Enjoy your summer holiday with peace of mind

Protect your home from a break-in.

(NC)-By far, the most common threat to our home while we are away on summer holidays is burglary. Burglary, by definition, is a non-confrontational crime but being victimized can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated.

According to Patrice De Luca, V.P. of Marketing and Business Development for Reliance Protectron Security Services, the first step in burglary prevention is gaining an understanding of who commits these crimes and why.

"The majority of home and apartment burglaries occur during the daytime when most people are away on holidays, at work or at school," De Luca explained. "Burglaries also occur at night when there are obvious signs that residents are away."

Most home burglars are young males looking for things that are small, expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Items like cash, jewelry, guns, watches, laptop computers, and other small electronic devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living expenses and drugs. Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a careful selection process.

"This selection process is simple," De Luca added. "They choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes."

What follows is a list of suggestions from Protectron to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.

. The first step, according to De Luca, is to "harden the target" or make your home more difficult to enter. "Remember burglars will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they possess," he says. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even inside your garage. Use high quality Grade-1 or Grade-2 locks on exterior doors to resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts.

. When vacationing, leave a car in your driveway or arrange for a neighbor to keep a car there and move it around from time to time. Have someone mow your lawn, rake leaves and pick up your mail while you're away.

. Security systems play a crucial role in a home security plan and are very effective, if used properly. "The reason why security systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police," added De Luca. "The deterrent value comes from our alarm system decals on the windows." De Luca cautions that alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained to be most effective. He recommends your security system include a 24-hour monitoring centre, a loud inside alarm, detectors at all exterior doors, and motion sensors in the master bedroom and main living areas. More information on home security is available at www.protectron.com.

Home safety checklist for cottage goers

How to protect your home away from home

(NC)-When you're going away on your annual cottage vacation you want to rest - and rest easy too. You want peace of mind that your home is as safe as it can be from burglary or other damage.

According to Patrice De Luca, V.P. of Marketing and Business Development for Reliance Protectron Security Services, there are several key steps you should take to ensure peace of mind when away from home. The following Reliance Protectron home safety checklist can help you plan important safety measures before your departure:

Did you suspend your newspaper and mail delivery; or have a neighbor collect them for you?

Does the house look lived-in?

That means having someone park their car in your driveway if you're taking yours. You can even ask a neighbor to put a bag of garbage at your curb on garbage day.

Did you set your lights on timers, in various rooms?

With some timers, the lights go on and off at different times each day, which means a burglar can't pick up on a pattern. Motion sensor lights outside can also deter a burglar. Consider installing them in front and back.

Did you ensure that all your doors and windows are locked and secure?

Don't forget about the garage. Place a bar or stick of wood in the lower track of sliding doors or windows, to be extra safe.

Did you turn off the water-main and unplug the major appliances as an added precaution?

Did you inform a neighbor when you're leaving and returning, and ask them to keep an eye out for anything suspicious?

Leave them a phone number where you can be reached, and a spare set of your keys in case of an emergency.

Did you consider a home security system?

A home security system is a very effective deterrent. When looking for their targets, thieves usually select an unoccupied home with the easiest access. Why not make it difficult for them. A home protected by a security system is three times less susceptible to a break in than one without a system. Security system decals and yard signs are also an effective deterrent. Make sure your security system includes a loud inside alarm, detectors at all exterior doors, and motion sensors in the master bedroom and main living areas.

De Luca says the latest technology in security systems can now allow you to monitor your home from a distance by e-mail response. The security system is linked to four ULC interlinked remote monitoring centres that protects your home 24 hours a day against burglars, fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and floods by supervising the temperature, electrical system and point of entries of your home.

"We can even configure the system to alert you by e-mail of the duration of comings and goings in your home, (cleaning staff, neighbors, family)" De Luca added. For more information on protecting your home while you're away visit www.protectron.com.

This Month's
Video Collection!
It might take a moment for the videos to load depending on your internet connection speed.

● Paint Trends

● Green Lawn - Green Environment

● Real Estate Tips

● Mortgage Solutions for Buyers

● Create the Perfect Flower Pot

COMPARE RATES
TERM	OURS	BANKS
6.mo 1yr. 3yr. 5yr.	4.89% 5.09% 5.29% 5.33%	6.60% 6.85% 7.20% 7.14%

Quiet bathroom fans key to preventing mold, mildew

(NC)-Homeowners today are asking a lot from bathroom ventilation. They want their bathroom fans to be quiet and powerful enough to ward off mold and mildew.

