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Jan

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: What They Do and Why You Need One

If you have appliances in your home that use gas for fuel (either natural gas or propane) it is vital that you have carbon monoxide detectors in your house to keep your family safe.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (or CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is poisonous when inhaled
It inhibits the body’s ability to carry oxygen, causing suffocation
It is a byproduct of combustion. Anything with a flame also puts out CO

What Types of Appliances Can Give off Carbon Monoxide?

Any fuel-burning appliances, (oil, natural gas, or propane) for example:

Gas-fueled water heaters
Gas dryers
Gas ovens
Gas stoves
Gas powered space heaters

These appliances must be properly installed and vented to ensure that no CO builds up in your home. However, even if they have been properly installed, it is important to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning by utilizing CO detectors. A failure in any of your safety systems can result in death if you don’t have working carbon monoxide detectors.

Some CO detectors are combo units. A detector such as this combines smoke detection with CO detection. While you may assume that your smoke detectors have a CO alarm it’s important to find that out for a fact. If you’re not sure, adding another CO detector in your home is never a bad thing. Much like smoke alarms, CO alarms come in hardwired and battery-operated options. Hardwired options sometimes utilize a battery backup in case of a power outage, while battery-operated detectors should have their batteries changed once a year (daylight savings time is the traditional day to change those batteries.) Battery-operated CO detectors are easy to install and can be found at hardware stores like Brinkmann’s Hardware. From utilitarian styles to those with a digital display to show your CO levels or the date and time. Whichever you choose, CO detectors are a vital component to your home safety plan.

Dec

’Tis the Season for Snow!

What You Need to Know About Gas vs. Electric Snowblowers.

It starts with just a few snowflakes; but before you know it the inches are piling up on your driveway. It’s almost Winter and that means it’s snowblower season, but which kind should you choose? The two main types of snowblowers are gas-powered and electric, and here we’ll go over the pros and cons of each so you can decide which is the right blower for you.

Once you’ve decided to ditch your snow shovel you should start considering the type of snow removal situation you’re facing. Do you have a short driveway or walk? Or is the trip down to your mailbox a long one?

The Electric Blower

If your driveway isn’t that long, an electric snowblower may be a good choice for you. Electric blowers come in corded electric and battery models (when using an extension cord be sure it is rated for outdoor use and it is not in your blowing path before starting!). These blowers are lighter weight than even single-stage gas snowblowers and take up less space in your garage or shed. With an electric blower you also have an electric start, so it turns on at the touch of a button. Corded electric snowblowers have an obvious range issue, in that they can only go as far as the cord allows. However, if you just have a walkway and a short drive to do that’s not much of a problem. Corded blowers will be the cheapest of all the available options, and the lightest.

With cordless electric snow blowers you’re using a battery, so it’s a good idea to have a second battery charging while you’re using the first if you plan to be out working for a long time. Most electric blowers are single-stage, meaning they don’t have the power that is generated by a two-stage gas blower. So if the snow is very heavy and wet you may have trouble breaking through. On the plus side, it’s lightweight and has maneuverability so it can be a better choice for some.

Gas Powered Blowers

Gas-powered blowers are a more expensive option, but for many people it’s worth it for the advantages they give. With a gas-powered mower you’re limited only by the size of your gas tank; and while the pull-cord start was once a deterrent for some, there are many electric start gas snow blowers that are just as easy to turn on as an electric mower. Gas blowers also add features such as a higher intake height, which means they can blow through almost any snow pile. A large gas blower will also be much more powerful than a battery-operated or plug-in electric blower and can come with features such as being self-propelled, or possessing track drive and power steering to make the job of handling such a heavy machine easier.

Brands like Cub Cadet, Ariens, and Snow Joe make a wide variety of both gas and electric snowblowers that you can purchase at a local hardware store such as Brinkmann’s, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

The choice is yours. What’s important is to consider your circumstances and go from there. If you have a great distance to blow, or often have a lot of heavy snow, you may want to consider a high performance, gas-powered snowblower. If you have a smaller area to cover and tend to get lesser amounts of snow you can probably get by with an electric model and save yourself some cash.

Dec

Choosing Christmas Decorations and Lights for the Holidays

In years past, there was only one choice when it came to holiday lighting: strings of incandescent bulbs. Times have changed however, and the energy-saving technology of an LED light has opened up a whole new world of outdoor Christmas decorations and indoor-outdoor Christmas lights for the holiday season.

The main focal point of your Christmas decorating is most likely going to be your Christmas Tree. If you don’t get a living tree you’ll have to decide between a standard tree or a pre-lit one. With a pre-lit tree the lights are taken care of for you so you can focus on hanging ornaments.

