Category: News

With the cost and hassle of replacing central heat, a lot of people are investing in space heaters.

Whole-Room vs. Personal Heater: Select the Right One.

An electric space heater that is too large for an area will consume lots of energy and lead to higher utility bills. Buying a portable heater rated for a small space and expecting it to cover a large area will make it work harder to heat the space.

Tip-Over Protection - A heater with a tip-over or tilt-over switch will automatically shut off if tipped over for any reason.

Pick the Right Place - Install at least 3 feet away from furniture, window treatments, bedding, clothing, rugs, and other combustibles.

Directly Plug into an Outlet - Sufficient power capacity is required. An extension cord increases the chance of overheating.

Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Purchase - Frequently clean and maintain the heater to ensure safety. Wipe down the heater to reduce the amount of dust and allergens that may be dispersed.

Shut Off and Unplug - When leaving an area, disconnect the portable space heater or buy one with an automatic programmable timer.

Keep Heaters Away From Water - Refrain from running a heater in a bathroom or a humid basement. Moreover, do not touch the heater if you are wet or have wet hands, as this increases the risk of electrical shock.

Spring is a time for renewal both for ourselves & our homes.  It’s also a great reminder to check key areas around the home for defects or repairs. Check out our new Spring Maintenance Tips video from the nationwide experts at Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

Here is a shocking fact. The second leading cause of lung cancer is radon. In the United States, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon related and in Canada that number stands at approximately 3,000.

Radon, a dangerous gas, is colorless, odorless, tasteless and radioactive. It is formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in soil, rock and groundwater.

Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States and Canada is estimated to have an elevated radon level. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem - this means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements since this secret killer comes from the ground not from construction materials.

How Radon Can Get Into Your Home

1. Cracks in Solid Floors
2. Construction Joints
3. Cracks in Walls
4. Gaps in Suspended Floors
5. Gaps Around Service Pipes
6. Cavities Inside Walls
7. The Water Supply

Radon testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Pillar To Post Home Inspectors conduct a short term test using a continuous monitor to provide a snapshot of the home to see if it has elevated levels of radon. Testing takes approximately 2-3 days and results are provided and interpreted and the report is sent directly to the client. Recommendations will then be made for a mitigation system. Even owners of condominiums, houses built on slabs, and other situations need to check on the air quality and the presence of radon in their living quarters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit our page to learn more about radon resources, as well as how to contact your local home inspector.