GOT PILLS??? Even decades ago we knew that having  expired prescription drugs was a safety risk. When I was growing up, I was always taught to simply flush the pills down the toilet. Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY what we did! Years later we have learned that this method of disposal is not at all good for the environment. So the question now is, what is the proper way to dispose of expired or unused medication? The first, and preferred method is to find a location that accepts unused medication. There is a household drug take back map available that shows locations across the state. Follow this link to find one of the centers in your area.  Drug Take Back Map   Often times these are pharmacies or local police departments. When using these services, be sure to make sure they accept the type of medication you are going to bring. Some locations only have capacity to accept certain medications. If you do not have one of these facilities in your area, or c...

With the 4th of July upon us, fireworks and fire safety should be at the front of our minds.  Were you aware that fire extinguishers expire?? Even with proper care and storage, fire extinguishers should be replaced at least every 12 years, EVEN IF THE GAUGE STILL READS GREEN!!! As a home inspector I look at dates when fire extinguishers expire on a daily basis, but as a home owner, it is REALLY easy to forget. Case in point are the 5 fire extinguishers pictured below. These are the extinguishers I keep in my own home, and after checking them today in preparation for this blog, I noted that 3 of them expired over 3 years ago, and the remaining 2 expire this year. What To Do: Look for the manufacture date on the fire extinguisher. the date should either be printed on the label itself, or some manufactures stamp the year in the bottom of the canister. If the date is beyond 12 years, the fire extinguisher should be disposed of and replaced immediately. ...