The key to being pleased with your project is in choosing a railing pattern that you like and want to see at your own porch. The railing should reflect your design preferences just as you would decorate a room in your house. Just because it has a utility function, it does not need to be drab or unpleasant. Take advantage of new and modern styles to achieve the look you desire.

Here are some tips when learning how to put on porch railing:

• Measure carefully before making your final size choices for your railing. Be certain that the railing is tall enough that small children will be kept safe.

• Be sure that you can adequately secure the railing to the flooring and steps as well as to any adjacent walls, for stability.

• Don’t compromise safety for frugality. Think of your porch railing as an investment that will enhance your safe enjoyment of your  house.

• Whether you install a wooden railing or a metal one, take steps to protect the porch under the railing when you attempt to paint it. Using a rust-resistant paint on metal railing or treated wood and a paint that will further seal it and protect it from the weather is your most sensible act when you are at the painting phase of the installation.

A carbon monoxide detector is such an important safety feature to a home because carbon monoxide is odorless and cannot be detected in any other way.  When selecting a carbon monoxide detector these simple steps should be fallowed.

• See how far of a distance the carbon monoxide detector reaches.  If you live in a rather large home, or a home with multiple levels, you may need more than one.  If more than one detector is needed, place them strategically in your home for the most benefit.

• Be sure that the detector can fit into the desired place in your home.  For example, if you wish to place the detector in your living room and you only have outlets that fit two prong plugs; you will not want a detector with three prongs on its plug.

• Make sure that the detector is officially approved.  Some carbon monoxide detectors are not officially certified, therefore they are not proven to detect carbon monoxide as accurately. 

Finding the right carbon monoxide detector is extremely important.  You can normally find a carbon monoxide detector at any hardware store. It is important to remember that a fire alarm is not the same thing as a carbon monoxide detector, nor does it work the same way. Make sure you know how to properly check you carbon monoxide detector once you have installed them into your home.

If you follow these simple steps you can childproof your house and make it a safer place for your child to live. 

1. You should go to your local hardware store and gather supplies.  The supplies you will need include plug covers, cabinet clips, drawer holders and baby gates.

2. First you should set up the baby gates.  Baby gates are not only used to keep children in a desired area, but also to cover stair ways and dangerous areas.  All stairs and dangerous areas should be properly sealed off by a baby gate.

3. Drawer holders and cabinet clips should be installed next.  Drawer holders will prevent children from opening a drawer unless the press down on a tab, which most likely they will not.  Cabinet clips work the same way, except they are placed on a cabinet and prevent the cabinet from opening unless a tab is press in.

4. Plug covers are also a very important part of childproofing your home.  You never know what a child could find to shove into small place.  Plug covers should be placed on every plug that is open no matter where they are located in the house.

Just by following these simple steps you can make your home a safe environment for your child to live in.  You will never have to worry about them getting into the knife drawer or stuffing things into the outlets.

It is quick and easy to check your carbon monoxide detector, and you can do so by following these simple steps.

• Remove your carbon monoxide detector from the wall it is plugged into and place it in a safe dry place.  Do not put the detector into a wet area, because it does use electricity and being wet can cause a malfunction.

• Clean the dust and dirt out from the various creases in the device, using a dry cloth.  This is the most important step because dust and dirt can cause the device to not detect the carbon monoxide.

•  Press the “test” button on the device.  When you press the “test” button an alarm will sound.  This sound will let you know that your device is working right and that you can plug it back into the wall. 

Having a working carbon monoxide detector is an important asset to have in your house.  It can keep people safe and ensure that your home is not being threatened.  Because carbon monoxide is odorless, the only way to detect it is with a carbon monoxide detector.  If you do not regularly check your carbon monoxide detector, you may not be fully protected. You can plan to check your carbon monoxide detector with your usual checkups on your fire alarm in your home

1.)   Be sure that you change the batteries and check your  fire alarm.  You will want to be certain that you are doing this at least one time per year.  It is actually recommended that you do it on the weekend of daylight savings time.  This will help you remember to change the batteries when you need to change your clocks. 

2.)   Update your first aid kit. You will be amazed at the things you remove from this kit throughout the year.  Therefore, you need to check it periodically to ensure that you have everything you need in it.  Make a note on your calendar so that you do not forget to do it on a more regular basis. When you do update your first aid kit, make sure to check any products that have expiration dates and replace them once they are expired. 

3.)   Check the pressure of your fire extinguisher.  Some people think that they just need to purchase one, place it in their kitchen and forget about it.  This is not true. They do decrease in pressure over a period of time so it needs to be checked to ensure that it will work properly in the time of an emergence. 

Taking the time to do these things will help keep you, as well as your family, safe.  These things do not take long and you will be glad you did them if there is ever an emergency.

If you have a fireplace you probably want to be able to use it without any fears and concerns. But, chimney fires are a cause for great concern for individuals that do not know the proper steps to take in order to decrease the likelihood of them occurring. Try following these simple steps to decrease the chance of any chimney fires taking place in your home.

1.)   Only use really dry wood when you get ready for your fire. This is often called seasoned wood and it is very important in preventing fires. Your chimney may become clogged if you are using wood that has a lot of moisture in it. This can increase fires, so the dryer the better. 

2.)   Build small fires each time that you decide to have one. This will also decrease the amount of smoke that the fire produces.

3.)   Only burn wood. When you burn paper and trash you will be increasing sparks that can contribute to chimney fires. Because paper and trash is lighter than wood, it can float up out of the chimney and onto the roof. A paper that is still on fire and lands on the roof will cause the roof to become a blazed.

4.)   Have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis. If you are not able to clean the chimney yourself then you can call a professional to come and do it for you. These individuals are very easily found by looking in your local phone book or on the internet.

