Christmas Tree Safety (Anderson Bros. Steamatic) Kalamazoo, MI

By now we have all put up our annual Christmas tree decorated with our favorite bulbs, ornaments and sparkly lights. Underneath neatly stacked are beautifully wrapped gifts and the house smells like fresh baked cookies and Christmas tree!  What you probably won’t be thinking about is whether your tree is a safety hazard. That beautiful Christmas tree can become very dangerous.

The national Institute of Standards and Technology produced a video several years ago demonstrating how quickly a dry tree catches fire. It took only four minutes from the moment a shorted-out Christmas light emitted a spark until the tree was engulfed in flames. In less than minute, the entire living room was on fire.

With these few simple tips you can greatly reduce your risk of fire:

1. Do not use electric lights on a metallic tree. If there is a short the tree can become energized and electrocute anyone who touches it.

2. Avoid running cords under rugs or furniture, because they can overheat and malfunction. Malfunctioning electrical equipment in the vicinity of a dry Christmas tree is like striking a match over a pile of wood.

3. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are the most common culprits of holiday fires. A good rule of thumb is to connect no more than 3 strands of lights together.

4. Keep your tree hydrated to prevent it from drying out too quickly. Check the water in the tree stand every few days and refill when necessary.

5. Make sure your tree lights are UL listed for indoor use. Inspect your lights before using them- are they frayed, kinked, cracked, or are their any broken bulbs? If yes, don’t use them!

6. Keep your tree away from space heaters, heat vents, exposed outlets, and not blocking any exits.

Dryer Vent Cleaning…Have you had your cleaned??? ( Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

If you havent had your dryer vent cleaned recently, you may want to rectify the situation as a clogged duct is a hazard to you and your family. Most people have no idea how much lint gets past your dryer lint trap. The amount is substantial. Over time your dryer vent pipe becomes coated with dryer lint. If your dryer vent hasn’t been cleaned in over a year,  you may have a potential fire hazard on your hands. Once the vent becomes restricted your dryer will take longer to dry a load. Lack of airflow will cause your dryer to over heat. If your dryer vent is over eight feet long, your dryer vent should be cleaned annually. Some of the early warning signs of lint blockage include:

* Is the top if your dryer hot to the touch?

* Does your dryer take over 50 minutes to dry a  load?   

* Do  you ever experience a moldy smell on your clothing?

* Is the dryer lint gathering on the inside of the dryer door?

* Does it seem like your clothes have extra lint on them?

* Is your house dusty? Dryer lint is almost microscopic and goes everywhere.

Most dryer vents have a flap or screen located inside the dryer. This must be cleaned on a regular basis. Where your dryer vent exits the home will be the first sign of needing to have the vents cleaned.

Dryer vents come in all different shapes and sizes. the dryer vent itself refers to the exhaust pipe inside the wall. This pipe should be 4″ steel pipe that out of te rooftop or the side of the home.

Another common problem is a crushed transition tube. The transition tube is the pipe that connects the dryer to the wall vent. Most of the time delivery people use the foil type transitions because of ease of installation. The only down fall to this type is that is easily crushed or restricted. This type of material is actually paper and can ignite. Unlike the all metal venting material that the dryer manufacturer recommends.

When considering having your dryer vents cleaned consult a professional such as Anderson Bros. Steamatic. They have all of the proper tools and equipment to do a safe and accurate job.

Call Anderson Bros. for all of your cleaning and restoration needs we have been serving Southwest Michigan for over 43 years call and schedule your appointment today at 269-327-9950 or toll-free @ 800-564-4491. Or visit us online @ www.absteamatic.com

                 Available 24.7 for all of your emergency needs!                                              

 

Community Safety Event ( Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

Anderson Bros. Steamatic- will be hosting our first annual Community Safety Event with all proceeds being donated to the Ada Fire Department. Come join us on June 11th from 10am-2pm for some family fun @ 4900 Fulton St. Ada for free vehicle detailing, food, face painting and fire trucks. So bring your family down for a day of fun!

