As we transition from winter to spring, you may encounter fog on your daily commute or while running errands. Fog occurs when Mother Nature mixes cold air and warm air, causing water droplets or ice crystals to float in the air. Depending on where you live and other factors you may experience it more frequently than others.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran behind the wheel or a new driver, encountering fog can be stressful. For me, it’s always a strange feeling when I’m on a familiar road, but the fog is so thick I have no idea where I am.

Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe the next time you encounter fog on your journey.

1. Reduce your speed. If you’re driving in fog it’s critical you slow down. Fog can reduce visibility so much that you can’t see what’s ahead, reducing your reaction time. Also, always keep an eye on your speedometer. Fog can cause disorientation when it comes to location and speed.

2. Watch the white line. Use the white painted line on the right side of the road as a guide for proper lane positioning. In addition, watch for other roadside indicators such as reflectors and signage.

3.Rely on your car’s low beam headlights. If driving in fog at night, low beams and fog lights provide the best visibility. If you’re like me, after driving in fog for a while you may doubt yourself and flip on your high beams only to quickly realize they don’t help. Remember to turn on your headlights if you’re driving in daytime fog.

4. Relax. Staying calm is important when driving in fog. If there’s a car in front of you, be patient. Road rage won’t do anybody a bit of good and could have severe consequences.

5. Don’t make unnecessary lane changes. Because fog is disorientating, staying in your current lane of traffic is your safest bet. Weaving in and out can be dangerous. If there’s an obstruction in the roadway try and slow down significantly, then check blind spots before moving over.

6. Turn on your defroster. Maximum visibility is key when driving in poor weather. Using your defroster can keep your windows clear of internal fog. You don’t need it inside and outside. Don’t forget to turn on your windshield wipers as well.

7. Don’t use cruise control. Like many other weather conditions, using cruise control in fog is dangerous. You simply don’t know what’s ahead. The last thing you need is for cruise control to increase your speed as your going up a hill.

8. Apply gentle inputs. When it comes to steering and braking, small inputs can be safer and more effective in keeping your car under control. Drastic movements can cause your car to perform unfavorably and dangerously.

9. Watch for animals. Just like us, animals, such as deer, can become disorientated and end up in the road in front of you. If this happens, apply significant pressure to your brake pedal. While your instinct may be to swerve, don’t do it. Swerving can put you in a more dangerous situation.

10. Use your hazard lights. If you’re like me, when it’s time to use them you have a challenging time finding the button. There are several important reasons to use your hazard lights. First, they provide more visibility to the cars approaching from the rear. In addition, they can alert other drivers that there’s a reason to be cautious and to slow down. Lastly, if you must pull over on the side of the road it’s critical to turn them on so others can see you. Remember we’re all struggling with visibility.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts; please share them in the box below.

If you’ve remodeled your home, you know how messy drywall dust can be. Clouds of fine dust can linger in your home and cause cleanup to last weeks after your project is complete.

Currently, my basement is under construction, and we’re at the drywall stage. To say it’s messy is an understatement. Frequently,  I’m downstairs sweeping and vacuuming the dust. While this doesn’t eliminate it completely, it does help keep it a bit under control.

Here are some tips that can help you through your remodeling project.

1. Create a plan. Before tearing down your walls, make sure you have a plan. While a “do-it-yourself” project may seem like a good idea, there are many things to consider. Depending on your project, you may need to obtain permits from your city’s inspection department. In addition, when talking with them, they may be able to offer you some project tips.

2. Hang plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting does a good job keeping the dirt and dust in the work area. It also works well for creating walls to protect other areas of your home. We used it to protect our storage area as well as the area where our water heater and furnace are located. Doing this really minimized the amount of dust in these areas.

3. Turn off your HVAC system. Depending on the time of year, this may be a bit tough. However, turning off the system can help prevent sending dust throughout your home. If you’re remodeling during the winter months, consider using alternative heat sources, such as a fireplace or electric heater. After you’ve cleaned the work site and removed as much dust and debris as possible, you can turn it back on.

4. Seal your vents. To protect your HVAC system and to limit the dust from circulating in the air in your home, seal the vents in the work area. Depending on where you’re working, there may be two types of vents that need to be covered. Registers may be in your floor or ceiling and have the primary job of blowing out the air which keeps your home cool or warm. Returns or intakes suck the air into your HVAC system. Before sealing them off, make sure you’re aware of their function. You may need to unseal them before turning your system back on. To run efficiently your furnace needs air. The last thing you want to do is damage it.

5. Buy some box fans. Again, depending on the season this may also be challenging. However, putting box fans in several windows throughout your home can help remove the dust. Even though we’re experiencing extreme cold right now, I have a fan in my basement window to remove some of the dust. If it’s winter, I’d recommend constantly monitoring the inside temperature. You don’t want your home to get below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Clean, clean, clean. While thoroughly cleaning your work area each day can be a nuisance, it’s a good way to mitigate the amount of dust. I’ve found that using a push broom doesn’t work well. It seems to stir up the dust more than anything. Therefore, I gently use a regular broom followed by my Shop-Vac^®. If you decide to follow this approach, the air filter in your vacuum will need to be cleaned frequently. If you notice loss of suction, it’s time for a cleaning. Unfortunately, drywall dust can clog it up quickly. In addition, cleaning the rest of your home more regularly during the project can help. It’s amazing how fast dust accumulates.

7. Keep an eye on your furnace filter. The purpose of your furnace filter is to trap dust and debris, preventing it from traveling throughout your home. During a project, especially one involving drywall, the dust in the air can be terrible. Clean your filter regularly to prevent blocked airflow as well as the dust from overwhelming your furnace and home. At the end of your project, you’ll want to buy a new one.

8. Buy an air purifier or humidifier. The job of an air purifier is to clean the air we breathe. It can remove pollutants, allergens, and toxins. While a humidifier can add particles to the air; keeping your home’s humidity at the proper level can help. Moist air is heavier than dry air which prevents the dust and other particles from freely floating around in your home.

9. Protect your flooring. There are many products available that can provide protection. Where your project takes place can dictate what type of covering to use. We put down a plastic barrier with an adhesive backing on the stairs leading to the basement. If you have hardwood floors or ceramic tile, you’ll want to use something heavier, such as cardboard. The last thing you want is a dropped hammer denting or cracking your flooring.

10. Develop a plan for sanding. After your mud and tape on your drywall has cured, it’s time to sand. Using a manual sanding pad or an electric sander can create a dust storm in your home. Depending on the size of your project, there may be some alternatives available. The method I used was wet sanding. While it may not do as good of a job, it does help keep the dust down. A damp sponge can smear the drywall compound and make your surface smooth. While it’s a bit more time consuming, I think it’s worth it. Plus, if you’re applying knockdown texture to your wall, that can help hide some imperfections.

I hope you found these tips helpful and your project goes well!

Topics: Home Safety