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Housing : article

'Ghosts' of storms past may haunt damaged homes

PERRYVILLE, Mo.—Homeowners who made repairs after last year’s floods and windstorms may now be finding ghostly shadows—dirty patches of mold and mildew—in parts of the home that got wet. This is a health hazard for people living in the home.

A safe room of one's own

JOPLIN, Mo. – Harold Noirfalise used to curse the big steel box in the garage of his Joplin home. It was there when he and his wife, Brenda, bought the house a couple years ago. The box shared space with a pickup, a car and a workshop where he built radio-controlled model airplanes, making for a…

Before the flood: Prepare household items for long-term storage

TRENTON, Mo.- As people brace for floodwaters and the damage they might cause, it's important to know how to properly prepare household items for long-term storage, said a University of Missouri Extension housing and environmental design specialist.

Call insurance adjuster to determine hail damage

MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Owners of storm-damaged homes should be wary of out-of-town roofing companies offering their services because of recent tornadoes and hail.Many of these companies offer free roof inspections but leave homeowners still wondering if they have hail damage.

Check home inside and out after spring storms

MOBERLY, Mo. – Spending few hours now on spring home maintenance can save you many hours and dollars later, says a University of Missouri Extension housing specialist. Tom Fuhrman says it’s time to take care of any problems caused by winter weather and spring storms to protect your investment.

First aid for leaky basements

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If your basement sprung a leak during recent intense rainfalls, you’re not alone.

Frozen pipes create big problems during cold weather

MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Water has a unique property: It expands as it freezes. This puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of the container, expanding water can cause pipes to break.

Ice dams on the roof can damage your home

MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Unwanted icicles hanging from the roof overhang are a warning sign of ice dams, which can inflict considerable interior and exterior damage to your home. According to Bob Schultheis, retired University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist, nonuniform roof…

Keep the heat in your house, but keep out the radon

MARSHFIELD, Mo. –If you have made your home more energy efficient, or plan to do so, you might want to test for radon, says a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.

Laundry packets pack a harmful punch to children

HOUSTON, Mo. – Laundry packets offer loads of temptation for curious children.

Let flood-damaged homes dry thoroughly before installing new coverings

Related video: How to use a moisture meter, youtube.com/watch?v=na4_yVBLIjY PERRYVILLE, Mo.

Managing household mold

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri saw abundant rainfall in 2015. That’s often good news for crops but can be bad news for homes. Even if your home escaped serious flood damage, moisture seeping into your basement or condensing from humid air can create ideal sites for mold growth.

MU expert recommends precautions to avoid frozen pipes

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Temperatures hovering near zero could mean problems with frozen water lines. Homeowners should take precautions to prevent pipes from freezing and know to how to thaw frozen pipes safely, according to University of Missouri Extension experts.

MU Extension expert recommends replacing older smoke detectors

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Even if you regularly check the batteries and test your home smoke detectors, you may not be alerted if a fire breaks out.

MU Extension offers mobile energy education unit

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new classroom on wheels is designed to help Missourians better understand home energy efficiency.

Online resources for winter weather

Editors: University of Missouri Extension has compiled a list of websites, extension publications, news releases and other online resources for coping before, during and after winter storms. MU Extension news releases

Open windows can cause injuries, death for children

COLUMBIA, Mo. – There’s nothing better on a spring day than opening the windows and letting out the stale winter air.

Organizing household items helps avoid look-alike poisoning

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.

Protect yourself from contractor fraud

COLUMBIA, Mo. – When storms, floods and other disasters leave damaged homes in their path, local contractors often get more business than they can handle. In many cases, out-of-town contractors will arrive in force to pick up the slack.

Reducing flood damage to home and property

TRENTON, Mo.– University of Missouri Extension has prepared a checklist of measures people can take to reduce the impact of floodwater on their homes.

Renters can save money with simple energy practices

FARMINGTON, Mo.– Renters as well as homeowners can save money by using less energy at home. A lot of simple practices can cut renters’ energy costs every month, says Rebecca Blocker, University of Missouri Extension housing and environmental design specialist. One practice is to minimize “vampire…

Resources on COVID-19 in multifamily and public housing developments

COVID-19 mitigation strategies for multifamily and public housing developments through webinars and handouts, including cleaning and disinfecting guidance.

Scams and fraud add insult to injury after a disaster

CARTHAGE, Mo. – People can become victims twice in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Dishonest businesses, questionable charities and others looking to make a quick buck try to take advantage of both disaster survivors and those wishing to help.

Study space heater claims carefully

MARSHFIELD, Mo. –Buyers trying to reduce winter heating costs should closely examine claims by manufacturers of infrared space heaters, said a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.

Tools to choose the right solar-energy system

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Before investing in a solar-power system, look at the energy efficiency of your home, says a University of Missouri Extension energy specialist.

Warm, wet weather can trigger mold growth

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Moisture and rising temperatures can turn parts of your home into ideal sites for mold growth, said a University of Missouri Extension housing and environmental design specialist.

Winter a good time to test for radon

MARSHFIELD, Mo.– While you wait for the spring thaw, consider testing your home for harmful radon gas, says Bob Schultheis, a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.
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