Keep Your Lights Bright and Your Home Safe this Holiday Season

11/20/2018 (Permalink)

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family, friends, share a wonderful meal together and is often when many people put up their Christmas lights and tree. Something about lights makes the season seem to twinkle just a little bit more.

Did you know that every year 150 home fires start with holiday lights and other decorative lighting and another 260 home fires begin with Christmas trees, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

So, before you get out the ladder and start stringing up your own holiday lights, here are some helpful tips to keep your holiday twinkle from turning into a holiday disaster.

Check the label on your lights to make sure they have been safety tested and approved from an OSHA-certified laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and are appropriate for your intended use outside or inside.

When hanging your lights, use caution on ladders, stay clear of power lines and do not drive nails, staples or tacks through the wiring insulation.

Check previously used lights and extension cords for fraying, broken bulbs, loose connections or any other kind of damage.

Do not overload extension cords or circuits and make sure your outdoor lights are plugged into a GFCI grounding outlet.

Always unplug your lights when you are not home and considering putting your lights on a timer so you don’t forget.

We hope these tips help to keep your holiday safe and bright!

5 Ways to Prepare Your Business for Winter

11/9/2018 (Permalink)

Snow is just around the corner and here in New England an early snow storm can catch even the most prepared off guard. With just a little amount of time and preparation, you can be prepared easily and enjoy the dropping temperature and falling snow.

1. Inspect your roof and remove any leaves or debris that could potentially cause an ice dam, damage to your roof or water damage.
2. Make sure your windows are sealed, use window coverings and weatherstripping for drafty areas around windows and doors. Also make sure that pipes in unheated spaces are properly insulated to prevent a pipe from freezing and busting which can cause significant water damage.
3. Change your filters regularly so the air in your business stays clean and your systems are running efficiently
4. Stock up on ice melt, sand and shovels to prevent any accidental slips and falls for your customers, you and your employees
5. Lastly, make sure your business insurance is up to date and you have the proper coverage for your business. If you don’t have insurance now is a good time to invest in coverage and help to prevent lost income.

Whether you love winter or can't wait until it's over, this few tips can help save you and your business from the winter blues!

Preparing Your Home for Fall Weather

10/16/2018 (Permalink)

Photo by Craig Tidball on Unsplash

It's that time of year when the leaves are creating their beautiful color display across New England and are rapidly falling to the ground in preparation for winter. Here at SERVPRO of Norwich and Windham County we are also preparing for the Fall season, although we have no colorful leaves to offer, we do have some tips to help prepare your home for the Fall weather ahead.

YOUR YARD

While we cannot prevent the leaves from falling on your roof, patio, lawn, walkways and driveway, here are a few things you can do to keep your home safe.

1. Clean out your gutters before too much piles up and clogs your gutters causing a potential ice dam during the winter months.
2. Raking isn't fun, but keeping your walkways, patio, driveway and yard clear of leaves will keep everyone safe, especially wet leaves which can easily cause a fall.
3. Consider planting a colder-weather garden in the ground now and clean up any plants that have overgrown during the hot summer months.

YOUR HOME

1. Now is the perfect time to inspect and service your furnace, hot water heater and any duct work before you need them. Replace any filters and make sure that all connections are tight. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, now is a great time to get your flu serviced before the temperatures dip too low

2. Daylight is getting shorter, so check and replace the burned out light bulbs on the inside and outside of your house.

3. Go around your house and check to make sure all your windows are properly shut so no heat is escaping and your home is staying warm and energy efficient.

PREPARE

1. Stock up now on sand, ice melt, shovels and anything else you might need once the temperatures get below freezing and the snow starts flying and those items start flying off the shelves!

ENJOY

For many of us, Fall is their favorite time of year. So, visit an apple orchard, carve a pumpkin, decorate with some mums and enjoy everything pumpkin spice, after all it only comes around once a year, so don't miss it!