The first decision to make when deciding on other decorations is whether it will plug in, use batteries, or if it will be solar-powered.

Solar-powered holiday decorations and lights will keep your electric bill low, but on cloudy or snowy days you may not get quite the glow you’re hoping for into the night.

Battery operated decorations generally work best indoors so that you can shut them off when you’re not using them to conserve energy.

Electrical lights and decorations will increase your bill but will shine brightly no matter what. There are two choices for these: incandescent and LED lights.

Incandescent lights tend to have a warm cast to them (meaning the white lights look more yellow than a true white) while LED lights come in both warm and cool tones. If you do use electrical lights be sure to use UL-listed extension cords and either a timer to turn your lights off during the day, or a remote control made especially for outdoor lighting. String lights, icicle lights, rope lights, and net lights are very common choices, however some people prefer using laser lights for their decorating.

Laser lights can cover an entire house, without all of the climbing and work that comes with traditional lights. All of these options can be found in hardware stores like Brinkmann’s, which makes it easy to mix and match different styles.

No matter what style you choose remember that before putting any lighting or decoration outside you should check the product details to be sure it’s safe for outdoor use. If you have any doubts about the safety of your lights—for example, if there is a frayed cord—throw them away and replace them.

Nov

Tips for Buying Firewood

As the weather turns chilly, more and more of us will need firewood—whether it’s for outdoor fire pits, fireplaces, or wood-burning stoves. No matter what your reason for buying it, there are a few things you should know before you do.

What’s a Cord?

Firewood is usually sold by the cord, and a full cord of cut wood measures 128 cubic feet. Generally speaking, that means it’s 4’x8’x4’ deep. No matter where you go, a cord should be the same amount, unless it’s what’s known as a face cord which is 4 feet high, 8 feet long, and as deep as the individual logs (generally 16, 20, or 24” long).

A cord is quite a lot of wood so be sure you have a place to keep it. You’ll want to store firewood in a dry place, away from your house, as it can attract mice and other pests. You also want to make sure to stack the wood in such a way that there is air flow between the logs to help keep them dry. When calling for firewood, be sure that you request the right wood for your purposes. For fireplaces and wood stoves, you’ll want hardwoods like oak and maple, or cherry. These woods are denser and will burn slower and cleaner than softwoods such as pine and poplar, which are more appropriate for outdoor fire pits. Burning softwoods indoors can lead to a buildup of creosote, which can cause a chimney fire.

Make sure you ask the seller what kind of wood you’re getting. A reliable supplier will know and will also know how long it’s been seasoned. Seasoned firewood should have been sitting for at least six months. Any less than that is considered green wood and is not ideal for burning. Hardware stores like Brinkmann’s can answer all of your questions and are often a great choice for a steady supply of seasoned wood.

Smaller Amounts

You can often find smaller amounts of wood at Brinkmann’s, gas stations, or even the supermarket. When buying firewood like this make sure you unwrap them from their plastic and be sure the wood is dry before burning. Wet wood is not optimal, so you may want to wait until the moisture content evaporates before using it to get the best results.

Nov

What to Wear for in the Great Outdoors: Top Choices for Outdoor Work Clothing

Whether you’re out hiking, hunting, or just working in the yard, having the right clothing is vital to improving your performance and keeping you warm, and dry.

Gearing up from head to toe means everything you wear should be designed to work just as hard as you do.

Work clothes—from socks and work pants to gloves and work jackets—tend to be built for two things: free movement and protection. Carhartt is a brand known for its outdoor work clothing because it creates work clothes for men and women that is appropriate for all seasons.

For jackets cotton duck is a great choice. It’s water repellent, wind-resistant, and strong enough for whatever your day brings. Many of Carhartt’s jackets also have removable hoods for wet weather and extreme cold protection.

Carhartt also offers flame resistant shirts, pants, hats, and coveralls for protection against burning brush or working in other dangerous conditions. Carhartt Flame-Resistant clothing meets the performance requirements of NFPA 70E and is UL Classified to NFPA 2112, to keep you covered no matter what happens.

When in the woods covering up is key. Ticks are everywhere and long-sleeved shirts and sturdy pants that can handle branches and thorns are great choices for hunters and hikers. Carhartt has an entire line of clothing specially made for hunters, from pants and hats to shirts and gloves, so you don’t miss a day of hunting season.

Brinkmann’s Hardware carries a full line of Carhartt clothing, accessories, and gear to keep you and your family warm and comfortable all season long. In addition to Carhartt clothing, Brinkmann’s also carries protective gear such as ear and eye protection, boots for work and gardening, and gloves for everything—from household cleaning to welding or working. So no matter where the day takes you, you’re prepared.

Oct

Fire Safety for Your Home

October is Fire Safety Month so it’s the perfect time to go around your home and make sure that you have all the equipment you need to keep your family and home as safe as possible.