Anderson Bros. Steamatic has been your local cleaning and restoration provider for 43 years. With 2 locations serving all of Southwest Michigan. For additional information please contact Tabetha Cosier at 616-949-2453 or visit our website @ www.absteamatic.com

Storm Preparedness Tree trimming (Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

You hear that a storm is coming. Standing outside your home, looking over your place, you realize that you’ve got to do something about those beautifully large trees. If you just let them be, you could lose them. They may even damage something on your property or nearby. You’ve got some serious work to do.

What this means is that you’ve got to make some time to prepare your yard for the coming storm in order to prevent possible damage. Hopefully, you won’t need more than 2 hours. You’ve just got to ensure that you don’t  have to worry should things get bad. And be sure to do this only after you’ve properly and completely secured in and around your home, after you’ve stocked up on the supplies you’ll need. It’s only after all that your attention be given over to securing for your yard.

If you’re securing your landscape for a storm with sustained winds of at least 40 miles an hour. Over a short time, really terrible damage could  be done to your trees. The nature of a storm with an eye is for the target to endure a pummeling by winds from one direction for the first half, as the storm approaches to meet you. Now, as you’re enduring the second half when the storm is moving away, the winds have shifted, so they are now coming from the opposite direction. That’s a lot of stress on trees and their root systems.

Trees at highest risk of damage by winds this strong usually have a large spreading crown that is at least 15 feet off the ground. A tree, or a branch, could be leaning just a bit too much one way and sure poses a hazard of becoming snapped or broken loose. A tree could have injured or damaged branches or trunks, a weakened structure somewhere that just needs a push to finally fall. Profuse growth of mushrooms or other fungi at the base of trees or in the ground around them are specific indicators of vegetative decomposition. Keep a sharp eye. could be that the root system is failing. This could mean the entire tree could easily topple.

You’ll need to make a judgment whether each tree is strong enough to take it, or if it is likely unable to make it. Take a measurement of every tree in your yard within 200 feet from the house. medium large trees with a full spreading crown need to be thinned down. This means that you lessen the amount of vegetation up there. Remove all the branches that make up the perimeter of the crown, along with shorter, heavy ones that you think may break or become airborne. You could even reduce the crown from the top by a few feet, If the crown is really thick and full of leaves, you’ll want to trim off branches  everywhere. If you’re really worried, remove a good 50% of all foliage. I like to reduce it to only 30% of the whole, This would depend upon each tree and how healthy and strong it is.

Really large diameter trunks or branches can be taken down with a chain saw or an axe. Make sure you trim tree branches from power lines and take all safety precautions when doing so. trim branches away from home and other objects as well.

Allergies??? ( Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

Specialists are stating that the current spring season might be the nastiest one experienced by allergy sufferers. Without a doubt, mold spores and pollen numbers are hitting an all time high.

Allergy Symptoms are on the rise and some studies have shown that this can be due to climate alterations such as the seasons are changing differently than previous years which is increasing the length of our so-called allergy season. Along with Surging CO2 levels facilitate thriving poison ivy, ragweed, and fungus spores.

Here are some tips for adeptly coping with Allergy Symptom Misery:

Determining whether it actually is allergy symptoms. The abrupt sway from nippy to tepid climate conditions could make it trickier in differing allergy reactions due to colds or viral form especially when one does not generally get seasonal allergies. According to experts, allergy symptoms must be suspected if your congestions last for over a night , watery eyes, itchy nose and sneezing.

One way to reduce allergy symptoms is to have your air ducts and carpets cleaned. There are dirt, dust and mold that can be recirculated through the home through your central heating and air system along with it harboring in  your carpets. Contact a professional such as Anderson Bros. Steamatic to provide service.

Keep tabs on pollen count at Dawn and stay inside when numbers are soaring. In case you do suffer from a pollen allergy we suggest you keep your windows shut and run your AC instead until pollen counts are down.

If allergic to dust or mold then having your carpets and air duct cleaned can reduce these symptoms along with opening windows to have a fresh breeze can help.

For additional information contact your physician about a possible allergy prescription. And for all your cleaning needs call Anderson Bros. Steamatic @ 800-564-4491 or visit us online at www.absteamatic.com

Water Damage Tips ( Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

Estimates predict that nearly 1,200 each day have some type of water damage occur. Most water damage scenarios are within the ability for most people to handle the job themselves with little know how. Don’t sacrifice the insurance claim deductible and possibly even a rate hike? or even a cancellation notice forthcoming in the mail?

