Fireworks Safety
As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s fireworks season with Independence Day coming up! With the new law that passed last year in Ohio, where I am, there’s likely to be a lot more people setting off fireworks this year.
We have several acres and many trees around us, so when my family does them:
- We make holders so they can’t tip over.
- We set everything up in the middle of the yard with plenty of space around.
- We always have a hose next to us ready to go.
- If it’s dry, we skip the fireworks on 4th of July.
Even with all these precautions, I still get a bit nervous. However, my family really loves to do them. There are so many things that can go wrong, I personally think we should leave them for the experts to set off. Lame, yes but much safer.
For example, a few years ago, a neighbor’s fireworks display tipped over and started shooting fireworks at the audience. It turned into a nightmare, but luckily no one was seriously injured (Thank GOD). And no property was destroyed, but that was a very close call.
Please, if you decide to do fireworks, be extremely cautious. Make sure it is legal where you live – even though state laws may have changed, many municipalities still ban them.
Follow the safety precautions I mentioned above (here’s a few more tips on Using Fireworks Safely). Do them with enough time in-between that the smoke clears and each person can see each other. Make sure whoever is doing the fireworks is not drinking. It’s your home, so do all you can to protect it.
Happy 4th of July!!
Protecting Your Home’s Foundation During Droughts
We’ve had a very dry start to the summer around here. If we continue to have periods of drought, you will want to water your trees and the foundation of your home. Now you may be thinking, “REALLY? Water my FOUNDATION – how weird.”
However, years ago I had a friend/client that during a drought, the foundation of their house shifted. It was only a small shift. However, it caused many of their doors to not open or close properly because of the extreme damage to the entire home. Basically, extreme moisture changes in the soil below your house, like during extended droughts, can cause the soil below to expand and contract, which can cause your foundation to shift.
When my friend/client tried to turn in a claim for the damages, he discovered that shifting or cracking foundations are not covered. Pretty much no home policies cover this type of damage.
During a drought, you’ll want to water your foundation between 1.5 to 5 feet away from the exterior wall. If you have one, using a soaker hose makes this easier to do. This is a wonderful guide on Avoiding Foundation Problems from the City of Denton, Texas.
So, if you’re experiencing a drought, and you start seeing the dirt around your home pulling away from the wall, or large cracks developing in your yard, make sure to water your foundation.
These Dry Weather Safety Tips are useful during droughts as well.
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