Let’s start with fire alarms. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you install smoke alarms and fire alarms (or a combo unit) on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. This ensures that no matter where or when a fire breaks out your family will be alerted so they can escape to safety. Remember, though, you’re only alerted if you have a working smoke or fire alarm, so when you turn the clocks back this fall, replace your batteries!

Keeping matches and lighters hidden away, and teach young children to “stop, drop, and roll” in the event that their clothing catches fire, is also important. Keeping children away from the stove, never leaving candles, fireplaces, or fire pits unattended, and other common-sense rules will make fire prevention a simple and easy plan to put into practice.

Be wary of space heaters. Space heaters cause more than 25,000 fires and more than 300 fire deaths a year. You should be aware of all space heater and portable heater locations; and make sure they’re not too close to drapes or other flammable surfaces and that they’re in good working order before turning them on for the winter season. Frayed cords—in particular—are important to address, so when buying space heaters pick one with a tip-over safety shut off. Remember, fire prevention is always your best bet.

Keep a fire extinguisher in any room with a space heater, as well as in the kitchen, and make sure the ones you do have are not expired. If you don’t have any pick some up at your local Brinkmann’s Hardware store. They’ll have fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, fire alarms, and CO2 alarms to keep your family safe.

Once you have all the fire safety equipment you need, it’s important to make sure your family is prepared in the event of a fire. Practice a home fire escape plan with your family in case a fire does occur. Know which doors and windows are useful to escape, and where to meet once you are outside. Remember, once you’re outside the house call for help and never go back inside for any reason. Your family should practice a fire escape plan at least once a year, particularly if there are small children in the house. Keeping your family safe should be a year-round goal, not just for fire prevention month, so keep these tips in mind and you’ll be better prepared should a fire ever happen.

Oct

How to Winterize Your Home

If you live in New York chances are there’s going to be a period of time during the winter months when your house feels cold and drafty. Freezing temperatures and harsh winter conditions are not only uncomfortable during these times, but they can also do damage to your house. The following tips can help keep your pipes from bursting and keep you warm and comfortable during the upcoming cold weather.

Fighting drafts should be your first step toward preparing for winterization. Caulking windows and placing weather stripping around gaps in door frames can significantly cut down on the cold winter air that comes into the home. You may also want to replace screens with storm windows and doors to add an extra layer of protection. There is even a special kind of shrink wrap that can be placed over windows, which acts as an insulator. These items can all be purchased at your local Brinkmann’s Hardware and will help to make your home more efficient during the harsh winter months.

The next step to winterizing your home is to check your hot water heater. If it’s in a drafty area it may have to work harder to heat up your water, causing your utility bills to jump. Insulating the tank and the pipes leading away from your water tank can help prevent heat loss and lower your energy costs. Remember that newer tanks usually have insulation built-in, so you only have to insulate the pipes leading away from them.

Check upstairs and down. Before winter comes check your attic to ensure that it is properly insulated. Poor attic insulation can let heat escape, leaving you cold and uncomfortable. After you check your attic check the basement and your garage. Exposed pipes in these areas can freeze in cold weather, so make sure you’re using pipe insulation in these areas.

Change your furnace filter. A dirty filter means an inefficient furnace, so be sure to change it out at least twice a year. The beginning of fall and the beginning of spring are easy times to remember, but in case you forgot, do it now. Look for high MERV ratings to ensure that even the smallest particles are captured in the filter.

Finally, take a look outside. Winter storms can be windy and cause just as much havoc as summer storms, so put away anything that might blow around in wild weather. You should also check for loose shingles and roofing, which could be made worse by ice and snow. If you do see something awry it’s better to have it fixed before a leak happens than to wait for a problem to arise.

Sep

STIHL Blowers, Which One Is the Right Choice for Your Yard?

It’s that time of year again. Soon, your yard will be piled high with leaves. While they’re beautiful on the trees, once they hit the ground they become a job to do. Luckily, STIHL makes blowers of all types to make the job a bit easier for you, saving you time and hassle.

The size of your lot and what you expect to get done will help you decide which type of STIHL blower is the right one for you. Do you have a small urban lot, a larger suburban one, or a bigger piece of property? Do you want a blower that just blows leaves and grass clippings, or are you looking for a shredder vac? There is a STIHL blower for every need.

STIHL Blowers For the Smaller Jobs:

For smaller lots, a handheld battery-powered leaf blower is a great choice. STIHL handheld blowers are lightweight and still have plenty of power to get the job done while offering great battery life so you’re not constantly stopping to charge the battery.

