First, be on the lookout for condensation. Check window sills, ceilings, door frames, ventilation areas, under the sink and along toilets and tubs. Even if you don’t see dampness at the time, look for signs that it’s been a problem, such as brown stains and warped surfaces.

Second, if you find a problem area, fix it fast. Solutions are generally pretty simple, but don’t be afraid to call a professional for more serious leaks. If you find moisture around door frames, tubs or toilets, it may be time to touch up your caulking – an easy and inexpensive fix. If ceilings show signs of small or slow leaks, it could be time to clean the gutters (a cinch when leaves and other debris are wet).

If you find condensation near window sills or ventilation systems, it’s very possible that the indoor humidity is too high. While this is less common during winter months, when interior spaces tend to be drier due to heaters, it can be quickly remedied with a store-bought dehumidifier or by simply placing a fan in the area.

Third, stay one step ahead with preventative measures. Here’s a simple checklist to consider:
1) Keep roof gutters clean
2) Cover cold surfaces with insulation
3) Increase ventilation in areas prone to moisture or condensation
4) Use exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen
5) Keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent.

To help control interior humidity, you should also ensure that doors and windows are well-sealed. Drafty areas are another quick catch during winter months, as most people are quick to notice a spot that allows cold Chicago winds inside. If this is a problem in your home, simply invest in some indoor weather stripping. This simple insulation will keep your home warmer through winter’s end and keep it cooler come summer.

Follow these simple steps before you say goodbye to winter and you’ll go far toward keeping your home comfortable, clean and mold-free.

By Dream Town

The post Guard Your Home Against Moisture appeared first on Dream Town.

Here are five easy home improvements that will help protect your property against the cold, wind and ice this winter…

1) Foundation Vents

In order to keep the cold air from turning your floors into an indoor ice rink make sure your vents are closed and sealed. Vents can be open during the spring and summer to allow cool air to dry out the floor boards but once the weather turns it is time to seal them up. There are a variety of reusable plastic and Styrofoam vent covers that will do the trick. A quick jaunt to the local hardware store and you’ll be good to go.

2) Heating System 

Regardless of what heating system you use in your Chicago home (wood stove, furnace, boiler or heat pump) it’s imperative to perform a seasonal checkup. Many adjustments are minor, such as replacing filters and unclogging the blower assembly. In order to keep your feet warm and your utility bill low this winter, make sure to practice your due diligence when it comes to your heating system.

3) Attic

Ceiling insulation is the most cost efficient measure you can take to save energy and keep your Chicago home warm during the winter. Make sure to seal your attic floor prior to insulating. The rule of thumb with insulation is the more you use the better off you’ll be. ENERGY STAR recommendations for adding insulation in a wood-frame home in Chicago is an R-Value of R49-R60 for previously uninsulated attics and R38-R49 for attics with 3-4 inches of insulation. The R-Value gauges the ability of heat to pass through insulation—the higher the number the better the insulating ability.

4) Windows and Doors

Windows and doors have been constantly opened and closed during summer and fall and now it’s time to check on them. Make sure windows are properly closed and latched and that the weatherstripping hasn’t been damaged on doors. Remember weatherstripping can be easily and inexpensively replaced. Just because you have a window with damaged weatherstripping doesn’t necessarily mean the entire window has to be replaced.

5) Out with the Window Units

How quickly the hum of air conditioners is replaced by the grinding of snowblowers. With that said, don’t forget to remove that air conditioner unit from your window. An air conditioner is essentially an open tunnel with a bunch of fan blades. Air easily passes through even when the fan is on. Avoid an unexpected arctic blast by placing the unit in storage and sealing the window properly.

Once the leaves have been raked and gardens taken down, it’s time to focus on winterizing the house. Hopefully these tips will help you save money and keep your Chicago home warm during the winter months. Remember, if you wanted to watch the Bears game in the freezing cold you’d be at Soldier Field with your neighbor!

By Dream Town

The post Don’t Let the Chicago Winter Get the Best Of Your Home appeared first on Dream Town.

1. Always lock and deadbolt your doors, whether you are at home or out of the house. Some burglars simply walk around trying doors to see if they are unlocked and the first one they find with easy access becomes the target.

2. Install locks with keys that can only be duplicated by the manufacturer (and not by a key cutter at the hardware store). Make sure to get some spare keys when you have the lock installed, in case you lose one and need a replacement.

3. If you don’t have a specialty lock, at least get keys that have “Do not duplicate” etched into them. It doesn’t prevent someone from having another key made but it actually does help deter people from making copies.