You should always practice safe precautions when working with any type of fire. Make sure your family knows the do’s and don’ts of using the fire place, where you keep the fire extinguishers, how to extinguish home fires, and what to do if your home is on fire.

The following is a list of some things that need to be on hand and in a secure location in case of any emergencies.

1.)    You should always have a first aid kit easily accessible.  This can be used for any emergency when an individual may be injured.
2.)    Be certain that you have blankets and plenty of them in case the power goes out and you are dealing with poor weather.
3.)    Keep extra clothes handy and keep them in a waterproof container so that they do not get wet. Extra socks are also good to keep in hand.
4.)    Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy so that you will always have light. You may want to also keep candles and lighters in a specific location so you can find them as well.
5.)    Have a battery operated radio so that you will be able to listen to emergency broadcasts that may be available.
6.)    Fresh water and non perishable food items, along with a can opener, are also good to have.

7.  If you have pets, make sure you have extra pet food and water available for them as well. Keep a leash with the backup food in case you need to leave the house.

8. Back up toiletries are also good to have in cause the disaster last more than a day. You can keep in a large zip lock bag: your tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, shampoo/conditioner, woman hygiene projects, and contact solution if you were contacts.

When you have all of these things available you will be ready for just about anything that may come your way.You should also know what to do if you have a gas leak in your home, how to shut off electrical power and what to do if you have power failure or electrical sparks in your home.

So, where should they be placed?

1.)   You need to have one in every sleeping area as well as in each adjoining room.
 
2.)   Place at least one on every floor of your home. This includes the basement so you need to be sure that you have not forgotten this area.

3.)   Install a smoke detector in areas of the house where the furnace or water heater is located as well. These things may create a fire and it is a good idea to have the smoke detector close to these things.

When you purchase smoke detectors you need to be sure that you buy the smoke detectors that are interconnected.  This means that if one goes off, they will all be triggered.  This really is the safest thing for you and your family.  You also need to read the instructions with each one so that you are sure that you know how to test them.  This will also tell you how often you will need to replace the batteries. Once a month you should test the smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly and that the batteries are not dead. This is a small task to do that will keep your family safe from a home fire disaster.

If your fire detectors do go off and you have a fire in your home, make sure you know how to extinguish home fires, if the fire is too out of control, get out of the house immediately and call the fire department.

1. Get everyone out of the house at once.
2. Use a neighbor’s phone or your cell phone, once you are away of from your home, to call the gas company or the fire department.
3. Don’t light a math or turn on/off any electrical switch. The danger of fire or an explosion is high. You should leave as many windows and doors open to help clear out the gas from the house.

Once you know everyone is safely out of your home, you can turn off the gas supply at the main gas shutoff valve. If you feel unsafe to turn off the gas shutoff valve, you can wait for the utility company to arrive to shut it off for you. The valve is usually located on the gas inlet pipe next to the gas meter. To shut off the gas, use an adjustable wrench to turn the gas shutoff valve a quarter-turn in either direction so that the valve flats are in a closed position. The valve should be perpendicular to the pipe.

Gas Shutoff Valve

Don’t turn the gas back on until you’ve discovered the source of the gas leak and have corrected it.

In the event of a natural disaster, you may have to turn off the gas supply to your home. Make sure you and all members of your family know the location of the gas shutoff valve and how to close it. To help your family identify the gas valve, attach a tie-on tag to the valve and label it Gas Shutoff Valve. Leave an adjustable wrench in a reachable location so it will be close at hand in the event of an emergency.

Electrical Safety

Operating with electricity is one of the most dangerous activities you can undertake as home owner. If not handled properly, electricity can cause dangerous shocks and fires. Most electrical home injuries are a result of touching live wires that were thought dead. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when working with electricity.

Cut off the power. The most important thing to remember when doing electrical repairs is to cut power to your home and appliance you’re working on. Before you start to work on the wiring, always trip the circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse to the circuit. When in doubt about which circuit to switch off, you should turn off the main power supply. Make sure to unplug any appliance you’re working on.

Backup electrical safety. Once you have cut off power, there are five additional safety measures that should be carried out. Sometimes these extra steps are referred to as backup electrical safety.

1. Using a circuit tester to make sure a circuit is actually dead.
2. Use a wood or fiberglass ladder when working on ceiling fixtures such as fans and chandeliers. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity and offer a high risk to getting shocked.
3. Use a cordless drill when working on electricity outdoors.
4. Stand on a dry board and wear rubber boots when working in damp or wet conditions. Water is a conductor of electricity.
5. Always wear insulating gloves when using electrical tools.

Fire Hazards. Faulty wiring can cause fires. Restriction of a current flow through a wire or cord, such as a cord that is poorly connected to its plug, may lead to overheating and a fire. If a cord shows any wear and tear it should be replace as quickly as possible.

The “extension cord octopus” is another common cause of electrical fires. Where too many appliances are plugged into an extension cord excessive heat builds up in the cord as it extension cord tries to carry the electricity for all the appliances. The cord’s insulation melts from the heat and wires are exposed as the insulation weakens. This leads to a short circuit that sends sparks flying when the bare wires touch one another. This situation can lead to serious shocks, as well as electrical fires.

More safety precautions. In addition to the safety measures above, here are a few extra precautions to keep in mind.

• Lock or leave a note on the service panel to alert others that you are working on circuit wiring.
• Study your homes wiring and know how it works before you adjust or work on any electrical system. 
• Circuits are dead only past where they have been disconnected. Even after the circuit breakers have been turned off or the fuses removed, the lines for the utility company in the service panel are still hot.