April 9, 2019 • Page 12 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Spring Home Improvement & Car Care Safety First When Driving With Pets In The Car Many people can recognize the familiar image of a car traveling down the road with the head of a seemingly happy dog hanging out from the front passenger seat. Traveling in such a way may seem harmless, but doing so can be detrimental to both pets and their owners. According to Paws to Click, a community that aims to inspire pet owners to travel responsibly with their pets, allowing pets to travel in cars without employing a harness poses a significant threat to everyone in the car. The group notes that an unrestrained 75 lb. dog will exert about 2,250 lbs. of force in a crash in which the car is traveling at just 30 miles per hour. Such force can injure others in the car as well as the pet. In addition, unrestrained pets may challenge first responders in an effort to protect their owners after an accident has taken place. It makes all the sense in the world to harness pets when taking them along in the car. After all, drivers and their passengers wear seat belts, so why not provide the same safety net to pets? But Paws to Click notes that 84 percent of dog owners drive with their dogs in the car without using restraints. This despite the fact that American Veterinary Medical Foundation advises all pet owners to properly restrain their pets before departing on a car trip, no matter how short or how long that trip is expected to be. In addition to properly restraining pets on car trips, pet owners can take these steps to ensure their pets are safe. • Don’t take pets along on car trips unless it’s absolutely necessary. It can be fun to take a pet with you everywhere, but the AVMF advises pet owners to leave their pets home when possible. Pets that are not suffering from separation anxiety will be fine at home without their owners. Pet owners whose pet owners are exhibiting signs of anxiety should address the anxiety so pets are comfortable at home alone. Taking pets everywhere is not a cure for separation anxiety. • Do not leave pets unattended in cars. A study from the Louisiana Office of Public Health found that temperatures in a dark sedan or a light gray minivan parked on a hot, but cloudy day reached higher than 125 F in just 20 minutes. The study also found that cracking the window in such situations had little effect on the temperature inside the vehicle. On hot days, leave pets at home. Owners who must take their pets with them should never leave them in the car, as temperatures inside vehicles rise quickly, putting pets’ health in jeopardy. Many pet owners are tempted to take their pets with them on car trips. But that should only be done when absolutely necessary, and safety must be the utmost priority when traveling with pets in a car. Unique Ways To Conserve Fuel Defensive driving has long been touted that this technology can reduce fuel connot only as a safe way to operate a motor sumption by as much as 5 percent. vehicle, but also a cost-effective one. • Make sure your gas cap is tight. A When driving defensively, drivers are less loose gas cap can adversely affect fuel likely to make sudden stops or accelerate economy. According to Napa¨, a loose quickly, each of which can waste fuel. gas cap is a common contributor to poor But even the most conservative fuel economy. Loose gas caps allow fuel motorists might want to do even more to vapors to leak and that decreases your conserve fuel. Fortunately, there are many vehicle’s fuel efficiency. After filling up at unique and simple ways to conserve fuel the pump, be sure to close the gas cap and save money. tightly. Many caps will indicate how many • Park in the shade. According to Natu- clicks it takes to make sure the cap is ral Resources Canada, using a vehicle’s closed as tightly as possible. In addition, air conditioning system increases its periodically inspect the cap for cracks or fuel consumption more than any other leaks, replacing it if necessary. auxiliary feature. In fact, NRC notes that • Drive distraction-free. Today’s cars air conditioning systems can increase fuel are technological marvels. But all those MetroCreativeConnection consumption by as much as 20 percent. bells and whistles can be distracting, and That’s because vehicle AC systems redistracted drivers are less likely to pay quire engines to work extra hard, which in attention to how they’re driving. That turn requires them to consume more fuel. can make for unsafe and fuel-inefficient By parking in the shade on hot days, driv- driving. When driving, do your best to ers won’t need to crank their AC systems minimize distractions, turning off your and the National Electriin order to overcome the summer heat. smartphone and directing all of your cal Code. Failure to meet • Listen to traffic reports. It’s well focus to the road and how you’re navigatcode can lead to difficulty known that idling greatly decreases ing it. obtaining permits to make fuel economy. Before leaving for work Conserving fuel is a goal for many drivother home renovations, ers, and that goal can be achieved in a or difficulty selling a home or to run errands around town, tune in to local traffic reports in the hopes wide variety of ways. later on. The electrician can also that you can avoid potential traffic jams MetroCreativeConnection go over improvements that that contribute to the needless consumption of can improve safety and We Have Batteries To function. Additional outlets, fuel. If there’s no way to Fit All Your Needs! avoid traffic during your including GFCI outlets in Specializing in Hard to Find Batteries kitchens and bathrooms, daily commute, consider may be part of the plan, as investing in a vehicle with Auto & Truck · Commercial · Industrial · Marine well as rewiring a fuse box stop-start technology, · Motorcycle · Golf Cart · And More! or circuit panel to allow for which shuts the engine off We Custom Build better flow of power around when your vehicle comes the house. Frayed wiring or to a halt before restarting · Starters · Alternators · Generators underinsulated wiring also it once you take your foot may need to be replaced. off the brake. The Union of Battery Exchange LLC Owners of old homes Concerned Scientists notes 1912 SD Hwy. 314 · Yankton, SD · 605-665-8447 should recognize possible electrical system dangers that require attention. Plus, considering electrical codes change quite frequently, it is always in a homeowner’s best interest to work with a qualified electrician to keep Let Us Handle Your To-Do List! wiring inspected and up to date. Time To Replace Old Wiring? Old homes can be charming and contain architectural elements not often seen in many modern housing developments. But what older homes may have in design appeal, they may lack in updated features. While cosmetic changes are not necessarily difficult, one area of concern in historic homes, and sometimes even in houses built 40 or 50 years ago, is archaic wiring. Wiring provides power to every room of the home. In today’s electronics-driven society, electricity that works is an essential component of daily life. Over time, wiring can be compromised through simple aging, pest infiltration, weather, or other conditions. Deteriorated wiring can present a shock hazard and also a serious fire hazard, warn the home renovation experts at The Spruce. Furthermore, the home improvement site This Old House advises that the amperage of old wiring may not be able to meet the needs of the devices used in homes Ñ overpowering the circuits. This can cause breaker blowouts and other problems, such as overheated wires that may spark and cause fires from within the wall. Homeowners may make allowances for inadequate electrical systems, such as running extension cords or using multiplug connectors to increase their wiring capacity. However, they may not be diligently keeping on top of upgrades needed to stay safe. Confirming that a home’s electrical system is safe is a necessary part of home maintenance. For those who haven’t already done so, schedule an inspection with a licensed electrician to go over the home’s wiring. He or she can determine if any areas pose a safety risk and/or do not conform to local code requirements BOYD ROOFING MetroCreativeConnection CR AS H? DEER? 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