Whether your fireplace is electric, wood burning or gas, they all generate heat and can therefore be dangerous to children. Children don’t automatically know that a fireplace can generate enough heat to burn them. A young cousin of mine fell against the fireplace doors and got 3rd degree burns on both palms of his hands. There is tremendous heat there which is very dangerous.

Here is a list of steps you need to take for improved safety:

1. If your hearth area has sharp edges, pad them with foam or cushions to prevent injury should a child fall against it.

2. Secure your fireplace screens and tools so they cannot be pulled over on top of a little body.

3. Put a heat resistant door in front of the fireplace opening. Regular glass may not work so please ask your dealer about its ability to defray heat so little hands don’t get burned. You want it to be fairly cool to the touch.

4. If possible, lock your fireplace doors. If not possible, burn a barrier in front of the fireplace.

5. If you’re running a gas fireplace be sure the ability to turn on the gas is locked or hidden.

6. If your fireplace is wood burning, be sure the matches and other flammable items such as paper and instantly igniting wood chips are out of reach or hidden.

7. Take the time to educate your children about the dangers of all fireplaces, remind them of how hot it really is and how easily they can be burned if not careful.

Maintaining a ceiling fan is a relatively easy proposition in comparison to maintaining other home appliances. The proper installation of a ceiling fan will make the maintenance of your fan easier in the long run.

When you receive your fan, a complete set of installation instructions will (or should) be included. In reviewing a number of these instruction manuals, I have found that most are very complete and detailed and include graphics to help the installer relate to the written description of the steps necessary to get the job done right.

The major issue in self-installation is connecting the wiring correctly. Besides the safety issues involved, wiring (for the inexperienced) can appear to be a complicated process. If you have any doubts about your ability to do this part of the job, listen to that little voice in your head and give serious consideration to finding someone you know who has expertise in this area or hire a licensed, bonded and qualified electrician to do the job.

A fan that is not correctly installed will no doubt cause you some maintenance grief. Incorrectly installed ceiling fans are more prone to wobble or vibrate and require maintenance to correct these problems. Most of the time, correcting a wobbling or vibrating fan is fairly simple and straightforward but on occasion it can become a time-consuming and frustrating job. So, a word to the wise: Get the installation done properly and your maintenance problems will be few and far between.

Assuming you have reversible blade ceiling fans, a good time to schedule minor maintenance is when you are ready to reverse the ceiling fan from winter warming to summer cooling. In the summer the blades should move the air upward where warm air in the house is trapped. In the winter the blades should move the air downward, forcing the warm air near the ceiling down into the living area.

When you are ready to change the rotation to the summer setting, schedule some time for maintenance. Using a stepladder, wash the top of the blades. While you’re up there, check the decorative plate that rests against the ceiling. It should be firmly attached to the ceiling. If it’s not, you have a bit of a job in store. It will more than likely be necessary to remove the blades and motor housing to get at the decorative plate. Make sure that it’s tight against the ceiling before putting the fan back together.

Be sure not to use any cleaning material that will either mar the finish or saturate the blade surface if it is constructed with porous material such as wood. You don’t need to soak the cleaning cloth since your goal is not to clean the surface of the blade but rather to remove the dust that has accumulated there during the winter months. A layer of dust can reduce airflow and make your fan work less efficiently.

Depending on the blade surface, consider a light coat of polish such as furniture polish. This will not only make the blade look better, it will also slightly improve the efficiency because it cuts down on resistance

While you are up there, check each of the mounting screws to make sure that they are tight. If you’ve begun to hear a mild ticking noise as the fan rotates, chances are that the culprit(s) are loosened screws. In the extreme, loose screws can result in a blade wobble or the fan itself beginning to vibrate.

Some homeowners make it a point to clean the surfaces of the fan blades on a weekly basis. While for many, this may be overkill; any dust that has collected on the top of the blades will reduce the airflow and therefore the ceiling fan’s efficiency. A paper towel or cloth can be used to give the blades a quick 1-2-3. Again, be careful not to overdo it. A heavy hand can often push one or more blades out of the correct pitch, causing a wobble.

