Month: June 2015

Things You Need to Know About Your Home

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Knowing these things about your home could save you time and money.

  1. Make sure everyone knows where the shut offs are for the water, gas and electricity and how to turn them off. In the event of an emergency, shutting things down quickly could help to avoid a fire, flood explosion, thus protecting your home and family from danger.
  2. Know the age of your appliances and household systems. Determining the age of all of the appliances and major systems in your home, including your roof, HVAC unit, hot water heater, sump pump, washer and dryer, refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, freezer and anything else that you may have, can help you predict when they are likely to have to be replaced. Knowing this can help you plan to have enough money saved for those repairs or replacements.
  3. Make sure your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and radon detectors are functioning properly. Having these detectors in your home isn’t enough to ensure your family’s safety. They need to be tested monthly, cleaned regularly and have the batteries replaced at least once a year. The detectors themselves should be replaced every 10 years.
  4. Know what is going on inside your walls. Pay attention to and keep an eye out for signs of leaking or faulty plumbing, old wiring, termites, etc. Having a home inspection done, especially if you have an older home, can be a good way to find potential problems before they become major issues.
  5. Know which repairs are imminent and which ones can be put off for some time. Don’t procrastinate your way into a much bigger and costlier repair.

Home Repairs to Take Care of Immediately

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  1. Caulking – Keeping water out of places that it shouldn’t be can prevent costly water damage repairs. Inspect your shower, tub and around all windows and doors on a regular basis for places that need to be recaulked.
  2. Cleaning Your Dryer Vent – In addition to cleaning the lint trap in your dryer, keeping the dryer vent clear of lint is also important. Too much build up can lead to a fire, and it causes your dryer to not work as efficiently, taking longer to dry your clothes and costing you more money in utility bills.
  3. Roof Repairs – A leaky roof can lead to structural damage to your home, mold and loss of personal property. Address roof leaks as soon as you discover them.
  4. Change Your HVAC Filter – Dirty air filters cause your HVAC system to work harder than it should and run up your utility bills. Extend the life of your HVAC unit by replacing your filter monthly.
  5. Pest Problems – Termites, carpenters ants, roaches and rodents should be dealt with immediately. Waiting will only lead more damage to your home.
  6. Plumbing Leaks – Big leak or small leak, a leak does damage to your home. Take care of all plumbing problems as soon as they arise.
  7. Peeling Paint – Fresh paint makes your house look nice, but it serves the more important purpose of keeping your house dry and rot-free.
  8. Drainage Problems – Clogged rain gutters and downspouts that don’t direct water away from your house and improper grading can lead to drainage problems around your house and put your home’s foundation at risk and may even lead to indoor flooding.

Home Maintenance Checklist

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Spring
-Install fresh batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
-Test and dust all detectors.
-Inspect bathroom and kitchen caulk. Recaulk as needed
-Vacuum refrigerator coils
-Schedule air conditioning inspection
-Check fire extinguishers
-Clean kitchen exhaust hood and filter
-Clean and seal deck (if needed)
-Inspect exterior paint and touch up as needed
-Inspect siding/masonry for damage
-Remove storm windows, and install screens
-Repair/replace damaged window screens
-Inspect roof for damage
-Inspect attic for leaks
-Inspect outdoor play equipment
-Clean gutters
-Prune spring-flowering shrubs after they bloom
-Prune summer-flowering shrubs before they bloom
-Schedule yearly septic tank inspection

Summer
-Clean kitchen exhaust hood and filter
-Vacuum refrigerator coils
-Reverse ceiling fans
-Inspect your foundation for drainage problems (clogged downspouts, grading issues, etc.)
-Inspect basement/crawl space for moisture issues
-Inspect for insect activity (termites, ants, wood bees, etc.)

