How to Tips

Outdoor Living

For a fun element, add a fire pit or solar oven to your backyard. This popular entertainment feature can be permanent or portable and adds value. Check with your local fire department for regulations and use.

Tip of The Day From Andy, The best Handyman In St. Louis

Replace carpets or area rugs that have stains or show significant wear. Hardwood, ceramic tile or laminate floors all wear well and are popular with home buyers. If you need help with your installation don’t forget to call Andy’s Home and Business Repair. We make YOUR space a better place!

Guide to Grill Safety

When the weather is warm, why not get out of the kitchen and into your backyard to cook up a taste that’s hard to beat? Before you fire up the grill, however, you may want to take some time to review grilling safety precautions. Read on for ways you can make sure you are safe each time you cook outdoors.
* Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes or leaks.
* Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping grease.
* Replace scratched or nicked connectors, which can eventually leak gas.
* If you detect a gas leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don’t attempt to light the grill until it is repaired.
* Never use the grill indoors; always place it at least 10 feet away from buildings or structures.
* Keep the lid open when lighting the grill. If it does not light in the first several attempts, wait five minutes before trying again so the gas can dissipate.
* When storing gas tanks, keep containers upright. Never store a spare tank under or near the grill.
* Keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case and never leave a fire unattended.
* If you need assistance or repair, call the best handyman in St. Louis County, Andy’s Home and Business Repair!

Backyard Pool Precautions

Adding a pool to your backyard can be an investment in fun, but along with the good times comes a major responsibility to make sure your family, friends and neighbors are safe. Pool safety is something that everyone needs to take seriously.
A fence is a must to ensure child safety around a pool. Make sure your fence is at least six feet tall and difficult to climb. If you don’t like the look of a fence, you may want to reconsider adding a pool to your yard. Fences are the best way to ensure safety.
You can soften the look of a fence by adding vines to grow over the surface. Avoid bordering the fence with trees or shrubs, because they could provide an easy boost for curious children to climb over the fence. Keep the door or gate leading to your pool locked at all times.
Be sure to keep rescue equipment easily accessible around the pool. It is also a good idea to have someone in your household learn CPR and be trained in how to rescue a swimmer if it should become necessary.
Develop a plan for what to do in case of an emergency and teach it to your children. Also establish some rules for the pool, including no pushing or rough play in or near the pool, children should not be allowed near the pool without adequate supervision and never swim immediately after drinking, eating or taking medication.
These are just a few suggestions to consider if you are thinking about installing a backyard pool. Make sure that your backyard is a safe place to have fun. Call us for your fence installation.
Helpful tips from St. Louis’ premier handyman, Andys Home And Business Repair. Have a great summer!

How To Go Green and Save Some Too!

HOW TO GO GREEN AND
SAVE 100$ A MONTH IN UTILITY COSTS

1) REVIEW EVERY LIGHT IN YOUR HOME. REPLACE THOSE HIGH WATT BULBS WITH THE NEW
WATT SAVERS, OR JUST LOWER THE BULB WATTAGE.

2) IN THE SUMMERTIME, KEEP YOUR AIR CONDITIONER COILS CLEAN, A DIRTY OUTSIDE UNIT CANNOT GET RID OF THE HEAT, AND THAT WILL COST YOU A LOT.

3) TURN YOUR WATERHEATER TEMPURATURE DOWN A NOTCH. IF YOUR WATERHEATER IS OVER TEN YEARS OLD, REPLACE IT. AN OLD WATERHEATER CAN HAVE MORE THAN AN INCH OF CALCIUM IN THE BOTTOM; IT IS LIKE HEATING THROUGH A ROCK.

4) KEEP YOUR FURNACE FILTERS CLEAN. GOOD AIRFLOW ALLOWS FOR GOOD HEAT/ COOL TRANSFER.

5) HAVE A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT INSTALLED.

6) SET YOUR WATER FLUSH LEVELS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE IN TOILETS. IF YOU HAVE THE 15-YEAR-OLD “BIG GULP” CHANGE IT OUT FOR THE NEW EFFICIANCY MODEL.

7) KEEP YOUR CLOTHES DRYER LINT TRAP CLEAN. ELECTRIC CLOTHES DRYERS CAN ALSO BE VENTED INSIDE DURING THE WINTER WITH A WATER VENT BOX INSTALLED. THIS KEEPS THE HEAT FROM ESCAPING THE HOME.

WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

9) COVER THOSE HOT WATER LINES WITH PIPE INSULATION FOAM.

10) IF ANY OF YOUR GAS APPLIANCES HAVE THE CONSTANT PILOT LIGHT, GET RID OF THEM. ALL NEW GAS APPLIANCES ARE ELECTRIC START AND USE NO FUEL WHEN INOPERATIVE.

11) ALL OUTDOOR LAMPS SHOULD BE ON MOTION DETECTORS, NOT RUNNING CONSTANTLY.

12) COVER YOUR ROOF TURBINES WITH PLASTIC BAGS AND DUCT TAPE EVERY WINTER. ROOF TURBINES ARE FOR GETTING RID OF HEAT, NOT FOR KEEPING IT IN.

13) IF YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE INEFFECIANT, REPLACE WITH NEW.

14) HAVE YOUR ATTIC INSULATION CHECKED, YOU MAY NEED ADDITIONAL INSULATION ADDED TO YOUR ATTIC SPACE.

15) KEEP YOUR DISHWASHER ON COOL DRY SETTING (UNLESS IN A HURRY FOR CLEAN DISHES)

16) A FIREPLACE OR WOOD-BURNING STOVE IS AN EXCELLENT WINTERTIME HEAT SOURCE WHEN USED CORRECTLY. WOOD BURNING STOVES AND FIREPLACE INSERTS ARE WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A HOME ENERGY EVALUATION

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