4. Do not set the code for keyless garage door openers or other entry keypads to a common number such as your birth date, anniversary, Social Security number or telephone number.

5. If you are out of town, ask a neighbor to bring in your newspapers and/or mail so it doesn’t pile up on your front porch or in your mailbox—indicating to thieves that there is no one home.

6. If you have just moved into a new home, change the locks and have the alarm system (if you have one) activated immediately. Some burglars watch homes that are up for sale and as soon as the new owner moves their stuff in, they strike.

7. Always change the locks when you move into a new home because you do not know who had a key to the home before or how many copies of the key are floating around out there.

8. Keep windows shut and locked when you are not at home, especially those on lower levels.

9. Always set your alarm when you leave the house, even if you will only be gone for a few minutes. When you are in the home and are not planning to leave again for the day/evening, set the alarm with motion sensor bypass so you can move about the house but the alarm will go off if someone comes in the door uninvited.

10. Use timers to turn lights and the television on and off while you are out of town.

11. Do not put empty boxes from new expensive purchases out on the curb or leave them sticking out of the garage can. This alerts potential burglars that you have some nice items to steal inside. Instead tear down the boxes and put them in opaque bags before throwing away.

12. Do not put anything about your being out of town on Facebook or other social networks until you have returned from your trip because it tells people you are not at home.

13. Display stickers or signs for your alarm system prominently in windows, on doors and in the front yard. The fact that you have (or even might have) an activated alarm will deter many burglars from targeting your home as opposed to another house that isn’t protected by an alarm system.

14. Do not hide spare house keys around your home or in the yard. Even if it seems like an impossible spot to find, someone could watch you retrieve the key and know exactly how to get into your place the next time you go out.

15. Keep an updated inventory of your household and personal belongings so you will have a record of what is missing if your home does get burglarized. An easy way to do this is to take a video camera through every room in your home. Show what is in every drawer, cupboard, closet and bin. Describe the items in detail as you record them and include important information, such as serial and model numbers, brand names, and value or price.

By Dream Town

The post 15 Home Security Tips appeared first on Dream Town.

1. Make sure your exterior house numbers are easy to read from the street so emergency crews can find your home. If you live in a Chicago condo with an interior front entrance, check that your number is visible on exterior door buzzers and/or your front door is clearly labeled.
2. If you do not already have one, install a landline so calls to 911 can be easily tracked to your location. Cell phones cannot be quickly traced back to your home, so you will have to tell the operator your address instead, which can waste valuable minutes in an emergency situation.
3. Do not have deadbolts that require a key to open from the inside. If you need to get out fast in the case of a fire you could have trouble locating and using the key to unlock the door.
4. Create a fire escape plan for the entire family. Make sure there are two exits from every room and a secure way to escape from upper floors (this may require keeping a roll-out ladder in second-story bedrooms). Select an exterior meeting place where everyone can reconvene after safely escaping.
5. Check smoke alarms EVERY MONTH and replace batteries ONCE A YEAR! You know this rule and have probably heard it a thousand times, but how often do you really check your smoke detectors for proper functioning? Perhaps every time something burns in the oven and sets it off accidentally? That doesn’t count. Make a note on your calendar and follow through religiously, it can save lives!
6. There should be at least one smoke detector on every level of your home, located near or inside every bedroom door. Also, it is a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors in the same locations as well.
7. Protect your home from outside intruders with one-inch security deadbolts and solid front doors (no large glass panes that can be easily broken). You can also burglar proof glass patio doors by putting a solid metal bar (the same length as the door) in the bottom track.

Whether you live in a twentieth-floor condo in downtown Chicago or a single-family home on a quiet residential street, you can follow these seven simple safety suggestions to help protect your family at home.

By Dream Town

The post Use These 7 Safety Tips to Protect Your Family at Home appeared first on Dream Town.

Here’s a safety checklist for your home while you’re away:

Lock It Up
Sounds simple, right: You go away from home, you lock your doors. Make sure, however, that it’s not just the front and back doors that you remember-lock the garage and basement doors too (if applicable) as well as all windows, even those located on the upper floors of your home. Also insert a piece of wood or a steel rod in the sliding entryway of your windows and/or sliding glass door.

Light It Up
Appearance is key to the safety of your home. Even though you’re not there, there’s no need to let the world in on your vacation plans-simple create the appearance of your home being occupied, to waylay potential thieves. For holiday lights in the interior and on the exterior of your home, install automatic timers that can be programmed to turn on and off at different intervals throughout the day. Motion-detector lights around your garage also are a good deterrent.