According to Matthew Cripps, Product Manager Bath Fans for Broan-NuTone Canada, reducing mold, mildew and other pollutants in the bathroom is a top priority, but it won't happen unless the fan is quiet.

"One of the number one complaints we hear from customers is that they hate their conventional noisy bathroom fans. Because they don't like the noise, these fans go unused and moisture, steam, and odours are not exhausted out of the house," Cripps explained. "This can lead to the growth of mold and mildew."

Conventional fans are noisier and less appealing visually than newer products like the Broan Quiet Series Fans, he added. The Quiet Series Fans offer extremely quiet operation while also consuming less energy ultimately costing less over time. However, much of the noise issue can be dealt with during the installation process, according to Cripps.

In the past conventional bathroom fans were all it took to alleviate steam and odours. These days, bathrooms are expanding to include separate toilet areas, luxury steam showers with multiple heads and air jet baths. The key is to analyze the size of your space and the products in each bathroom, added Cripps.

He explained that "customers are often confused by what they need in order to adequately ventilate the bathroom. Using a rule of thumb, 1 sq. ft. equals a need of 1 CFM, therefore an average bathroom of 100 sq. ft. would require a minimum of 100 CFM to get proper ventilation."

These spot ventilation solutions are crucial to your family's health as they can clear the air quickly and efficiently, removing potential problems before they invite themselves into your home.

This is especially important in today's homes as they are built so airtight for efficiency that moisture and airborne pollutants stay where they are unless they are vented away. Eliminating excess moisture keeps your home dry and comfortable and can help avoid mold and mildew. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), "outgas" from construction materials as well as allergens, dust, cooking vapor and what the kids bring home from school are more reasons why good ventilation is critical. More info on bath fans can be found at www.broan.ca.

Show you care with a touch of flair

(NC)-Entertainment, family, friends and fun all contribute to an unforgettable Father's Day. This year, the holiday falls on June 17, and is the perfect way to celebrate summer, spend time with relatives, and give your Father a gift he will never forget.

"Our innovative products provide creative gift ideas," claims James Savage at Philips Electronics, a global leader in consumer electronics technology. "As a company we are developing electronic products that are tailored to meeting the needs of the modern man."

● Spending some quality time with the men in your life will make an impression, and with these tips from Philips Electronics it will be easier than ever to make this Father's Day a memorable one:

● Tickets to an amateur sporting event are a phenomenal and inexpensive way to spend some quality time with your Father.

● Perhaps Dad just wants some rest and relaxation. Try sending him on a weekend fishing trip with yourself or one of his friends. To cut down on travelling delays build a care package full of snacks and fill up the tackle box beforehand.

● Purchasing a poker set for Dad can give him a game to play on those rainy days at the cottage or tools for a boy's night in.

● There are some men in the world who have never taken a liking to the world of sports. For these types of Fathers, an engraved chess or checkers set is a very personal gift and something the two of you can enjoy together for years to come.

● A really thoughtful gift for your Father is a basket full of goodies he can use throughout the summer. You can put items such as: Philips' Speed XL high end shaver, flip-flops, hair gel, sunglasses, swimming trunks, and frosted mugs.

● For the adventure seeking type, the best way to let your inner self shine is to become an explorer on a white water rafting trip. It gets your husband or Father out of the stale work environment and into the fresh air for an outdoor experience.

Use these ideas to make this June about more than sun tanning. Take time to show your Father how much you truly care.

Summer Solutions Washing tips cut costs on kids' clothes

(NC)-Summer activities are upon us so there's no time like the present for pro-active measures to protect your kids' clothes. Dressing them is costly enough as they grow, so tips to extend the life of their outfits is very welcome.

"There are very real savings to be made by preserving the life of clothes," says Jan Heck, President of Miele Canada, a world leader in innovative appliance designs. "Research shows clothes washed and dried properly can last four times longer."

Laundry care for children's clothes does vary significantly from babies to toddlers to teens. Here are tips from Miele www.miele.ca for laundry:

● Use appropriate detergent. Thorough cleaning is a function of: time, washing action, water temp and detergent.

