Tip for Checking Tire Pressure

I've recently been experiencing some issues with two of the tires on my car and I wanted to share a tip (which I thought was pretty important) that I learned from my experience.

I brought my car to a full-service gas station with a mechanic on duty one afternoon after noticing my tire pressure indicator light turn on. I figured I had a slow leak and asked the mechanic on duty to check the pressure and plug any leaks if he could.

While checking the pressure he asked if I had already been on the road for a while. I told him that I had just driven roughly 30-minutes and his reply was that it is best to check tire pressure when the car is cold, such as during an oil change at your mechanics or first thing in the morning, because the act of driving on the hot pavement actually causes the tires to expand and therefore the pressure reading is not totally accurate at that point. I had never heard this tip before so I thought it would be great information to share.

So next time you are thinking about checking your tire pressure to make sure they are filled to a safe and economical level (correct tire pressure equals best gas mileage), be sure to ask your mechanic to do so after your car has been sitting in the shop for some time or do it yourself first thing that day to ensure the best accuracy.

Thanks to Jason D'Eramo at Tom's Auto Service in North Carver, MA for this tip!

Sidewalk Upgrades Coming to Several Boston Streets

Nearly 30 streets in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway and the South End will be seeing improvements made to their sidewalks and ramps.

Street repaving normally happens in Boston during the spring, and according to the Public Works Department, they usually replace sidewalks and ramps at the same time to make sure they are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Congress enacted the ADA during the 1990s and has been amended throughout the years to prevent discrimination based on disabilities. This includes requiring state and local governments to ensure safe walkways and wheelchair-accessible ramps.

Beginning in June, the sidewalk on Marlborough Street between Clarendon and Berkeley Streets will be repaired. Here is a list of other streets slated for repair:

Back Bay

• Fairfield Street
• Marlborough Street

Beacon Hill

• Anderson Street
• Derne Street
• Grove Street
• Mt. Vernon Street
• Pinckney Street
• Revere Street
• River Street

Fenway

• Bay State Road
• Beacon Street
• Haviland Street
• Palace Road
• Queensberry Street

South End

• Appleton Street
• Clarendon Street
• Dwight Street
• E. Springfield Street
• Greenwich Street
• Harrison Avenue
• Paul Pl.
• Shawmut Avenue
• St. George Street
• Union Park Street
• Upton Street
• W. Concord Street
• W. Rutland Sq.

Christmas Day Chimney Fire Responsible for 5 Deaths

A fire that started in a $1.7 million Victorian house situated along the Connecticut coastline killed 5 people on Christmas Day.

7-year-old twin girls, a 10-year-old girl and their grandparents were tragically lost during a Christmas morning fire that is now being reported as "fireplace-related" by officials in Stamford, Connecticut. Reports are now surfacing that hot embers from disposed fireplace ashes may have started the fire.

Neighbors in the affluent community were awoke shortly before 5 a.m. on Sunday and rushed outside to see if they could help, but were left helpless as flames quickly devoured the sprawling home. The owner of the home, Madonna Badger, and a contractor who had been working on the home managed to escape the flames, but Badger's three daughters and her parents who were visiting for the holidays all perished. Both Badger and the contractor were trying desperately to re-enter the home when officials arrived, and had to restrained.

The bodies of the three children and their grandparents were found on second and third floors and on the stairway between the floors, indicating that they were trying to escape, fire officials said. And most upsetting, is that fire officials said that the body of the grandfather was found with the body of one of the 7-year-old girls. "He was trying to get her out," said one firefighter.

The severely damaged house was torn down on Monday after the building department deemed it unsafe and ordered it to be razed.

Please take chimney safety very seriously this winter, and take a look at our chimney safety tips to ensure your fireplace is completely safe to use!

Chimney Safety is Important this Time of Year

Fireplaces serve many purposes. They offer warmth, they can be a great gathering place or focal point in a room, they can be a beautiful architectural element of a home and it can be quite relaxing to sit near one during the cold, winter months. But they can also be a serious fire hazard if not properly cared for.

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to fire prevention in your chimney is creosote. Creosote is a an element that occurs naturally as a byproduct of burning wood. Should the creosote buildup go unnoticed, it becomes a dangerous fire hazard. Buildup of creosote can also result in carbon monoxide poisoning as the chimney becomes obstructed. Utilizing the services of a certified chimney sweep is important to keep creosote buildup to a minimum. Check the Chimney Safety Institute of America to locate a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®.

Here are some basic tips to follow when maintaining a chimney:

• Make sure the chimney has been cleaned and inspected before you purchase a new property that has one. If it has not, do not use it until you schedule an inspection yourself.
• Screen your fireplace. This keeps sparks and embers from escaping and keeps pets and family members safe as well.
• Do not go to bed or leave the house with your fireplace running, even if it has a screen. Wait until all embers are extinguished.
• Keep all branches and leaves at least 15-feet away from the top of your chimney.
• Cap your chimney! This will make sure that debris and animals such as squirrels and birds stay out of your chimney.
• Choosing the right fuel is important. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose well-seasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months and stored in a covered and elevated location. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or wood stove.
• Never use flammable liquids to start your fire. Use kindling or a commercial firelighter to ignite firewood or firelogs that you've arranged at the rear of the fireplace.
• Keep furniture and other items at least 3-feet away from the fireplace.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout your home and test them regularly to make sure they are in working order.
• Get your fireplace inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep.

Tips for a Safe Halloween

Halloween can be pretty exciting for children (at least that's how I remember it). Getting dressed up and pretending to be someone or something else and getting to prance around all night to your neighbors and being handed candy for free seems pretty spectacular.

But, Halloween can also be a risky holiday for children and homeowner's. Take the necessary steps now to ensure a safe, fun time for all involved!

For Your Property

• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in a jack-o-lantern.  If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. 
• Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. 
• When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. 
• Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable.  Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Keep walkways and stairs clear so that no one trips.
• Keep walkways, stairs and porches brightly lit. Blacklights and strobe lights are not safe. And remember, trick-or-treaters should be accompanied by an adult, and they need to see too!
• Don't play any mean tricks on children by jumping out and scaring them. This can result in injury, and you don't want to make anyone cry on Halloween, do you?

For Your Children

• When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric.  If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
• Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glowsticks as part of their costume.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames.  Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.  (Have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)
• If you children are going to Halloween parties at others' homes, have them look for ways out of the home or building and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

*Important Fact*
Decorations are the first thing to ignite in more than 1,000 reported home fires each year!