It’s Alarming
If you have a security system, the sign should be displayed prominently in your front yard. Even if you haven’t invested in a system, neighbors might have an additional yard and/or window sign that you can display.

Friends and Neighbors
If you plan to be gone for an especially extended period of time, consider hiring a house sitter to give you peace of mind while you’re away. Even if you’re just out of town for a few days, let your neighbors know about your travel plans, so that they can keep an eye on your home in your absence. A mailbox full of mail and a stack of newspapers on the front porch are practically an invitation for theft, but completely stopping service is also a signal to thieves that you are away. So if you plan to be away for more than a few days, ask a family member or friend to stop by, pick up your mail and check the condition of your home.

Leave a Message at the Tone
Don’t announce you’re leaving on your answering machine message, as anyone and everyone who calls would have access to that knowledge. It’s also important to turn down your phone ringers or turn them off, as a ringing phone that goes on continually can signal to people that you are away. Do consider putting your radio or television on a timer, however, to again give the appearance that people are home.

Your home is one of the most valuable assets you have, and there’s never too many precautions to take to keep it secure!

By Dream Town

The post Secure Your Chicago Home While You're Away appeared first on Dream Town.

Newly bought homes are often remodeled and repairs are always needed. Having the assistance of an honest real estate agent can make all the difference in the many steps that lead to homeownership. There are many locations throughout the state of Colorado in which citizens have been exposed to asbestos.

Potential Chicago home buyers or those remodeling homes should be aware that homes built before 1980 may still harbor asbestos materials. This is not to make you alarmed because asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Many green, healthy options insulation options exist that make the use of asbestos obsolete.

Asbestos in the Home
Typically found in attic insulation, piping, popcorn ceilings, roof shingles and flooring, asbestos was used throughout the 20th century as a form of insulation for piping, roofing and flooring. Asbestos fibers are thin and strong, and when inhaled frequently, an individual can develop mesothelioma, a rare but severe lung ailment caused by asbestos exposure. Although several advancements have been made with mesothelioma treatment, patient prognosis is usually poor. There are a number of factors that can impact mesothelioma survival rate. These factors include latency period, age of diagnosis and cigarette smoking.

If any asbestos is suspected in the home, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed until a home inspector can determine the best course of action. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air. Sometimes, the best action is no action. However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous substances. It is important to meet with health or environmental professionals to properly examine your new property.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency asbestos unit protects citizens of the state and the environment from exposure to asbestos. This organization regulates asbestos during renovation, demolition and disposal.

Chicago Green
In Illinois, construction practices are upgrading methods to suit better lighting, heating, cooling systems and environmentally habitable insulation. Green options such as cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene should be given consideration as replacements to asbestos. Not only will eco-friendly materials provide a healthy atmosphere, it can significantly reduce energy costs.

Tax breaks are being offered through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This package extends energy efficiency tax incentives first enacted in 2005 and even creates some new ones for those who remodel their homes using eco-friendly materials.

This is good news for people looking to remodel their homes. Some of the measures eligible for tax credits include: Replacement windows and skylights which are equal or below a 0.30 U factor, window films certified by the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of a green insulation system, pigmented metal or asphalt roofs that meet Energy Star requirements and added insulation to walls or any part of a structure that meets the 2009 IECC specifications.

By Dream Town

The post Asbestos Prevention & Green Alternatives appeared first on Dream Town.

With so much focus on “green building” and environmentally-friendly materials, etc., it is hard not to pick up on the fact that changes and improvements to housing construction are being made for a reason. In the midst of trying to protect our planet, we realize the same efforts work to protect ourselves. So what can we do inside the home to help create a healthy and happy environment for our families and guests? Here are a few quick suggestions:

1. Use natural or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and sealants (on outdoor decks or staircases)
2. Get some houseplants to produce oxygen and remove harmful pollutants from the air
3. Use chemical-free household cleaners
4. Replace regular products (such as dish detergent, hand soap and shampoo) with all-natural or non-chemical alternatives
5. Maintain air filters in your heating or AC unit with regular cleanings and replacements
6. Get an air purifier – a stand alone device that takes contaminants out of interior air
7. Steer clear of carpets because they hold mildew and dust, which lower air quality, and avoid synthetic carpets that cannot be recycled
8. Check the outdoor air quality in your city. If it is in good condition, open your windows because oftentimes air pollution in your house is worse than outside and the fresh air will benefit you.

By Dream Town

The post Living a Happy, Healthy Life in Your Home appeared first on Dream Town.