For the Bigger Jobs:

Have a bigger lot, or need even more power? There is an entire line of STIHL products designed with you in mind: their BG 50 is the lightest gas blower in their line; the BG 86 is their most powerful handheld model; and the BR 200 is a backpack model focused on fuel efficiency, with a lightweight design and anti-vibration technology.

Finally, for larger properties, there is a professional line of easy to start pack and handheld blowers. The gas-powered BG66L and BG86, while being on the smaller end, pack a real punch when it comes to clearing away leaves and other debris. On the most powerful end, the BR 800 x Magnum and BR 800 C-E Magnum are the most powerful blowers in the STIHL line. These backpack blowers feature a variety of pro-quality features such as a multi-function control handle and 20% more power than the BR 700, letting you get through jobs quickly and easily. No matter the job, there’s a STIHL that can handle it.

When you’re ready to invest in a new blower for whatever your needs, from grass clippings to construction debris, your local Brinkmann’s is a certified STIHL dealer and offers full service and repairs on your existing STIHL products, so visit them today.

Sep

Winter Prep For Your Home

The winter months will be here before you know it and taking some time to Winter prep your home and car now will make your life a lot easier once they’re here.

Water Heater:

Start with your water heater. If it is warm to the touch, an insulation blanket—which you can find at your local Brinkmann’s—will help keep the heat from being wasted. You may also want to turn the temperature down to save your skin and make your heater more energy efficient. The water line too, should be insulated to keep it from getting too cold in the winter. Any lines that run through crawl spaces should be properly insulated with pipe insulation. This will prevent leaks and bursting in the cold temperatures winter brings. Check your home for air leaks around water pipes, such as under sinks, which can cause them to burst in very cold weather.

Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, also available at Brinkmann’s, are imperative to have in your home. Test them and replace the batteries before the winter months. When heaters with blocked vents from ice and snow can cause carbon monoxide build-up or a fire. Remember, holiday decorations can and do cause fires, so always check for frayed wires. If you have a real Christmas Tree be sure to keep it watered so it’s less likely to catch fire.

Car Winter Prep:

Readiness for cold weather isn’t limited to your home. Your car should also be made ready for winter. Keeping cat litter in your truck is a good idea to help provide traction should you get stuck on ice. Plain clay litter scattered on ice will allow your tires to grip better in winter storms. Monitoring and keeping up on your tire pressure is also important for traction. Remember that as temperatures drop your tire pressure often does too. Refill your tires when necessary to keep yourself safe when driving in the colder winter months.

Pouring a fuel antifreeze in your gas tank to keep your fuel line from freezing in extreme temperatures is also a good idea, in addition to the antifreeze you’re used to using in the radiator.

Storm Kit:

Finally, make sure that you have a winter storm kit including a cell phone charger, a flashlight, road flares, snacks in your car, as well as a blanket in case you find yourself stuck in a storm.

A little advanced winter prep work will keep you and your family safe over the winter, whether you’re at home or on the road. So take the time to prepare and have a safe winter season!

Aug

What Makes for the Best Cooler This Summer?

Coolers have come a long way from polystyrene ice chests. Nowadays, rotor-molded coolers such as the Yeti cooler bring state-of-the-art technology to the age-old need to hold ice.

Rotor-molded coolers are made through a process where powdered plastic is melted into a hollow mold as it is rotated to ensure that it fills every part of the mold. This results in a unibody plastic cast of the mold and allows for the durability and retention of today’s modern coolers. Their unibody construction also makes it easy to clean.

Some of the best coolers on the market are in the Yeti line. Yeti coolers come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors from soft-sided coolers with shoulder straps and backpack coolers to heavy-duty wheeled coolers perfect for a camping trip or going fishing. Many are available at your local Brinkmann’s hardware store. A good cooler should be able to keep ice frozen for at least 24 hours, which is more than enough for most food and drink needs. Some of the heavy-duty coolers in the Yeti line have been tested to hold ice for over a week, making it perfect for that long camping trip.

Getting the Most out of Your Cooler:

To get the most out of your ice chest you’ll want to pre-chill the inside. Using either ice packs or ice, fill the cooler and leave it overnight to drop the interior temperature of the cooler. The next day when you plan to use it dump out the old ice or packs and refill it with new ice. You’ll find you get a much longer chill using this method. If possible, use solid blocks of ice rather than ice cubes. You can make these yourself by filling milk cartons or other containers with water and freezing them. Solid blocks of ice last longer than ice cubes because they have less surface area.

When packing your cooler, use layers. First, add a layer of ice on the bottom. If you’re using ice blocks add ice cubes on top of them to fill in the spaces. Then add your food and drink and finally top it off with additional ice. Using this method will guarantee that everything stays cool as long as possible.

By following these tips you’ll keep your food and drinks ice cold and your gathering going long into the night!

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