Hidden Household Headaches

Ron Hazelton’s Fall Checklist to Help Ward off Homeowner Problems this Winter! As the mercury begins to drop, don’t let Old Man Winter catch you unprepared. It is never too soon to take action to protect your home for the season. Careful planning to prevent any potential problems before they happen will save you time, money and a whole lot of headaches. Home improvement expert Ron Hazelton provides tips on how to prepare your house for anything Mother Nature throws at you including: * Keep out the Cold Proper insulation is crucial when it comes to keeping a house warm throughout the winter. It is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways of increasing your home’s energy efficiency as well as saving money on energy bills. * Fire it Up Before turning on the furnace and lighting the fireplace for the first time of the season, make sure to have the furnace and chimneys professionally inspected and check all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the home. Check registers, vents and ducts to make sure there is little or no debris. Don’t forget one of the most used appliances in the home: the clothes dryer. “The most important maintenance for any dryer is a clear exhaust,” says Hazelton. Many dryer failures and fires usually result from an improperly maintained vent system. * Get the Gunk Out Dirty, clogged gutters can cause countless problems during the winter months including flooded basements, as well as damage to the home’s foundation and landscaping. Ron Hazelton is a Home Improvement Expert. Ron is the Home Improvement Editor for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and host of his own home improvement series, “Ron Hazelton’s HouseCalls,” which he produces and hosts. The show is a cross-country adventure in which Ron travels by motor home to assist people with a wide-variety of “weekend” projects. A state-of-the-art mobile workshop, loaded with the latest home improvement tools and gadgets, accompanies Ron to each location. As a correspondent for “Good Morning America,” Ron reports regularly on a variety of topics related to home improvement, design, repair, health, and safety. He also hosts the weekly History Channel series, “Hands on History,” and has hosted other History Channel programs including, “Modern Marvels” and “Save our History: Frontier Homes.” Ron has also offered his home improvement expertise on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Inside Edition.” For more information on the latest home improvement tips please visit http://www.ridgid.com https://videos.whiteblox.com/gnb/secure/player.aspx?sid=34981