By Lena Khzouz The Ile Camera

A Grosse Ile resident is counting her blessings this month knowing that a small fire at her home could have been much worse.

The incident has served as a reminder about fire safety, especially during this time of the year when homeowners are turning their furnaces back on for the colder season.

Fire Marshal Russell Bodrie said that when the resident turned on her furnace for the first time on Oct. 5, it heated up the plywood floor underneath and caught the floor on fire.

The modern-day rule is to place furnaces on cement or stone, but when this house was built many years ago, the hot water boiling system was placed on a wooden floor in a mechanical room.

About 10 or 15 minutes after she turned on the furnace, her house filled with smoke, and she left the house and called 911.

Bodrie said they were able to contain the fire to its room of origin, and that only the plywood under the furnace was damaged. He said they sprayed water on the fire to put it out, although they had to cut the floor to make sure they got it all.

Its common this time of the year for wood to catch fire after homeowners turn on their furnaces for the first time, Bodrie said.

The reason for that is because moisture in wood is what actually causes it to burn. During the winter months when furnaces are constantly running, the wood remains dry throughout the months. Over the summer while the furnace is not in use, the wood has collected just enough humidity to give it the fuel to burn, he said.

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Fire department warns of dangers associated with first use of furnace

It was just an hour after Countryside Fire Protection District officials had finished serving pancakes at a safety event Sunday when the department received a 911 call from a home with five family members feeling ill.

According to fire officials, it is the season for carbon monoxide incidents, in which the odorless and tasteless gas can sneak up on residents when they crank up the gas furnace for the first time in months. The gas can also leak into a home if a furnace or gas-fired hot water heater is in need of repairs.

Were getting into that time of year, Fire Marshall Michael McNally said. A lot of people dont realize it is the law.

Sundays call came in at 1 p.m. from a home in the 300 block of Sutcliffe Circle in Vernon Hills. The caller told emergency dispatch that everyone woke up feeling sick.

They exited the building to call 911. They did the right thing rather than remaining in the building to make the call, McNally said.

When the first ambulance arrived, found everyone was safe outside. A second ambulance was called to take the family to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

High levels of the gas were found inside, and the gas company responded to cut off the gas to the homes furnace and hot water heater. They indicated the gas source was in the area of the furnace and hot water heater, McNally said.

Illinois residents and property owners have been required to have carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of all rooms used for sleeping since January 2007.

McNally didnt say whether the Vernon Hills family had detectors. He did say they are essential.

You never know when its going to happen and you wont know unless you have a detector, he said, reiterating that carbon monoxide has no odor or taste and cannot be seen.

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Fire officials warn its the season for carbon monoxide incidents

CINCINNATI -- As weather in the Tri-State took its first dip to near freezing temperatures over the weekend, Cincinnati crews responded to their first home emergency involving carbon monoxide (CO) gas.

Shortly after midnight Monday, firefighters and medical technicians responded to the scene of possible CO poisoning.

A woman coming home to her apartment complex in the 2000 block of Stratford Avenue said she her downstairs neighbor calling out for help.

The woman called 911. When crews arrived they found a woman and child inside with high levels of the poisonous gas that is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels such as natural gas.

Though firefighters could not confirm the cause until their investigation into the incident was completely, they initially believed a faulty heating unit turned on during the night created the dangerous situation.

Duke Energy workers arrived on the scene and turned the gas lines off to the building.

The mother and child were transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment. Their condition was not immediately available.

The incident stands as a reminder for anyone with gas heat in their home to take extra precautions as they turn on furnaces for the first time.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas usually given a faint odor by energy providers like Duke Energy for easier detection. If you turn on your heater and there is an odd smell in your home, turn the unit off.

The Center for Disease Control recommends having gas heating, water heaters and other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

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Crews respond to possible CO poisoning

Everybody worries about protecting their investments: their savings, their 401(k), their stocks.

One'shome is also a big investment and it, too, needs to be protected with periodic maintenance. Here is a checklist of chores that, if followed, will help you keep your home in top shape and make it cozier for the winter ahead.

Gutters and downspouts:Water is one of a home's biggest enemies, especially rainwater that is shed off the roof of an average home.

When allowed to collect at the perimeter of a foundation, excessive water can result in a damp and musty basement or cause foundation movement that produces cracks.

If your home doesn't have gutters and downspouts, install them. If it does, be sure they are clean of leaves and debris. Consider installing a gutter protection system.

