Grilling Safety Tips

Since it's summer and the 4th of July is just a couple weeks away, here are some grilling safety tips from the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association (HPBA).

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• Read the owner's manual
• Grills are for outside use ONLY
• Use in well ventilated area
• Keep grill stable
• Follow electric codes
• Use long handled utensils
• Wear safe clothing
• Keep fire under control
• Be ready to extinguish flames
• Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill
• Never leave grill unattended once lit
• Stay away from hot grill
• Don't move hot grill

A safe barbecue is a fun barbecue. Happy grilling! 

For detailed information on each tip, visit the HPBA website here.

May is National Electrical Safety Month!

The month of May is National Electrical Safety Month! Here are some tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to ensure electrical safety in your home.

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects, a kitchen remodel in Belmont Shore. For more photos of this remodel, click here.

• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
• Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
• In homes with small children, make sure your home has tamper resistant receptacles.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only high-wattage appliance in to each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If outlet or switches feel warm, frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuits, or flickering or dimming lights, call a qualified electrician.
• Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.
• Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen, bathroom(s), laundry, basement, and outdoor areas.
• Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) should be installed in your home to protect electrical outlets,

For more information on electrical safety, you can check the NFPA's website here.

5 Spring Home Safety Tips

It's Spring, and with spring comes Spring cleaning. Along with Spring cleaning, you can also keep your home safe with a few of these tips from Sue Weave Cause.

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's home remodel projects in Belmont Heights. For more photos of this remodel, click here.

1. Keep gardening tools away from plain sight or, even better, stored where no one, but you and your family can access them. Gardening tools will assist burglars to enter your home.
2. Have lighting outside around your home at night. Motion detector lights are a good deterrent for burglars.
3. Hidden keys to your home. Most burglars can figure out where your hidden keys to your home are. Avoid hiding your keys outside your house.
4. If your breaker boxes are located on the exterior of your house, have those boxes locked.
5. Have locks for your windows and sliding doors. Don't forget to secure them when you leave the house.

With these 5 tips, your house a safer home. To read the complete blog from Sue Weave Cause, click here.

Tips to Keep Your Home Safe From the Rain

With the weather being unpredictable in Southern California, here are a few tips to keep your house safe when it rains.

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• Clean out your gutters and downspouts
• Check your roofs for any leaks
• Trim your trees
• Protect your home's foundation by making sure water won't stay stagnant around your home

For more tips on keeping your home safe during the rain, visit Today's Home Owner's blog here.