(from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Liquid petroleum (LP) gas or propane, used in gas grills, is highly flammable. Each year about 30 people are injured as a result of gas grill fires and explosions. Many of these fires and explosions occur when consumers first use a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just after refilling and reattaching the grill’s gas container. To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, consumers should routinely perform the following safety checks:

• Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to clear blockage and push it through to the main part of the burner.
• Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
• Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease. If you can’t move the hoses, install a heat shield to protect them.
• Replace scratched or nicked connectors, which can eventually leak gas.
• Check for gas leaks, following the manufacturer’s instructions, if you smell gas or when you reconnect the grill to the LP gas container. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.
• Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames away from a leaking grill.
• Never use a grill indoors. Use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or any building. Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire.
• Do not attempt to repair the tank valve or the appliance yourself. See an LP gas dealer or a qualified appliance repair person.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions that accompany the grill.

Consumers should use caution when storing LP gas containers. Always keep containers upright. Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors. Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.

To avoid accidents while transporting LP gas containers, consumers should transport the container in a secure, upright position. Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.

Consumers should use extreme caution and always follow manufacturer’s instructions when connecting or disconnecting LP gas containers.

Grills manufactured after October 1, 1995, are required to have three additional safety features to eliminate leak hazards: a device to limit the flow of gas in the event of hose rupture; a mechanism to shut-off the grill; and a feature to prevent the flow of gas if the connection between the tank and the grill is not leak proof. Consumers should consider purchasing grills that have these safety features.

Charcoal Grill Safety Tips

Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) when it is burned. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments. Each year about 30 people die and 100 are injured as a result of CO fumes from charcoal grills and hibachis used inside.

To reduce these CO poisonings, CPSC is offering the following safety tips:

• Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
• Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.

Here are estimates of the average lifetime expectancy of various components:

Gas range	15
Electric range	13
Freezer	11
Refrigerator	13
Dishwasher	9
Disposal	12
Microwave	9
Acrylic kitchen sink	50
Kitchen faucet	15
Kitchen cabinets	50
Natural stone countertop	Lifetime
Cultured marble	20
Dryer	13
Washer	10
Medicine cabinet	20
Shower doors	20
Shower	50
Whirlpool tub	20 / 50
Wood deck	20
Vinyl doors	20
French doors	30 / 50
Wood windows	30
Wood, marble, slate, granite floors:	100
Vinyl flooring	50
Linoleum	25
Carpet	8 / 10
Garage door opener	10 / 15
Security system	5 / 10
Smoke detectors	5 / 10
Furnace	15 / 20
Heat pump	16
Air Conditioning	10 / 15
Tankless water heater	20
Electric/Gas water heater	10
Slate roofing	50
Asphalt roofing	20
Aluminum gutter	20
Asphalt driveway	15 / 20

Cabinets:

If your cabinets and counter tops are in good shape, you can update the look of your kitchen by changing the color of the walls and/or re-surfacing or re-painting the cabinets. Cabinet re-facing, is more expensive than painting, but still saves about 50 percent over all new cabinets.  As long as your cabinets aren’t laminate or melamine, you can re-paint them yourself.  New drawer and door pulls will make a huge difference in the look of your kitchen.

Color:  go for a 60-30-10 color scheme (60 percent of a main color, 30 percent of a complementary color and 10 percent for an accent color like a backsplash or a trim detail.) Keep the big items like cabinets on the neutral side and accent with elements like wall paint, window treatments and small appliances. Florescent under-cabinet lighting strips are easy and inexpensive. Spending a couple hundred dollars to upgrade the kitchen sink or even just the faucet can also go a long way in sprucing up your kitchen.

Counter Top Options:

Granite: Price:  $35 to $125 per square foot, installed

Pros: natural beauty in multiple finishes and exotic colors, can pick own slab, resists heat, durable, waterproof, can be honed to produce a matte finish.

Cons: porous and stains if not properly sealed, can scratch, bacterial concerns.  Maintenance:  needs sealing once or twice a year by homeowner.

Quartz: Price:  $56 to $86 per square foot, installed

Pros: durable, non-porous, resistant to scratches and stains, doesn’t chip, more uniform appearance, no bacterial issues, many choices, some have 10-year warranty.

Cons:  not as natural looking, undermount sink has to be cut carefully to match.  Maintenance:  needs no sealing or refinishing.  Easy to clean.

Solid Surface material:    Price:  $32 to $70 per square foot, installed

Pros: seamless appearance, non-porous, repairable, wide variety of colors and patterns, needs no sealing.

Cons: softer material so can be scratched, sensitive to heat.

Laminate: Price:  $3 – $8 per lineal foot, installed

Pros: variety of colors and patterns, needs no sealing, easy to clean, non-porous.

Cons: scratches and chips, not heat resistant.

