Each season check your electric blanket for damage before using it. Inspect the cord, control switch and plug for any damage and look for any kinks, worn or exposed wires, or scorch marks. You can visually check again each time you change the sheets.
Find out more about using electric blankets safely…
Every year around 200,000 kiwis get food poisoning. Around half these cases occur in homes just like yours. Campylobacter food poisoning is the most common cause.
You can stop your family from becoming ill by following the three Cs – clean, cook, chill.
Campylobacter bacteria naturally occurs in the gut of animals and birds, especially chickens. You and your family can get sick from Campylobacter if you don’t follow good food safety practices at home when preparing raw chicken.
Campylobacter bacteria can quickly multiply to toxic levels and spread unless you stop it from growing.
Symptoms of Campylobacter poisoning include:
If you or your family is suffering from any of these symptoms, you must see your doctor.
Remember the three Cs:
Before you prepare food and after handling raw meat:
To stop bacteria growing in your food:
Clean, cook, chill will prevent your family from becoming ill from Campylobacter food poisoning.
Solar energy is all the rage. What could be more extraordinary than getting the power that heats our homes, charges our devices, and makes all of modern life easier…directly from the sun?
Of course, the sun has always been there as an untapped energy source, and we’re constantly learning more and more about the possibilities.
You might already know quite a bit about it, since it’s become such a popular topic. But, it’s a safe bet you don’t know all of the mind-blowing solar power facts out there.
Read on, and quiz yourself on the following solar energy facts to really be ‘in the know’.
Find the tips at https://www.worldsolar.co.nz/
And you don’t have to worry about not having a house that is ‘wired’ for gadgets and gizmos, as there are plenty of products which can be added to your home in its current state.
When it comes to saving energy and money, it is important to know and understand the biggest and most costly energy users in your home.
Harrisons Energy Solutions have created an infographic that shows how much energy typical New Zealand homes and household appliances use. How do you think you compare?
Click this link for a full sized copy Harrisons_Home_Energy_Use
We get it. With Youtube on tap it’s easy to think you can take care of anything around the home without needing to call on the services of a ‘professional’ – and while changing a lightbulb is probably okay for a bit of DIY, installing a new light switch isn’t.
It may not be safe or even legal…
Wherever your home is – from Bluff to the winterless North – you’ll no doubt shop around to make sure your belongings and home are insured by the experts. But, what do you do to protect your home from break-ins in the first place? It doesn’t take much to deter most burglars if you follow simple home security tips and remain vigilant. Here are six ways to beef up on your home security.
A quarter of New Zealanders surveyed in the AAI Insurance Home Security Survey 2015 have had their homes broken into. Yet, only 51% of people have window locks, 49% have deadlocks on doors, and 34% an audible alarm system. The outtake is, with home security generally, Kiwis need to get serious.
1. Lock ‘em up!
It’s obvious but surprisingly easy to forget: always lock your doors and use good quality locks. Even tools and ladders should be locked away, because they can help burglars break in. Get in the habit of locking your car every time you get out of it, and even lock up your bike and other outdoor items when they’re in the garage. Remember not to leave your keys lying around in plain sight and keep house keys and car keys separate.
Check out the complete list at AA Insurance
Ply, Weatherboard & Stucco are so over rated. We take a look at 5 other materials you can use to build a house.
Click through to see what http://www.homes.co.nz had to say…
Having a mortgage is one of those grown-up things most of us do at some point in our lives to help us have the home of our dreams. Once you’re living in your dream home, the next dream is being mortgage-free.
Read more at www.bnzgoodhome.co.nz
As the value in their family home increases over the years, many Kiwis consider actively using the equity in their home, and other resources, to finance the purchase of a rental property to provide income and capital growth. Here are my 5 Golden Rules for new would-be property investors.
Includes a free chapter from The Streetwise Home Buyer
Read more at www.bnzgoodhome.co.nz
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