Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Cleaning your Vinyl Siding

If you are having a build-up of black or green mildew (most commonly found on the north side of the home)  you can easily clean it with this mixture (see below). Purchase a soft brush and place it on a telescoping pole for easiest cleaning.

For streak-free cleaning, work from the bottom up and do 3'x3' areas and then rinse thoroughly.  You are cautioned against changing the proportions of TSP and/or bleach as it can easily damage vinyl and polypropylene siding.

Mildew Cleaner
3 quarts water
1 quart household bleach
1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent
2/3 cup TSP (Soilax trisodium phosphate, for example)


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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Venmar Ventilation Recalls Air Exchangers Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Air Exchangers

Units: About 1,400 in the United States

Manufacturer: Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada

Hazard: The motor in the air exchangers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received nine reports of overheating incidents resulting in fires and property damage outside of the United States. No incidents have been reported in the United States.

Description: This recall involves air exchangers sold under different brands that are used to circulate air in and out of the home. The metal air exchangers are painted blue or grey. Air exchangers included in the recall were manufactured from 1996 through 2001 and have brand and model information printed on the unit's rating plate or on the side of the unit. 

Remedy: Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using their air exchangers. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to request a free inspection and repair by a Venmar field technician.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the Venmar Ventilation toll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.venmar.ca

For detailed information, including model numbers, go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11240.html



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