Ceramic Tile: Price:  $8 – $20 per square foot, installed

Pros: variety of colors and patterns,

Cons: fragile, hard to clean, grout stains, bacteria in grout, needs periodic sealing.

Water: Our Most Precious Resource

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American Water & Energy Savers, of Florida, has put together a list of 49 ways to save water. Here are a few:

1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.

2. Verify that your home is leak-free. Many homes have hidden water leaks. If you have a water meter, here is how to test: read your meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

3. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.

4. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as the test is done, since food coloring may stain the tank.)

5. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

6. Take shorter showers. Replace your shower head with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.

7. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by filling the tub only one-third full. Put the stopper in the drain before turning on the water. The initial burst of cold water will be warmed by adding hot water.

8. Don’t let water run while doing the dishes, shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, and then wash or shave after filling the basin.

9. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.

Go to http://www.AmericanWater.com to read more ways to save water.

Furnace

Filters:  Replace or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy usage.  Consider a permanent filter.  Electostatic filters are better at controlling the bacteria, mold, viruses and pollen that cause illness and irritation.  Another good choice is a genuine HEPA filter.  Be sure your furnace is in good working order.  Many utility companies or heating/cooling contractors offer free or reduced cost annual checkups by qualified technicians.

Ducts:  Studies show 10% to 30% of heated (or cooled) air in an average system escapes from the duct work.  Hire a professional technician to come out and test your system.  Properly sealed ducts can save the average home up to $140 annually.

Thermostats:  Most households shell out 50 to 70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling.  For every degree you lower the thermostat during heating season, you’ll save between 1 and 3% of your heating bill. Programmable thermostats are available for as little as $50, and the average family will save $180 a year with one.

Insulation:  It is one of the best ways to save energy. It can make a big difference to add more insulation between walls, and make sure your attic insulation is adequate.

Paddle Fans

Counterclockwise rotation is for cooling breezes while switching to clockwise makes it warmer: air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space – cutting your heating costs as much as 10%.

A/C and Water Lines

Drain any hoses and air conditioner pipes.  If your a/c has a water shutoff valve, turn that off.  Don’t forget to remove any window A/C units to avoid cold drafts all winter.  Make sure any hoses are drained and stowed away. Turn off exterior water spigots.

Water Heater

Many conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees F by installers.  By lowering the temperature to 120 degrees F (or lower) would reduce your water heating costs by 6% to 10%.  Pay less for hot water by insulating your pipes and hot water heater.  You can get pre-slit pipe foam at most hardware stores. Cut it to size and fasten in place with duct tape.

Storm Doors and Windows

Installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by sealing drafts. Storm windows can make a huge difference when the cold wind starts blowing. It is worth it to get your storm windows installed for the season.

Buy Energy Star Appliances

Look for the energy use label.  It will give you the estimated yearly operating cost of the appliance.  If it has the energy star logo on it, you will have lower energy bills and less pollution than standard models.  More than 18,000 products in 35 different categories are covered in the Energy Star program.  A home fully equipped with Energy Star products will use about 30 percent less energy, saving around $600 a year.  Go to energystar.gov to see qualified products and learn more.

Fix Those Water Leaks

One faulty faucet can waste up to 3 gallons of water per day.  Sometimes a leak can be fixed by just tightening the connections.  If you have a leak that is too hard to get to, it is worth calling a plumber.  Another plus:  by fixing the leak, you can decrease the risk of mold.

Install Low-Flow Showerheads and Toilets

Most older model toilets waste large amounts of water. In fact, more than 30 percent of indoor residential water use is flushed.  Newer low-flow models use less than a gallon.  You can save water and money in your shower with a low-flow showerhead.  The devices are simple to install and are relatively inexpensive.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat will pay for itself in one season.  By maintaining a constant heating/cooling level, and always ‘remembering’ to turn down the heat at night, the average family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA. Programmable thermostats can be picked up from hardware stores, home improvement stores and major manufacturers for as little as $50.  Installing one is simple   Usually, you will connect up a few wires in the back once you remove your old one (shut off the power to the area first).  But if you have any doubt, it’s a quick fix for an electrician or handyman.

Dodge Drafts and Seal Air Leaks

One of the easiest ways to save money around the house is to stop drafts.  They can increase your energy bills 5 to 30 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  Check for window drafts by carefully holding a candle or an incense stick up to each window and watch the smoke or flame to see if there is a leak. (Be sure to stay away from flammables:  curtains, shades, etc.)  Then use caulking or weather-stripping to seal the cracks.  Check older caulking and weather-stripping.  Over time, it can shrink.  To stop drafts at your doors, make or buy a ‘draft snake’ to put up against the bottom of your door.  Make sure you close in any holes or cracks in the foundation.