Randy King - Mankato Home Inspector

As I wrote in my last post winter is the season for being cozy, sitting next to a warm fireplace and maybe sipping a cup or two of cider. But while spending long days and nights inside the comfort of our homes it's also an infamous time for feeling dry and under-the-weather. With people spending more time indoors, air circulation is compromised, and the level of contaminants increases. Fleeting freshness and moisture take a toll on our skin, throats, noses and overall health, and can be especially harmful to those suffering from allergies and asthma.

Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are undetectable by your nose and throat, and can get deep into your lungs. This year, be proactive in creating a safer indoor environment for your family and guests by following these few quick fixes.

A whole-home air filtration system, can remove up to 99.98 percent of unwanted particles and allergens from a home's filtered air, a benefit that no standard 1-inch throwaway filter or ionic-type room appliance can match. These systems are designed to work as part of your heating and cooling system, meaning they're designed to clean the filtered air in every room of your home. Air filtration systems work behind the scenes to keep you breathing easier and feeling healthier year-round.

Routine maintenance to your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is equally - if not more - critical to keeping the indoor air quality of your home safe and systems operating at peak efficiency. Changing or cleaning your filters regularly will minimize the introduction of dust and other contaminants into your home. Check your owner's manual or contact an HVAC professional to determine the appropriate filter schedule for your system. In addition, an HVAC professional can perform a routine maintenance checkup to ensure all components of your HVAC system are operating properly, and advise you on ways to improve the safety and comfort of your home.

Why so darn dry? The chill of outside air has a relatively low dew point. When we bring that outside air inside and heat it, even more moisture is sucked from the air, making your body uncomfortably dry. If overaly dry conditions occur in your home, consider looking into a humidifier.

Extra tips for a happier, healthier, warmer winter:
* Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward, toward the ceiling. By doing so, you will reduce cooling drafts and force naturally rising heat back down into the room.

* Add a touch of green. House plants are a small, but natural a source of oxygen.

* On pleasant or mild winter days pop open windows slightly for 15 minutes to break stale or musty air.

* Turn the heat down in your shower. Hot water may feel amazing on a cold winter morning, but it contributes to the dryness of your skin.

Now that you're ready to beat the bummer of another cold Minnesota winter, your family can enjoy spending time together. And before you know it New Year's will pass on Friday and it will be time to pull shorts and swimsuits out of winter storage.

Winter is officially here and fireplace season for many of us in Minnesota has already begun. But if your chimney and fireplace has not seen regular maintenance and cleaning for some time, then your soothing fire may become a hazardous condition. A solid fuel fireplace and chimney that has not been properly maintained can lead to several problems.

Over time, soot and creosote can build within a chimney and lessen efficency and cause fires. Furthermore, there are many factors that can affect a chimney's performance and the potential for hazards. A lack of a chimney cap or spark arrestor can allow debris from tree and overhead vegetation as well as pest entry into a flue and over time blocks within the chimney flue or firebox can become loose due years of use.

So if you haven't had your chimney inspected and cleaned since last season's use it's time to get cleaning or stay clean yourself and call one of your local companies.

Energy costs, burst pipes, power outages, and fires, all potential winter hazards that makes winter not sound so merry, but you can protect yourself and your home. With a little preventative maintenance and preparation you can minimize the inconveniences that ensue during this cold time of the year in Minnesota.

Indoor Floods

While home fires seem to always make headlines, water damage is actually more common and often just as severe. The most frequent cause for this problem in the winter is faulty or broken pipes. Be sure to insulate along rim joists and around pipes that are more exposed to cold temperatures. If you leave your home during the winter for vacation or are just hitting the slopes leave your thermostat to at least 50-55 degrees. Don't let high fuel prices tempt you to drop it lower, pipes that come in through foundations or exterior walls can drop far below your temperature setting.

If you are going to be away from your home long term consider having someone check on your home or have an automatic water shutoff installed. Automatic water shutoffs are attached to your home's water main and sense if a large increase in water flow is created such as from a burst pipe and will shut the system off preventing extending water exposure and limiting damage. Also, people who have an automatic shutoff installed can usually receive a discount from the insurance company, so if you install one give your agent a call.