Some homeowners getaway without ever having a fan wobble problem. Unfortunately, enough homeowners end up having this problem that it’s worth mentioning some corrective measures you can take to fix a fan that wobbles.

A wobble is always the result of some type of difference in one or more of the blades. The first things to check are the screws that attach the blades to the motor housing. There are usually three per blade and all should be tight. If you find one or more loose screws, tighten them and then run the fan to see if this solves the problem.

If the wobble persists, find a straightedge and, with the fan off, place it vertically against the edge of one of the blades. Rotate the blades slowly; checking to make sure each blade touches the straightedge. If you find one or more blades that don’t, gently bend them up or down until they touch the straightedge. This done, all the blades should have an equal pitch (or angle as it’s sometimes called). Start the fan again and see if the problem is solved.

If you still have a wobble, you have a little more involved job ahead of you. The basic problem is that one or more of your blades weigh more or less than the others, accounting for the wobble. Fortunately, there’s a solution called a balancing kit that is designed to correct this problem.

Purchase a balancing kit at the store where you purchased the fan, a home center or at a large hardware store. The kits are also available on-line.

The instructions often vary from balancing kit to balancing kit but they all are designed to get you the right end result: A wobble-free fan. Follow the instructions carefully and don’t take any short cuts no matter what your own personal logic dictates.

The kits include balancing clips which are weights designed to even the weight of the blades. Done properly, the balancing clip(s) placement will solve your wobble problem.

Although working through the balancing kit steps is somewhat tedious and time consuming, most of the problems causing a fan to wobble don’t reach this stage and can be corrected by following one of the first two procedures.

With the proper care and maintenance, your ceiling fans will give you years and years of carefree comfort.

In the winter months, freezing rain and snow may cause damage to many homes across the country. With the high rise in cost for heating this year, many homes could save hundreds of dollars by simply preparing their homes for the harsh weather by winterizing, or prepping the home for winter.

How could you protect your home for the winter months? Winterizing your home is much simpler than most people think.

Start Winterizing Your Home by Sealing Leaks

One of the best ways to begin to winterize your home is to actually check the exterior of your house for cracks. A crack along the outside of your home lets heat out, making it more difficult to keep your house warm. Even houses with siding around the outside could have cracks along the fireplace, or even under the eaves. Windows and doors are the most popular areas for cracks.

Once you’ve located the problem areas, you can fill the cracks with a caulking compound. Apply a generous amount of caulking directly into the cracks and smooth the caulking out with your finger or a tool. Be sure to seal the crack completely as you smooth out the caulking.

Winterizing your Home by Protecting your Pipes

Pipes that go unprotected can freeze and burst with time. Broken pipes can cost thousands of dollars to replace. Avoid unnecessary costs by caring for your pipes properly in cold weather.

To start, identify any water hoses that may be hooked up. These hoses that are filled with water should be removed and emptied and put away during the freezing weather.

Next, outside faucets or piping can be protected from cold weather with heat tape. You can purchase heat tape from any local hardware store. Wrap the tape around exposed outdoor pipes and this should be enough to keep your faucets from freezing. If you have an outdoor pump system, even if it’s in a shed, it could still freeze up and cause problems if the weather is well below freezing. Use a heat lamp in the late evening hours to prevent freezing.

Winterizing Your Home with Insulation

Finally, if your house is lacking proper insulation, you could save hundreds of dollars on heating costs by getting it installed. Contact a professional installer and get an estimate for putting in insulation or get an evaluation if you don’t know if you need insulation.
Even if your home does have insulation, have it checked for any damage caused by leaks.

Insulation is inexpensive to have installed. You can do it yourself and save money by going to your local hardware store and getting the supplies.

Don’t forget to check the attic space for proper insulation. Many homebuilders may skip putting insulation in the roof to save on building costs, but this form of additional insulation significantly reduces heat releasing through the attic.

These simple steps are often overlooked, but could save thousands of dollars on heating costs and repairs to your home. Most of these things you can do yourself. Talk to your local hardware store for more ideas on how to winterize your home.