Don’t let fear grip you upon seeing this mess first hand! The first step will be to contact your insurance company and file a claim then call a reputable restoration company who specializes in water damage restoration like Anderson Bros. Steamatic. They have all of the knowledge and equipment to get the water extracted and ensure no mold growth or odors will form afterwards.

Here are a few tips to speed up the process:

Turn off electricity: Find your main circuit breaker box and turn off the power to any room that the floors are wet in.

Wipe as much excess water: From wood furniture as you can and remove tabletop lamps and other items from the furniture.

Turn the Air Conditioning on:For maximum drying in the summer and open windows in the winter to release trapped for an improved indoor air quality.

Remove: Any artwork or paintings from the affected walls also remove any area rugs from floors and hang dry outside. Prop up wet upholstery cushions to dry as well.

Place plastic or aluminum foil: Under any furniture legs that are not plastic to prevent discoloration or bleeding.

By following these few tips it will prevent further damage and speed up the time frame of your claim. Anderson Bros. Steamatic has been providing 24/7 emergency services for over 42 years in Southwest Michigan we use the latest technology and our staff if fully trained and certified in all areas of restoration. So feel rest assured when Anderson Bros. Steamatic cleans up your water or fire damage….800-564-4491 or visit our website for additional information at: www.absteamatic.com.

Electronics Cleaning Tips…(Anderson Bros. Steamatic)

Electronic gadgets tend to be magnets for dust, dirt, hair, and food particles. These unhealthy culprits seem to be attracted to all the tiny spaces around keys, buttons, fans and plug-in areas. When your computer doesn;t seem to be running as well as usual, check all the buttons for dirt build-up.

Some electronics will sit for days or weeks without being used or noticed. Others are used daily. Either way, dust will collect on electronic products such as computers, televisions, remote controls, game consoles, phones, CD players, etc. Keeping them clean and free of dust will not only make the air in the room a little fresher, but will also help your electronic items operate more efficiently and last longer.

How to Safely Clean Electronics

There are quite a few germ-killing, anti-bacterial products available specifically for cleaning electronics. Consider investing in a small, handheld vacuum for removing dust in or around your electronics. Also, buy some dusting solution that’s free of those harsh components or chemicals. Use a can of compressed air to blow dust from those hard to reach areas. Also, invest in a deep cleaning compound such as CyberClean for a thorough cleaning around buttons, knobs, and other small areas on electronic devices.

Products like these can help maintain electronics without risk of damage. They can also be used for other household needs as well as auto cleaning. You can easily use the handheld vacuum or CyberClean compound to clean your car or other automobiles. This provides a two-fold benefit if you need cleaning solutions for  your home and office. Keeping electronics clean in the home or office environment can also help reduce the spread of viruses.

More Electronic Care Tips

When cleaning electronics, be sure to shut off the power before using any type of liquid cleaning solution. Check the instructions for cleaning computer and television screens; different screens might require varying cleaning methods. Spray solutions on your cleaning cloth instead of on the product itself to avoid getting the components inside your electronics wet.

If spills occur that seep into an electronic product, allow the item to dry out before trying to clean. then, use a deep cleaning compound like CyberClean to try and remove the hardened substance. It’s best to dry it out before trying to use the item again.

When cleaning Blackberry or other types of cell phones, it’s important to avoid liquid solutions and use a dry cloth or compound. It putty like cleanser works easily you simply press over the keys and remove. it pulls dirt and germs from the tiny spaces around the keys without the dangers of getting your phone wet.

Wipe wires and cables occasionally with a dry cloth to remove dust. Be sure to check your plug-in outlets, adapters and power bars for dust as well. When wiping an electronic item clean, try to avoid pressing buttons that will change important settings.

Anderson Bros. Steamatic and ABS Construction Services can handle all of your cleaning and restoration needs and has been your local provider in Southwest Michigan for 43 years. Schedule your cleaning appointment today at 800-564-4491 or visit our website @ www.absteamatic.com