Ways to help keep the smoke out of your house
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY , CA — Ugh, it’s that time of year again where sunsets and sunrises are beautiful but the air is unhealthy.
Sadly, the fire season seems to hit new records each year. While we can’t control the weather, we can take a few steps to keep our homes and families safe during this unnerving time of the year.
When the smoke is heavy outside, minimize the penetration into your home by inspecting windows for good alignment. Generally, you can address a misalignment on your own with small adjustments. But if the problem is more complicated, a handyman should be able to assist. Additionally, address any gaps at the windows with appropriate sealants.
People often overlook the smoke penetration into a home from an open damper on the fireplace. In addition to preventing smoke intrusion, consider clearing vegetation from decks and fences as well as minimizing the use of gasoline-powered tools that can create sparks that may wreak havoc in our excessively dry hillsides.
Lastly, this time of the year is great to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, refresh the family’s fire safety drill and have a grab-and-go kit ready in case emergency.
Scott Denslow is the owner of Safe at Home Inspection Service. He is an InterNACHI and ASHI certified inspector who has 59 five-star ratings on Yelp. Contact him at scott@safeathomellc.com. For more info visit www.safeathomellc.com.
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