Reflective Dots On Stairs And Other Ideas For A Safe, Clean, And Energy Efficient Home

Most people think that their home is as safe, cozy, clean, and energy efficient as it can be, but more can be done. From working in a manufacturing environment I have seen safety and energy efficient ideas that can be transferred over to residential uses. Some of these ideas are quite inexpensive and will make a big difference in the way you feel about your home.

I have an older home with a fireplace. When the fireplace is lit it's so warm and cozy, but one cold winter day I lit my fireplace and smoke began to seep out from the stones, and I immediately put the fire out. Fast forward, I ended up having a stainless steel liner placed in the chimney and a new cap put on top of the chimney. The company who put in the stainless steel liner was amazed that I had not had a house fire - they said, "You're lucky." My chimney liner looks exactly like the one in the photo on the right. Now, I don't fear for the safety of me, my family, or house guests when it comes to using my fireplace. Do you need to line your chimney?

Does your alarm system make you feel pretty safe? I have one and at night, especially, I feel safe when it's armed. I've had my alarm system for years, I've changed monitoring companies, but what I had not done is change the security code - you know the code you enter when you come inside your home to disarm the alarm system. Change your security code when:

• You switch monitoring companies.
• After you have guests staying with you. You might have people hang over your shoulder when you enter your security code - it can be memorized.
• At least twice a year, minimum.

Also, if you have an outside code box for entering the garage, you need to change the code on that too at least twice a year. One more thing, If you have your garage door opener clipped to your car visor; when you go for an oil change or other vehicle service, take your garage door opener with you.

When you're on vacation is your house pitch black inside? Say it ain't so! For years my Mom has used Timers for the lights (lamps) in our home when we went away as a family, and now that I have my own home, so do I. Confuse the enemy - get some Timers for your lights (lamps). Neighborhood Watch is good, but it's not all that and a bag of chips.

Is there someone living in your home that is famous for tracking in mud and dirt into the home? Raise your hands! I usually enter my home from the garage, and if I've worked in the yard I tend to track in mud and dirt through the kitchen, the living room, down the hall, then to my bedroom. I purchased something that will help - a Boot & Shoe Scraper, and it works very well.

Having carpet on stairs does give some traction, but no carpet on stairs can be a little slippery. If you don't have carpet on your interior steps put some non-skid tape on the steps. The tape can be semi-transparent as well so it won't be so obvious. Non-skid tape can be used on your deck steps too to help make them safe.

I've experienced a neighborhood blackout and it's no fun. Feeling along the walls to find the steps was scary and frustrating. Make it easy for your family to see their way out of the house in a no light situation by having reflective arrows or dots on your steps. Children will love helping to apply these. To make the reflective dots buy 2-inch or 3-inch reflective tape and cut your own dots.