Winter Road Safety Tips

Winter weather survival includes being prepared for automobile accidents and weather-induced delays. Accidents can be multi-vehicle but frequently sliding off into a ravine due to road conditions is the most dangerous. Being prepared for winter conditions can make the difference between life and death if you find yourself in this predicament.

Important things to remember:

It starts with the basics; give your car a thorough pre-season check every fall. If you don’t know how or don’t have the time, have an automotive professional do it for you. Check fluid levels, wiper blade condition, belt condition, headlight and taillights, and similar items. Keep the fuel tank full and the cell-phone charged.

When traveling in harsh winter weather be sure someone knows when to expect you at your destination, and what route you will be taking. If conditions become dangerous and appear to be getting worse, STOP. If it is sensible to return the way you came, do so.

If stranded and you must use your car engine to heat the vehicle, always check to make sure the exhaust tailpipe is clear. A blocked tail pipe can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and death. Be sure to open a window when you are running the engine, and try not to run the engine over 10 minutes in every hour. Use foil or space blankets and duct tape to cover windows and reflect your heat back to you.

Use a bright cloth, rags or tape to mark the car’s antenna and any signs or posts nearby. A vehicle in the snow quickly becomes invisible unless you make an effort to be seen.

DO NOT leave your vehicle unless you can SEE a building or home to evacuate to, or it is unsafe to remain in your vehicle. If you leave your vehicle to go cross-country or down the road, leave a note in the vehicle so rescuers know which way to proceed.

Know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Be sure to wear a wool cap or other insulating hat to prevent heat loss. Be particularly careful with children, who aren’t as aware of the danger they may be in or their body symptoms.

Home Maintenance Savings

Nationally syndicated columnist Liz Pullman Weston's has a recent article about preventive home maintenance and saving for the bigger ticket items (furnace, roof repairs, etc.).


I'm not the only person proclaiming it! Save a lot of dough $$$ by performing the preventative maintenance!


My motto is....."Spend hundred$ now on home maintenance or thou$and$ later in repairs!"


Read Liz's article here.

October - Fire Safety Month

Fire safety month is here once again. Please do not put these very important tasks off. Do them now while it's fresh on your mind. Too many souls are lost each year to improper planning and lack of fire safety knowledge.



Clean and change batteries in all smoke and fire detectors. Use the canned air you can purchase for computer keyboards and blow each one out. Change the batteries and push the test button to ensure proper operation.



Have at least 2 fire extinguishers available for use in an emergency escape from the home. Check the gauges to ensure they are fully charged. Replace any that are in the red on the gauge. Buy a new ABC (CO2 extinguisher) for most home applications. One should be kept near the kitchen for small stove fires and at least one near the bed rooms for use during an escape.



Have a plan of escape for the family and practice it blind-folded at least twice a year with the whole family. Gather at a predetermined neighbor's home and check that all got out. Visit the National Fire Protection Association website for cool educational games for the children and tips for parents at http://www.nfpa.org


If you have a 2 or 3-story home consider an emergency escape ladder. Mr. Handyman only installs PEARL Protected ladders because they are the best and most cost-effective escape ladders on the market. Go to their website http://pearlprotected.com for more information. We keep several in stock at our office. They make great gifts for family members with children and a 2 or 3-story home.

September is National Disaster Prepardness Month

The three basic steps to prepare for any type of disaster that may affect your family's well-being are.

1. Create an emergency preparedness kit. This should include one to draw from in the event you may be stuck in the home for extended periods of time (need for food, water, flashlight, radio, blankets etc) or one that you will need to bolt from the house (in the case of a local chemical leak, flood, etc.)

2. Make a plan to follow when disaster strikes. Discuss the plan with family members and keep copies that you may take with you. It should include point of contacts and places to go in an emergency event.

3. Stay informed. Keeping up with local radio, TV and emergency hotlines may save your life. The hand-crank radios are a great addition to any emergency kit.

Tip$.... On the House

Texture Matching on a Ceiling

Matching texture on a ceiling is difficult task, one that I (Dan) do not posess. I have hired folks that are good at it but sometimes it might not be perfect. Attempting to match it and failing, or not being completely satisfied is better than removing all of the texture from the ceiling and starting over. It depends on your expectations. Mr. Handyman has technicians that are skilled at it and it is well worth allowing them to attempt it prior to removing it throughout the whole ceiling. It is not a task I recommend doing yourself if you want good results.

Stains on Concrete

Oil and grease can be removed with some kitty litter. Rub the clay litter into the stained spot with the bottom of your shoe. Use a de-greaser if needed. Pressure wash and reapply if needed.

Squeeks in a Floor

Some squeeks can be solved with a screw that you break off under the carpet layer. There are several different types available at hardware stores. Some times the squeek is actually from the junction of the wall and floor. You may need to tap in a few shims under the wall structure to solve those. It takes some time to investigate and resolve them so be patient.

Remodeling Cost vs Return

If a homeowner was to remodel a kitchen, how much of that project cost would be returned should he have to sell immediately? Remodeling Magazine has an online interface that displays the research on projects such as this. The Omaha area is specifically listed as one of the research areas and the data is current for this year/economy. Even though the return on investment has decreased some over the past few years (nationally) remodeling today is a good value.

If you have ever wanted to update a bathroom or kitchen this data shows that you will recoup most of your hard-earned cash to proceed with the project. If you plan to remain in your home for 3 years or longer chances are that you will recoup ALL of your investment for MOST upgrades/additions. So enjoy your home more, fix it up they way you've always dreamed. If the workmanship is of a professional quality with quality products you almost cannot go wrong!

The link directly to the Omaha data is:

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2008/costvsvalue/division/west-north-central/city/omaha--ne.aspx

I thought the data was a bit hard to decipher so here is my take. The first chart (Midrange), first item (Attic bedroom) shows if you spent $48K on the addition of the attic bedroom it would return $31K when you sold your home. The second chart (scroll down) is for higher quality additions and remodels.

Deck Maintenance

Your deck gets used most during the warmer weather so take a few minutes to inspect the structure for signs of deterioration and maintenance needs.

Look for any loose, soft or cracked wood that could be unsafe if not corrected.
Replace any decking boards that have too much give or feel spongy when you walk on them.
Handrailings should be secure and not wobbly.
The deck posts should not show signs of rot at the bottom. Push a screwdriver into any areas that show damage. If the point of the screwdriver goes into the wood it is time to get it repaired.
The deck board against the house should not have any gap between the house. It should also not have any rot or deterioration.
Ballasters (verticle slats on the rails) shouldn't be greater than 4 inches apart.
Apply sealer to any exposed wood. Pressure wash if necessary to clean deck prior to sealing.