Chimney and Furnace Fires

While fire hazards are really a year-round concern and should always be respected, fires actually occur more frequently during the winter. Chimney, boilers and furnaces are at particular risk. Approximately 25,000 residential fires begin in a fireplace or chimney every year according to the United States Consumer and Product Safety Commission.

So what is a homeowner to do? Have your furnace and any fireplace including the chimney inspected and cleaned every year. Having inspections and cleanings performed can prevent the accumulation of carbon based residues more commonly known as creosote and can identify potential problems before they occur, making sure you stay safe and warm this winter.

Ice Dams and Old Trees

While icicles and ice hanging from your eaves or an old tree may seem beautiful, usually this can indicate an underlying issue and a potential safety hazard. An ice dam is formulated when snow above melts on the roof and freezes near the edge or eave of the roof and can block proper drainage and allow water to find an entry point below or around the dam. The most common causes of ice dams are clogged gutters and insufficient insulation and ventilation allowing heat to escape from the home through the attic space and to the roof sheathing above. When the roof sheathing or material directly below your shingles begins to absorb heat it conducts this heat to the shingles and in return allows snow to be melted.

Mature trees present a different potential hazard and usually become an issue in severe winter weather and sleet like conditions. When an old tree experiences strong winds coupled with heavy coats of ice or snow it creates an environment perfect for branch failures and collapses which can affect nearby structures. So if you have concerns with an old tree on your property have a professional tree or horticultural expert take a look at your property for unstable trees and branches and create a course of action which typically involves pruning or cutting branches.

Hopefully this article has provided you with a few ideas so that your Holiday and winter season is less stressful and more merry.

There are some absolutely disgusting things that go in your clothes washer from dirty socks, to infant clothes and more but if you have ever had a wash machine with a bad odor there is no comparison. Over time, you may begin to notice that your wash machine begins to develop an order from a build up of residue. This is a signal that it may be time to clean your washer. To start off decide where the source of the smell is originating. Typically the cause is your washer but every once in awhile it may be from the water supply. So double check your water supply before beginning to make your washer out to be the culprit.

After you eliminate any other possibilities and you are sure that it is your washer it's time to begin cleaning. To start off with get a a bucket and some nice hot water and scrub that washer down. Next, create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.

• Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to 2-3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Quick Disclaimer: always make sure you mix appropriate substances, read lables carefully before mixing.

Next, begin a wash cycle using the machines hottest setting. As the machine fills, add the baking soda and vinegar mixture. Let the wash machine complete a full cycle. Lastly, run a second cold water cycle to complete the process. You should immediately clean any loose residue and rinse any areas that require a little extra attention. The odor should now be neutralized.

The following information has been provided by General Electric and the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission.

The United States Consumer and Product Safety Commission and General Electric announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products.

Name of Product: GE Profile^TM and GE Monogram® Dishwashers

Units: About 174,000

Manufacturer: GE Appliances & Lighting, of Louisville, Ky.

Hazard: Water condensation can drip onto the electronic control board, causing a short circuit and resulting in an overheated connector. This poses a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: GE has received five reports of fires, four of which caused minor damage to the kitchen countertops where the dishwashers were installed and one caused minor damage to adjacent cabinets and smoke damage to the home. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the GE Profile dishwashers manufactured between July 2003 and December 2005 and GE Monogram dishwashers manufactured between January 2004 and December 2006. They were sold in white, black, bisque, stainless steel and with custom panels. The recalled model and serial numbers listed below are located on the inside on the front left side of the dishwasher tubs.

Sold at: Retail stores nationwide, appliance dealers and authorized builder distributors from July 2003 through December 2006 for between $750 and $1,400.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it and inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire. Contact GE for a free in-home repair or to receive a GE rebate of $200 for the purchase of a new GE Profile dishwasher and a GE rebate of $400 for purchase of a new GE Monogram dishwasher.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE toll-free at (877) 275-6840 or visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11022.html