If you are buying or living in a home that has materials that were manufactured prior to 1980 there is a chance that there is asbestos in the home.

A warm house with a cold, well insulated and ventilated attic is the picture of health for your home.

Keep the cold winter breeze outside where it belongs and out of your home by taking some of these steps this winter and save yourself some money along the way.

As much as we might complain here and there about our Minnesota winters, there is something idyllic about the sight of your home, roof padded with snow, a cascade of icicles hanging from the eaves.

That is until you go inside and find water running down the walls and pouring out of the light fixtures.

You have ice dams.

Yearly draining of your water heater helps to extend the life of the appliance by removing sediment that gathers from the local water supply and reduces the heater’s effectiveness.

As much as we might complain here and there about our Minnesota winters, there is something idyllic about the sight of your home, roof padded with snow, a cascade of icicles hanging from the eaves.

That is until you go inside and find water running down the walls and pouring out of the light fixtures.

You have ice dams.

Fireplace operation can be a tricky business if you have never used one before. With this primer in hand, you will be able to maintain your fireplace and feel confident in its operation.

As a part of fire safety, it’s important to make sure both your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are current, have fresh batteries, and are placed correctly throughout your home.