Drainage: In addition to havingclean gutters and downspouts, make sure the downspouts discharge into a subsurface drainage system or, failing that, at least 3 to 5 feet from your foundation.

Allowing downspouts to discharge at the base of the foundation is worse than not having gutters at all because of the high concentration of water.

Also, make sure all your soil is graded, or sloped,to drain away from the foundation.

Water heater and plumbing pipes: You can maximize your water heating dollar by removing sediment at the base of your water heater's tank. The sediment that collects over time greatly reduces burner efficiency and can even cause damage to the interior lining of the tank when allowed to superheat.

Adjust burners for the most fuel-efficient and safest combustion. For flames, blue is good, yellow isn't.

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Getting your home ready for winter

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) October 03, 2014

Pittsburgh-based Busy Beaver opens its Lawrenceville location at 4743 Plummer Street., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 with a Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 11, from 10 am until 7 pm. The new 23,000 sf location is the 15th store for the home improvement center chain, which was founded in 1962. It is also the first new Busy Beaver store to open in eight years. The Lawrenceville location will employ 15 full-time, with additional part-time seasonal positions.

Store Opening Marks a New Chapter for Busy Beaver Lawrenceville is such a vibrant, exciting neighborhood, and we are thrilled to become a neighbor in this community, said Joe Kallen, chief executive officer, Busy Beaver. Opening this store marks the start of a new chapter for Busy Beaver. First and foremost, we are putting our renewed customer service pledge into action here, and at all our stores. Were also making in-store changes so customers can count on easily finding what they want and getting expert help, every time they visit.

The new store reflects the companys unwavering approach to delivering a customer-friendly store experience that solves problems for DIYers and supports local contractors. This includes stocking merchandise specific to local residents unique neighborhood needs. For instance, the Lawrenceville store includes a full selection of bicycle accessories and carries above-door awnings that fit the architectural style of neighborhood homes. Tool rental is also available.

The Lawrenceville store is also presenting new or expanded product lines, which will roll out to Busy Beavers additional locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. In addition to the lawn and garden, paint, hardware, plumbing and bath, electrical and building materials departments, customers will find a new line of luxury vinyl plank flooring, for example.

Lawrenceville Oct. 11 Grand Opening Event Busy Beaver Lawrenceville will host a Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 11th from 10 am to 7 pm. The festivities start with a 10 am board-cutting ceremony featuring the Honorable Mayor of Pittsburgh William Peduto and PA State Senator Jim Ferlo; with Lawrenceville community leaders and Joe Kallen, CEO, Busy Beaver.

The first fifty Grand Opening guests arriving at 10 a.m. will receive a $10 Busy Beaver gift card. Visitors have the chance to win more gift cards by touring the new store and participating in a Hidden Treasures scavenger hunt.

At noon, kids and community activities begin, including refreshments, games, face painting and a WDVE-FM remote, featuring Val Porter and the DVE Prize Wheel. Guests will also meet adoptable animals from the Animal Rescue League and other neighborhood groups. Entertainment includes DJ Zombo, throughout the day; 5 pm music performance by Broke Stranded & Ugly (Bluegrass/Jamgrass); and a 6 pm music performance by Chrome Moses (Rock & Roll).

Home improvement experts will conduct the following Do-It-Yourself (DIY) seminars* through the day: 12:00 pm: Choose the Best Furnace Filter for Your Home 12:20 pm: Overview of Ortho and Miracle Gro Products 12:40 pm: Learn more about Tomcat Rodent Control Products 1:00 pm: Pavestone Patio Stone Installation 1:20 pm: How to Use Stormblaster Extreme Weather Caulking; Benefits of Ceiling Solutions Paint; How to Choose an Applicator 1:40 pm: How to Repair and Prevent Leaks with Rustoleum Leak Seal 2:00 pm: Water Heater Basics 2:20 pm: How to Install an Exterior Door 2:40 pm: How to Install a Storm Door 3:00 pm: How to Use Rustoleum Neverwet Liquid Repelling Treatment 3:20 pm: How to Use Minwax Wood Finish Stain & Fast Drying Polyurethane 3:40 pm: How to Use Stormblaster Extreme Weather Caulking; Benefits of Ceiling Solutions Paint; How to Choose an Applicator

*Schedule subject to change. Visit http://www.busybeaver.com for Grand Opening schedule details.