Fall
-Install fresh batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
-Test and dust all detectors
-Check fire extinguishers
-Clean kitchen exhaust hood and filter
-Drain sediment from hot water heater
-Vacuum refrigerator coils
-Insulate exposed pipes as needed
-Schedule furnace inspection
-Remove (or cover) window air conditioners
-Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned
-Remove screens and install storm windows
-Turn off outdoor water supply, and store hoses
-Inspect roof for damage
-Clean gutters
-Inspect caulk around windows and doors. Recaulk as needed
-Trim trees and shrubs away from house
-Inspect deck for any nails or screws that may be popping up
-Cover or store outdoor furniture

Winter
-Clean kitchen exhaust hood and filter
-Test GFCI outlets
-Vacuum refrigerator coils
-Clean dryer vent
-Check sinks and toilets for leaks
-Inspect hoses on washing machine, dishwasher and icemaker for leaks
-Change direction of ceiling fans
-Test sump pump

Draper Days

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The festivities start on June 30th with the Draper Idol contest.

The Draper Rodeo will be held on July 10th and 11th.

The Heritage Banquet will be held on July 15th. Cost $12/person.

Annie will be shown for movie night will be on July 16th.

Family activities will be held on July 17th and 18th.

The Draper Days Parade will be the morning of July 18th.

The fireworks show will begin at dark on July 18th.

Visit the Draper City website for more information regarding all the activities surrounding this event.

http://www.draper.ut.us/DocumentCenter/View/1037

Don’t forget about the annual Draper Area 12 Breakfast being held that morning for all residents of Area 12. It will begin at 8am. You are invited to stay and watch the parade with the many of your neighbors.

Stock Your Pantry!

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Here is a list of pantry basics. Adapt the list to suit the needs of your family.

Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Chicken, vegetable and beef broth
Canned veggies (corn, green beans, peas, tomatoes) and beans (black, kidney, pinto, white)
Dried beans (black, white, kidney, pinto) and rice
Canned soups: cream of chicken, mushroom, celery
Ready to eat canned soups: chicken noodle, tomato, vegetable beef, chicken and rice, etc.
Bouillon: chicken, beef
Canned meats: tuna, beef stew
Dry ingredients, flour (wheat and white), sugar, yeast, baking soda, baking powder, *spices, brown and powdered sugars, cooking spray, cocoa, chocolate chips, cornmeal, cornstarch, bread crumbs, powdered milk
Cooking oil
Evaporated milk
Sweetened condensed milk
Cereal
Crackers
Jams and jellies
Extracts: vanilla, lemon, almond, orange, peppermint
Dried fruits
Jell-o
Nuts: walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts
Dried pasta: spaghetti, linguini, fettuccine, penne, egg noodles
Peanut butter
Condiments: bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayo/miracle whip, honey, syrup, molasses, olives, pickles, salsa, soy sauce, vinegar, worcestershire sauce

*Spices: allspice, basil, bay leaves, chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, cream of tartar, cumin, garlic, ginger, Italian seasoning, dry mustard, nutmeg, onion powder, oregano, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, sage, salt, seasoned salt, thyme, vanilla

Three Month Food Supply – What is it?

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3MonthSupply

What am I supposed to have in my food storage?

There are three main components of food storage:
1. Food supply (three-month and long-term)
2. Water supply
3. Financial reserve
Store foods that are a part of your normal diet in your three-month supply. As you develop a longer-term storage, focus on food staples such as wheat, rice, pasta, oats, beans, and potatoes that can last 30 years or more.

How much food storage do I need?

Take the amount of food you would need to purchase to feed your family for a day and multiply that by 7. That is how much food you would need for a one-week supply. Once you have a week’s supply, you can gradually expand it to a month, and eventually three months. When calculating how much you might need for your family in long-term food storage, multiply the number of people in your family by 2. That is an estimate of how many cases you will need of each of the main food staples (wheat, rice, etc.). Then double the number of cases of either wheat or rice, depending on your preference, to complete your long-term storage.

Where should I store my food storage?

Make sure your food storage is properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices or soda. Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

How much does it cost?

Costs may vary depending on where and how you purchase your food storage. It is important to remember that you should not go to extremes; for instance, it is not prudent to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. Develop it gradually to diffuse the overall cost over time so that it will not become a financial burden.

(Originally posted on lds.org)