Tips from Toby Ice & Snow Damage
It's been one of the biggest snowstorms in many years and while many of us have cleaned off our driveways and walks the true damage to our homes is just beginning. As the snow melts it can cause ice dams that tear gutters right off the house or flood water back into your home. Shrubs and trees are under stress from the weight of the snow and that ice melter might be cracking your drive and walkways. In this weeks tip we show you the easy things you can do to keep serious damage at bay as the foot of snow and drifts begin to melt.
Tips from Toby – Winter Critter Control
It doesn't matter how nice or clean your home is, mice and other rodents are trying to get in for warmth, food and something to chew on. Aside from the feeling of being violated in your home, these pests can spread disease and mice are the leading cause of fire in our homes because they chew wires. We show you how to close up the doors (mice can get in through a hole no smaller than a dime) and we show you how to go on the offensive to keeping your home pest free!
Tips from Toby Space Heater Choice & Safety
Have you been using those handy space heaters to warm that Winter chill? Is the space heater safe? At this time of year we see tons of electric fires because circuits are being shorted out and space heaters can ignite blankets or cause a short quickly. Watch this week's tip and find out what to look for in "safe" space heaters and find out how to make sure your electric system is handling the extra load.
Tips from Toby – January Home, Lawn & Garden Quick Tips
It's time for resolutions or just simple and quick DIY tips around the home, lawn and garden for January. Easy things you can do as the holidays wind down and we're cooped up in the cold. Check out the great Home, Lawn and Garden quick tips now for January. Happy New Year!
Tips from Toby – Winter Dry Air Solutions
It's that time of year where our furnaces dry out the air, our noses, throats, furniture and much more. This can leave a lot of damage to cabinets, wood floors and of course be an irritant. Check out our tip on adding a whole house humidifier to your home or ways to add humidity to your home safely. Keep from shocking your family, static cling in your hair and enjoy more comfort in your home now!
Tips from Toby – Outdoor Winter Quick Checkup
This weather has been awfully dry and that can lead to some expansion and contraction of our home and soil. About 60% of foundation issues are caused by clogged gutters, broken downspouts, or improper drainage. Now is a good time to make sure those downspouts aren't clogged and draining away from your home. Those ornamental grasses near your home need to be pruned back. They are a fire hazard and should be trimmed now to allow them to grow back next Spring. Do you have ice melter handy? It won't be long before the next Polar Vortex comes upon us. Make sure you pick up some ice melter that is safe for your concrete, pets and carpet next time you're out shopping. Keep a bag handy in your trunk too!eo is about FS Toby Fall 30 TV
Toby Holiday Preparation Safety Checkup
It's that time of year with ice, travel, holiday decorations and hurrying from place to place. This is a great time (while we're stuck with a little cold weather) to catch up on those easy tips that can save you a lot of hassles during the holiday season. From loading up your car with safety items to adding timers to those holiday lights, we've got a great list of tips to keep your season running smooth.
Tips from Toby Warm, Easy Vent Adjust for Comfort
Do you have those rooms that seem drafty in some areas and hot in others? Do you shut of vents in some rooms to try in make it more comfortable in others? Find out how to use some simple tips to make your whole house more comfortable and why closing off those vents in some rooms is actually a bad idea. This is one of our favorite easy tips that will make your whole home more comfortable, will save you money on your energy bills and you'll even sleep better at night! Take a look at this tip now and you'll be feeling a lot more comfortable and saving money in no time!
Tips from Toby – The Bed Bug Tip
Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite! An old phrase uttered by just about every parent to their kids at bedtime. Unfortunately, bed bugs are becoming a significant problem in homes throughout the country and Kansas City area. You don't have to have a dirty home to get bed bugs. They can be brought in with your luggage after a trip, on kids backpacks, moving trucks or just on someone's clothing. They are about the size of an apple seed. These little vampires feed off of human blood and are experts at hiding. Bed Bugs multiply at a rate that would make a bunny blush and quite frankly, they are disgusting! Learn what they look like, how to professionally treat the problem and how to avoid letting a couple of bed bugs become a huge, expensive problem in your home. Treatment can cost $100's of dollars per room and a female bed bug that is pregnant can lay 100's of eggs per day so they spread like wildfire and so do the costs! Check out all you need to know about Bed Bugs in this week's tip and you'll sleep tight avoiding a big problem!
Tips from Toby Fireplace, Chimney & Dryer Vent Tip
The leading cause of home fires in the United States is caused by excessive lint buildup in our dryer vents and by creosote buildup in our chimneys. As the nights get a bit chillier it won't be long before we are firing up those fireplaces and lots of static will be firing up around our dryers. Don't be one of those victims you see on the news and suffer damage to your home or much worse! This is an inexpensive maintenance tip that should be a priority this Fall on your home upkeep list!