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Busy Beaver Opens Lawrenceville Home Improvement Center

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NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- National Grid officials picked a home in suburban North Syracuse to talk about what lies ahead this winter, and the basic news was good.

"Based on last year's prices and, certainly, assuming normal weather, a typical residential customer, who would ordinarily use about 711 therms during heating season a normal -- and our heating season is roughly November through March -- would have paid about $619 last winter. At this winter's projected commodity price, the same amount of usage would cost about $554," said Melanie Littlejohn, a National Grid regional executive.

National Grid is applauding homeowners like Brendan Whalen, who bought his own refrigerator. People they say have take steps to reduce their energy costs by reducing usage. National Grid is offering rebates when aging home equipment is replaced.

"High-efficiency furnaces and boilers, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency hot water heaters, including tankless water heaters. Water heater insulation and pipe insulation. And the recycling of refrigerators and freezers," said Tom Baron, a senior program manager with National Grid.

And even as prices have fallen, National Grid says some consumers may be able to cut an even better deal.

"Customers do have an option. And they have an option to choose from a variety of energy suppliers, some of whom now offer fixed price contracts," Littlejohn said.

So, the general outlook for homeowners like Whalen is positive. But, there is still one major question mark.

That is just how severe the winter will be and that could force us all to toss the more optimistic forecasts.

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Optimistic Winter Forecast Has National Grid Predicting Lower Heating Bills

The Noida college where a spy cam was discovered in a girls washroom on Thursday started strengthening security on Friday, with officials scanning hostel rooms for surveillance devices.

JSS Academy of Technical Education has set up two committees one to probe the incident and the other to suggest improved security measures. The second committee will comprise students, parents, faculty members and one police officer, said college principal T.N. Nagabhushan.

Students of the Sector-62 college held a protest demanding action against the guilty.

A small hidden camera was found by a student inside a girls hostel washroom on Thursday morning. According to the Noida Police, the student spotted a red light blinking near a wash basin and spotted the camera. They took it out and discovered that the camera was a recording device and was unable to transmit data. Before handing it over to the police, the students also destroyed the chip inside it.

The police are questioning four suspects in connection with the incident. One of the suspects is a plumber who visited the hostel recently to carry out some repair work. Another suspect had visited the premises to install a water heater. A security guard posted outside the hostel is also being questioned by the police.

Dr. Nagabhushan said the college was returning to normal on Friday. Students have gone back to classes including the girl who discovered the camera. We want to focus on education and hope the police make sure that the guilty are caught, said the college principal.

The hostel warden has also been changed and if the committee finds any laxity on her part, there will be action against her, said Dr. Nagabhushan.

He added that the college will be installing CCTV cameras in the hostel lobby. Currently, security cameras are only installed at the college main gate. Men entering the girls hostel will be frisked and workers, like the plumber, will be accompanied by a hostel superintendent, said the principal.

This unsavoury incident has opened everyones eyes. Through the committee and the meetings with the students, we will hear from all on how to strengthen security measures, Dr. Nagabhushan said.

Meanwhile, about a dozen workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad protested outside the college on Friday and demanded action against those involved.

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Noida college ups security after spy cam found in girls washroom

Question:

What should I be doing now to prepare my house for winter?

A: Historically, the first frost in Colorado comes by mid-September. And the first hard freeze typically arrives in early October. Now is the right time to take some simple steps to make your home comfortable and energy conserving during the cold months ahead.

1. INSULATE Heating your home can be expensive. By improving the home's insulation and making sure windows and doors are sealed properly you can save money and energy. Since heat rises, start in your attic to see if more insulation would help keep the home warmer at lower costs. You may want to consider replacing older windows with energy efficient versions available today.

All windows and doors need to be sealed around the edges to prevent cold air from entering and warmer air from escaping. You can check if air is leaking around doors and windows by loosely holding a tissue up to the edges and checking for air movement,

2. UPGRADE THERMOSTATS Consider installing a set-back thermostat for each heating zone which makes it easy to have your home's heating system come on automatically and only when you need it.

3. TEST YOUR FURNACE Turn your furnace or boiler on now and run it for a while to make sure that it's working properly. Boiler systems, which circulate heated water, are subject to leaks. Having your heating system professionally examined and tested annually is a good idea both for efficiency and safety.

