and anywhere else that there are locks, keys and locking hardware. A lockout situation can happen with your car, at home, at your business, at work, or while you are on vacation. Here at Locksmith Master Milwaukee we deal with locked out persons on a regular basis, so we know how to handle these situations from a professional’s point of view. Read this post so you’ll know how to handle your next lockout smartly, safely and affordably.

Do this first!

Always remember to remain calm. It’s actually very hard to do when suddenly surprised by a lockout incident. Lockouts always seem to happen at the very worst time. We are usually hurried, busy, or otherwise in the middle of doing something important when it happens. Always remember that panicking does nothing but make the situation worse. Your emotions can range from sudden surprise at your situation to absolute panic or anger because you are now late for something or unable to attend an engagement.

Another great reason to remain calm during a lockout situation is to NOT attract attention to yourself. Doing so might attract someone that is bent on taking advantage of your vulnerability either by offering to fraudulently help you or to maybe even attack you or rob you. Don’t be paranoid but do be aware of your surroundings and be careful until help arrives!

Resist the urge to break back in!

Hey, it’s your property, after all, so why not break back inside? Actually, there are many reasons. Injury can occur at this time so be careful. Think about it; you are breaking glass, prying open windows, smashing doors; all destructive things that can not only result in cuts, falls, and electric shock, it can even lead to getting arrested or shot by a concerned neighbor, roommate or family member.

Another reason for NOT breaking into your property is the fact that you will incur damage to your own house, car or business. This will result in repair costs and possible negative publicity if someone films your episode and posts it online or to a news site. The ironic part of all this is that often people break back into their own property in a misguided effort to save money on locksmith service charges! Go figure!

What about real life and death emergencies? Should you break back in then? That’s up to you. If your pet is locked in a hot car or your toddler is left all alone in the house, then by all means do what it takes to help out but our example calls for restraint and good judgement when you are merely surprised, angry or inconvenienced.

Time for that spare key!

Be honest; do you have a spare key that you can use for lockouts? Our Milwaukee, WI locksmith shop recommends that everyone keep a spare key hidden where you can find it and use it if needed. We don’t recommend the usual flower pot on the porch or under the welcome mat approach. This practically invites burglars to target you! Instead, hide your key in a rain gutter or bury it next to a bush in the back yard. BBQ grills are good places to hide a spare house or car key. Glove compartments or under the floor mat are other options. Be sure to hide the house key NOT in the house and the car key NOT in the car! This may seem obvious but you’d be surprised how many folks do this and are surprised when they can’t access them!

Do you trust your neighbor?

Sometimes, if you are fortunate, you’ll live next to or near a good neighbor. If so, you might just leave a spare key with him or her. The same goes for a friend or family member. It’s nice to have someone to call on when you find yourself so helpless. The act of calling them not only brings a helpful key, it also keeps you on the phone for a while which can have a calming effect and it can also provide a potential witness in case you run into trouble while you are in “limbo.”

Don’t call a locksmith!

Don’t just call any locksmith; call the right one! Contrary to opinion, all locksmiths are not equal or alike. If you don’t know who you are calling you might wind up with unlicensed amateurs or part time handymen that only want a big fee from you. Be selective and choose a locksmith that is licensed, bonded and insured. You’ll want one that offers 24-hour emergency assistance and fast response times. Free price quotes and a cheerful and helpful attitude would be nice, as well. You might be wondering how on earth you are supposed to find such a lock and key shop in Milwaukee, WI when you are suddenly denied access to your own house, car or business.

The answer is simple; line up your lock professional BEFORE you actually need him!

Be proactive!

Who knows? You may never find yourself locked out. That’s a good thing. But, what if you do? Or, what if someone close to you goes through the lockout experience and calls you? Having a full service, affordably priced lock shop on speed dial is not only smart, it can be a life saver; literally! We recommend that you take the time to actually find a locksmith professional that you can work with and enter the phone number in your smart phone. If the unthinkable occurs; you are ready!

Aricle source here: WHAT TO DO IN DIFFERENT LOCKOUT SITUATIONS