● Pre-treat stubborn stains and read labels provided by the manufacturer.

● The latest Touchtronic system, gives you freedom. Specialized settings do all the work - and the innovative, stainless steel drums are credited for protecting all fabrics - even baby delicates - from wear-and-tear. It's the drum in washers that are blamed for premature wear of garments.

Don't let your investment in home furnishings fade away

(NC)-We all have favourite pieces of furniture that turn our houses into homes. However, while the sunlight streaming through your windows may seem beautiful, it also carries with it damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays that, over time, can damage your home's interior.

At risk:

Furnishings

UV rays from exposure to direct sunlight is the major cause of fading and structural weakening of furniture.

Artwork

Look around your home. How many irreplaceable heirlooms, antiques, and works of art do you own? If left exposed, UV rays could eventually damage all of your prized possessions. Warping canvas, fading and cracking paints, and damaged finishes are just a few examples of UV damage.

Floors

Fading and discolouration of your floors are common signs of UV damage. If you have wood floors, UV exposure may even cause splitting.

Protect Yourself

Tom Sanders a window film specialist at 3M Canada, says solar window films like 3M's Prestige Film stop 99.9% of the UV radiation that causes fading and other structural damage. In addition, solar window films filter solar heat (infrared) while providing the desired level of shading if glare is a problem - you can save money by regulating the temperature of your home, and even prevent glare that often makes it difficult to watch television or look at the computer screen.

"Solar window films are like applying sunscreen to your home," says Sanders. "We've been taught to protect ourselves from the damaging rays of the sun, why wouldn't we do the same for our home? Solar window films protect your home, and because they are available from virtually clear to various levels of tint, do so without changing the interior or exterior appearance of your home."

By reducing UV exposure, window UV protective films extend the life of your furniture, carpeting, desks, drapes, and wall paneling, protecting the investments you've made in your home.

More information about how to protect your home from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays is available online at www.3m.com/prestige/canada .

Spring Cleaning Tips Tackle allergies with your vacuum cleaner

(NC)-Microscopic particles of allergy-causing pollen and dust are a huge challenge to remove from the average household. Did you know however, that vacuum cleaners will deliver success - some of it extraordinary success - if we know how?

"There are three main vacuum cleaner components that help to put a stop to allergies before they even start," says Jan Heck, President of Miele Canada, a world leader in innovative appliance designs. "Success depends on a powerful motor combined with airtight construction, combined with an ultra high-performance filter system."

Here are a few more details on these allergy-busting components, as outlined by the S4 and S5 Vacuum Series at miele.ca:

A powerful motor creates the suction needed to lift minute particles off floors, out of deep carpets, and off finer fabrics, like curtains, upholstery, mattress covers, and pillowcases.
Absolute, airtight construction and hose connections ensure that every bit of air travels through the filter system to surrender the whole load of microscopic particles before it leaves the vacuum cleaner. Airtight construction makes all the difference in a vacuum that is going to be used specifically to clean up on allergies and asthma.
An ultra high-performance filter system with a sequence of components: the dustbag, the motor filter, and the all-important, HEPA filter. The latter is so fine it traps 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

UV rays can damage inside your home

(NC)-Most of us don't think twice about applying sunscreen before we spend a day in the sun. But did you know that sitting next to a window with sunlight streaming in your own home can put you at as much risk as a day at the beach?

Most residential windows have a standard Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of around 10 - much less than the recommended SPF we use in sunscreen. But, ultraviolet (UV) rays easily penetrate glass windows, and since many of us would never think to wear protective sunscreen indoors, we're actually at increased risk of sunburn, skin aging and potentially skin cancer while relaxing at home.

Sun-protective window films, like the Prestige Series from 3M, have an SPF rating of over 600 and block out up to 99.9 per cent of damaging UV rays. The film allows the bright sunshine we crave to enter the room while filtering out the sun's unwanted UV and infrared energy.

"If sunlight is allowed to shine into your home unfiltered, over time the same UV rays that can burn your skin outdoors can accelerate skin aging and multiply the risk of skin cancer," said Tom Sanders, 3M's residential home health expert. "Window film acts like a sunscreen for your home."

More information about the clear health benefits of Window Film and how to protect yourself and your home's occupants from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays is available online at www.3m.com/prestige/canada

(c)