4. CHANGE AIR FILTERS If your heating system uses an air filter, it should be changed at the start of the season and checked monthly during the cold months. A dirty filter restricts air flow and is potentially a fire hazard in the worst case. Having the heating ducts inspected and cleaned every few years will help improve air flow and may also help improve the air quality.

5. INSTALL CO DETECTORS Today having Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home, near the furnace and near bedrooms, is essential. These inexpensive devices, which look like a smoke detector, will warn you if dangerous and often odorless fumes are escaping from your furnace.

6. WRAP WATER HEATERS AND PIPES Consider adding insulated wrap around the hot water heater in your home and enjoy additional energy savings. If you have exposed water pipes close to outside walls you may want to wrap them to protect them from freezing. Most of these insulation products are available at your local home improvement store.

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Winterizing your home

RICHMOND -- Betsy Hardy of Richmond owns a two-story home built more than a century ago. Over the past three years, she has insulated her attic and basement, installed a solar array on her roof and placed a solar hot water heater in her basement.

Now, she is working with an electrician to install two heat pumps to be her primary heating source this winter.

"I really want to reduce my carbon footprint," Hardy said. And, she said, "I think it's a good investment because it will make my home a lot more affordable for me after I retire if I don't have to spend lots of money on fuel oil."

Heat pumps have been available in the U.S. for decades, but it was not until recently that the technology could be used to heat homes in Vermont, where temperatures frequently dip below freezing.

Heat pump exterior unit. (Photo courtesy of SunCommon)

Like a refrigerator or air conditioner in reverse, electric air source heat pumps use a refrigerant to extract heat from the cold outside air and pump it inside. Even in sub-zero temperatures, there is heat in the air. But as the temperature drops, the technology must work harder to extract the heat from the air. Eventually, the system becomes less efficient and stops producing heat.

Hardy is a member of the Richmond Climate Action Committee, a town energy group that tells residents about heat pumps. As she prepares to test the technology herself, renewable energy advocates and businesses are pushing to put heat pumps into homes before winter hits.

Proponents of the technology say heat pumps can warm homes in temperatures as low as minus-8 Fahrenheit, generating average savings similar to natural gas compared to heating fuels like oil or propane.

Hardy said she is installing a large heat pump on her first floor and a smaller one in a second-floor bedroom. This year, she said she will keep her oil furnace as a back-up for colder days, but will consider replacing it with a wood stove if the heat pumps work well enough.

She said she will capitalize on the net-metering energy credits her utility gives her for the solar power her panels produce in the summer. In the winter, she will use the credits to power the heat pumps, effectively heating her home with energy from the sun year-round.

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Heat pumps seen as another tool in energy efficiency kit

Unprecedented demand for propane for grain drying and home heating led to temporary price surges and strained the nations transportation infrastructure last winter, even as U.S. propane production reached all-time highs.

This fall, the Propane Education & Research Council and propane industry are taking proactive steps to ensure that residential propane heating customers and agribusiness operators, among others, fill up early and make arrangements with propane providers to keep their tanks full.

America makes more than enough propane to meet U.S. demand, yet the transportation challenges we faced last winter stressed many propane providers and customers, said Roy Willis, PERC president and CEO. The best thing propane customers can do to avoid any weather-related difficulties this winter is fill their tanks now.

A multimedia safety campaign, featuring TV and online advertising in states hit hardest last winter by temporary price surges and deliverability challenges, begins today. The campaign directs customers to propanecomfort.com where they can take a quiz to determine if they are adequately prepared. For those who havent already made arrangements, the quiz encourages users to consider early fills, automatic refills, and payment programs.

According to Willis, the most important step customers can take this winter is a simple one: to start a conversation with their local propane provider.

By filling tanks early, customers and propane retailers, many of whom are small businesses, can better plan for supply needs and work together to ensure that everyone has a comfortable and safe winter. Because delivery and payment programs vary by company, its important that customers have a conversation with their provider to start making plans for winter today.

At propanecomfort.com, customers can also review top safety and efficiency tips, including:

1 Make sure that you have an adequate propane supply. Ask your propane provider about payment programs and scheduling regular visits so that theres always enough propane in your tank. This will help avoid ever running empty if inaccessible roads delay deliveries.

2.Confirm that your heating system and appliances are running efficiently. Before the start of each heating season, have a qualified service technician inspect and service your appliances and propane system. When appliances are running as efficiently as possible, you conserve fuel and save money.

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Propane industry to residential customers: Plan for winter now