3 Often Overlooked Household Problems

 

 

Your home is your castle, but even castles need a new drawbridge every now and then. Protect your castle this spring to avoid costly home repairs down the road.

 

Here are 3 household problems that are easily overlooked, and even more easily fixed.

 

1.  Tighten loose doorknobs – We take doorknobs and handles for granted, but they’re one of the most touched, turned and yanked parts of the home. Over time, doorknobs can loosen, stop working or even fall off. A loose doorknob can also prevent the door from locking properly, potentially creating a security risk.

How to avoid loose knobs –Tightening the screws on your doorknobs once a year should be enough to keep them in place. If the keyhole of a lock tends to stick, use graphite powder to lubricate the works. Oil may also work, but can become sticky over time.

 

2.  Caulking the bathroom – The grout or caulk around your bathroom fixtures can degrade over time, leading to discoloration from mold or even water leaks. To protect your bathroom from water damage and hidden mildew, check the rim around your bathtub and other fixtures and look for places where the caulk is worn away or missing. Exposed corners could mean that it’s time to re-caulk.

How to replace caulk – Redoing the caulking in your bathroom is easy and only requires a few tools. If you’re not sure what kind of caulk to use, ask an employee in the bathroom fixture or plumbing department of your local hardware store for a recommendation. A few things you might need are a putty knife, drop cloth, caulk gun, caulk tube and a sponge for clean-up.

 

3.  Clean refrigerator coils – Too often we have an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to cleaning. Hidden places like under the bed and behind appliances are rarely cleaned as often as they should be. Dust can build up — and, in the case of refrigerators, cause the appliance to work less effectively. Too much dust will insulate the coils, preventing the release of heat that helps keep your refrigerator cool.

How to clean refrigerator coils – Cleaning the back of your refrigerator is simple. Once or twice a year, use a handheld vacuum or vacuum attachment to remove the dust from the coils. Doing so prevents your refrigerator from working too hard, and can even lower your electric bill.

 

These 3 maintenance tips are often overlooked by homeowners, but can help prevent damage and potentially save you money – while only taking a few minutes each to complete.

Home Fire Prevention and Safety

 

If the smoke alarm goes off in your home, do you and your family have a fire escape plan?

 

In 2011, fire departments responded to 370,000 home fires – and while not all home fires are preventable, creating a fire-prevention plan can reduce the risk of fire in your home. Check out the home fire prevention tips below to keep your home and family safe.

 

Here’s a summary of the 10 tips – have you checked them off in your home?

1. Sweep the chimney – Do this yearly to prevent the buildup of flammable creosote.
 
2. Smoke detectors – Place a smoke detector on every floor, and in or near every bedroom. Make sure to test the batteries regularly and change every six months.
 
3. Fire escapes – Keep roll-out ladders near each window above the first floor for a safe escape in case of fire.
 
4. Space heaters – Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from other objects.
 
5. Safe – Protect irreplaceable items and important documents in a safe that has an Underwriters Laboratory Rating of 125 or above.
 
6. Electrical outlets – Use one surge protector per wall outlet to protect your electrical system and electronics.
 
7. Candles – Rather than burning real candles, try battery-operated ones instead. If you do burn real candles, never leave them unattended.
 
8. Stove – Don’t leave a hot stove while cooking. Stay in the kitchen, and avoid trying to multitask while cooking a meal.
 
9. Fire extinguisher – Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and replace it as often as the manufacturer recommends.
 
10. Fire Drills – Run practice fire drills with your family to ensure that everyone knows which exits to use in case of an emergency.

Keep your family and property safe by having a fire escape plan, and avoiding common fire hazards. And pass this graphic along to friends and family so they can do the same.

A Microscopic Look at What’s Hiding in Your Heating Ducts

 

Do your allergies flare up when you switch on your central air or heat? You’re not alone. Turning on the air conditioning or furnace when the weather changes stirs up all kinds of allergens, and circulates them throughout the house. Take a look at what may be lurking in your vents, and learn what you can do to clean up the air in your home.

 

Pollen
You don’t have to have a flower garden growing in your living room for pollen to collect in air ducts. These microscopic allergy agitators float in during the warmer months and hang around long after the May flowers are gone.

 

Dust
Surprisingly, much of the dust in your home is comprised of dead human skin cells. Those cells may be a nuisance for us to clean, but they’re a nutritious food source for tiny critters such as dust mites.

 

Dust mites
These tiny bugs are common in households, and like to live in warm, semi-humid environments. Dust mites are one of the most common triggers of asthma, so people with that condition should minimize carpeting in their home and regularly wash bedspreads and pillows.

 

Animal dander
Skin cells and hair can come from your pet cat or dog – or from rodent pests in your home. Rodents, of course, are a larger problem that should be addressed with the assistance of a pest-control expert. Pet owners should vacuum and sweep on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of pet dander and hair.

 

Mold spores
If you live in a humid climate, mold spores may be an issue in your home. Consider a dehumidifier in parts of the house that are damp and prone to mold.

 

Keeping these microscopic allergens at bay is possible with a few simple housekeeping habits. Sweep, dust and vacuum regularly to minimize the dust that can be sucked into the furnace. The most effective way to keep your air pollutant-free is to change your furnace air filter as often as recommended by the manufacturer, usually every 90 days. Done regularly, these simple practices can help keep you breathing easier all year long.

Why Bank Branches are Closing as Online Banking Gains Popularity

Advances in mobile phone technology in recent years have caused a massive spike in online banking. In fact, the explosion in online banking forced many bank branches to close in 2013 due to underuse. Some 74,000 new users turned to mobile banking every day last year, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.

 

Banking online can save 2 of your most valuable resources: time and money. While more than half of U.S. adults do their banking online, many still haven’t made the switch.

 

Have you shifted to online and mobile banking? Consider the benefits:

 

There are no lines online

 

It’s more convenient to do your banking from the comfort of your home than drive to the brick-and-mortar location and wait in line. Always rushing to the bank before it closes? Online banking is 24/7.

 

You can save time and money

 

With online banking, you can set up automatic bill pay – freeing up space in your busy schedule and saving on stamps and envelopes. You can also transfer money between multiple online bank accounts, saving even more time.

 

Is online banking safe?

 

Concerned about security? Online banking with Nationwide Bank is safe and dependable. We use various technical safeguards to ensure a secure and reliable online banking experience.

 

Your private transactions and information are safe and protected. Plus, most online banks, including Nationwide Bank, are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which means your deposits are insured up to $250,000.

 

During your lunch break, wouldn’t you rather be having lunch than standing in a bank line? Take advantage of our online banking service. Rates on our money market accounts and CDs consistently beat the national average. And with our e-checking account, you pay no monthly fees when you sign up for direct deposit and use your debit card 8 times a month.

 

Nationwide Bank, Member FDIC, is a federally chartered savings bank. Nationwide and Nationwide Bank are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved