Klondike Contracting » safety

Gas Fireplace Safety & Maintenance

Klondike Contracting — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:56:00 +0000

A gas fireplace is a beautiful addition to any home but without proper safety measures & maintenance, they can be a disaster waiting to happen. Now that the winter chill is officially with us, we thought you may benefit from some of these tips to keep your house warm and safe!

General Safety

Do not store combustible materials near your fireplace
Install your fireplace out of the way of foot traffic
Do not operate if glass doors are cracked
Installation and repairs should only be done by a registered gas contractor

Child Safety

Supervise children carefully. Glass inserts quickly heat up to more than 200°C and can take up to 45 minutes to cool
Make sure children know they should never touch a natural gas fireplace’s glass panels
Consider installing physical barriers or safety screens if you have toddlers
Adjustable safety gates can also be installed to restrict fireplace access to adults
Even when a fireplace is not in use, toddlers can hurt themselves on its surfaces & corners so consider installing a fire-resistant hearth guard (cushioned strip)

Keeping it clean

Turn your fireplace completely off, including the pilot light
Wait for the unit to cool completely before wiping with a damp cloth
Use a drop sheet to protect your floor while cleaning
Wear gloves & eye protection when handling the logs, which may cause skin/eyes irritation
Replace the logs exactly as shown in your owner’s manual after cleaning or moving them
Clean the glass periodically
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on the glass (check manual for recommended products)

Signs that may indicate your fireplace is not working properly

pilot light outages
“booming” noises on ignition
delayed ignition (slow to start up)
excessive soot or corrosion inside the fireplace or on the vent
a continuous or intermittent odour – either the “rotten egg” or sulphur smell of natural gas or a sharp odour that causes eyes to sting
symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: nausea, headaches, lethargy or other flu-like symptoms

For additional information & tips, please visit the Terasen Gas website. We hope the above tips will help you keep your home safe while you enjoy the warmth of the fire. Seasons Greetings from all of us at Klondike Contracting!

5 Ways to Prevent Basement Renovation Nightmares

Christina James — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:24:01 +0000

When clients want to expand their space, basements tend to be the first place they consider. A basement renovation can be quite simple and an inexpensive way to add extra living space, while increasing the value of your home. However, it can be costly and stressful if not done with proper planning. We recommend that you consider the following items for your upcoming basement renovation:

Inspect your basement for signs of moisture or mould, cracks in the walls or floor, or areas where you have to stoop to avoid bumping your head. If your basement isn’t high, dry, and structurally sound, be sure to include the cost of fixing those problems in your renovation budget.
If you intend to alter the structure of your house, increase the size of any windows or exterior doors, or add a self-contained apartment such as a “granny flat,” you must obtain a building permit from your municipality before beginning construction.
To prevent heat loss, most exterior basement walls must be insulated for most of their height. Make sure your plan also includes measures to control air leakage and moisture protection to help keep your basement warm & dry.
Make sure your basement has a good quality heating system. Finished basements can also benefit from continuous or intermittent ventilation. Operation of the furnace fan, heat recovery ventilators or central exhaust systems can provide such ventilation.
Make safety your number one priority. Install fire & smoke detectors on every floor of your home. Have electrical fixtures & wiring installed by a certified electrician. Make sure the basement has a safe path of exit to the outside in case of emergency. Protect your family by using low-pollutant emitting coverings & finishes. And when in doubt, hire a qualified professional to tackle any projects or deal with ay issues you are not comfortable handling yourself.

8 Steps To Accident-Proof Your Bathrooms

Klondike Contracting — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:08 +0000

Bathrooms are typically wet thus it is no suprise that the most common accidents are slips, falls & scalding from hot water. Although you cannot completely eliminate accidents in bathrooms, a well-designed bathroom should consider safety a priority. A few things to consider when redesigning your bathroom:

Use slip resistant flooring; this will reduce the chances of falls caused by slippery floors.
Eliminate steps into tubs or shower areas. For tubs, consider building a surround so you can sit down prior to entering or exiting the tub.
Shower doors should open into the room rather than the shower. Glass doors should be tempered.
Install proper faucets; consider pressure-balance and/or temperature-controlled valves to prevent scalding from sudden temperature change. Faucets should be accessible; you should not have to stretch or reach for the valves.
Install benches and/or grab bars, especially in showers.
Whirlpool tubs should have accessible (from inside & outside tub area) emergency shut-offs.
Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on all electrical receptacles.
Keep all household products out of reach (or locked away) as many are poisonous.

If you are unsure about any of the above steps, please consult a professional or a building inspector for proper building codes. The National Kitchen & Bath Association also provides design guidelines for your bathrooms & kitchens. To view please click here.