Home Protection

The Discovery Channel devotes part of its site to its television series It Takes a Thief, in which two reformed ex-cons demonstrate how burglars operate. Find quizzes and tips about home security and burglary, or use the Home-Security Interactive feature to see if you can find and fix the weaknesses in a home that may be prone to burglars.

The National Neighborhood Watch Program has a free, downloadable booklet called "Preventing Burglaries—How to Protect Your Home." It provides crime statistics and explains how to secure your home to minimize the chance a burglar will enter.

My Great Home , a site for manufactured and modular homeowners, teaches you how to keep your home safe from burglars while you are on vacation or away from home for an extended period of time.

The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association has an extensive section about choosing and installing a security system. Search for an alarm dealer in your state, learn how to protect your home while on vacation, and review crime statistics information.

The Environmental Protection Agency has an extensive section about mold, including "Mold Basics," information about hidden mold, and guidelines for how to clean up mold and what to wear when doing it.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has an informative if sparsely designed “Mold and Human Health” section. Click on the “Cleanup and Removal of Mold” link to learn that one of the first steps that must be taken when preparing for mold cleanup is assessing whether the surface where the mold is growing is porous or nonporous. Steps are provided for cleaning mold off both types of surfaces. The “Hiring a Mold Consultant or Contractor” link will lead you to advice about the hiring process if you need a professional.

The Chief Engineers Association of Chicagoland is a nonprofit organization for those in the field of power engineering and real estate management. In this article, the organization notes that there are differences in mold-resistant coverings and products that stop mold from growing.

The National Association of Mold Professionals provides training and certification for mold inspectors and remediators. To find an NAMP-certified professional in your area, click on the “Find Inspector” link in the left-hand navigation bar. The site also lists the NAMP’s standards of conduct so you know what to expect from its member professionals.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is the national trade association for members of the pest control industry. If you've got pest management concerns, "pester" a professional with your questions, learn how to prevent a pest problem, and request a "pest alert" for any pest invasions in your area.

The Natural Resources Defense Council lists nontoxic alternatives you can use to keep insect and rodent infestations at a minimum while also maintaining the health of the members of your household.

The National Pest Management Association has a long list of indoor invaders and outdoor pests that may affect your home or property. Learn how to identify each critter and how to keep them away.

Protect Your Home Against Mosquitoes is an interactive page from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Move your mouse over the image to read tips about minimizing the presence of mosquitoes in and around various areas of your home.

The Termite Institute details termite risks across the United States. The site also explains how to select a pest professional and teaches popular methods of handling termite problems.

DisasterSafety.org , a Web site of the Institute for Business & Home Safety, explains how to prepare for floods, freezing weather, winds, earthquakes, and other naturally occurring disasters. You'll learn preventive measures you can take to protect your home as much as possible from these events. Hover your mouse on the “Get Prepared” link for a list of events.

Catastrophe Readiness Clearinghouse offers publications and Web links that can help you prepare for an array of disasters, including biological and chemical threats and natural disasters. If you want to prepare a safe room in your home and assemble a basic emergency supply kit, this site can serve as a good resource.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) reviews preparation tips for a variety of natural disasters but is unique in that it also addresses preparations for rip currents, hail, and extreme temperatures. FLASH also includes videos with construction recommendations that can help a home withstand severe weather or other disasters; use the links on the right to find these.

The Weather Channel ’s Web site includes a feature called WeatherREADY that teaches weather safety and home protection practices. The articles in the "Severe Weather Safety" section help you understand what to expect in certain weather and explain what a watch, warning, or advisory entails for each specific condition. After you've learned what to expect, find out how to protect your home in the "Severe Weather Readiness" section.

MSN Money offers an article titled “Would your home survive a natural disaster?” Learn why building code requirements may not be enough to help your home withstand such an event. Scroll down to the "Flirting with disaster" section of this article to find the most common natural disasters that occur in your state.

911 Water lists some emergency preparedness supplies you should have on hand, such as water, food, lights, radios, and sanitation supplies that can help you stay safe in the event of a problem.

The Humane Society of the United States teaches you how to make emergency preparations to protect your pet in the event of an emergency or in case you have to evacuate your home.

The U.S. Fire Administration explains how a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can warn you about fires. Read this article to learn about the types of smoke alarms available, how to maintain them, and where to buy alarms. You'll also find information about smoke alarm recalls and advisories.

Fire Extinguisher: 101 teaches about the various types of fire extinguishers and classes of house fires. Learn how to use and maintain a fire extinguisher, where to place extinguishers in your home, and how to eliminate fire hazards where you live.

HowStuffWorks hosts this video about steps you can take to prevent house fires. Also see a related video about how a fire extinguisher works.

Firewise Communities teaches you how to prepare for and protect your home from wildfires. Watch videos about "Firewise" home protection and take a virtual tour of a "Firewise" home that illustrates how to create a defensible space between your home and a fire.

FloodSafety.com helps you determine the risk of experiencing a flood on your property, connects you to flood insurance resources, and provides information about cleaning up flood damage.

HomeImprovementSteps.com explains the common causes of water damage in the home. Browse around this site if you're looking for help improving your kitchen, bathroom, or other areas of your home.

USA Today has an article titled “Protect your home against a hurricane, without wasting time” that explains what preparations will and won't be useful if a hurricane is coming. The article also teaches you the correct way to protect your windows during a storm.

National Hurricane Center ’s “Hurricane Preparedness Week” section discusses hurricanes, wind, and flood damage to homes and offers tips for securing five critical areas of your home against strong storms. To see if you are "hurricane aware," visit the "Take Action" link in the left sidebar to learn about hurricane hazards, storm surges, and disaster plans.

RealEstateJournal.com is part of The Wall Street Journal network. For homeowners wondering how they can protect their homes from hurricane damage, this article by June Fletcher offers some helpful advice.

The Board of County Commissioners of Citrus County, Florida , presents “Storm Warning Awareness,” a site that teaches you how to prepare for storms and provides severe weather watch and warning definitions. You’ll also find links to live satellite images for the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Atlantic. Much of the site's content is local to Citrus County, but the preparation tips and images can be useful to many people along the Atlantic or Gulf coast.

State Farm Insurance explains the hazards of lightning and how to protect your home from being damaged and yourself from being injured.

The Old House Web has published a list of tips from FEMA about protecting various elements of your home in the event of an earthquake.

Insurance Information Institute details how homeowner’s insurance works, discusses the standard components of a homeowner’s insurance policy, and explains whether policies cover damage caused by natural disasters and other situations. This site also helps you determine how much coverage you need and takes you through the steps of filing a homeowner’s insurance claim.

InsureMyHouse.com also teaches the basics of homeowner’s insurance. The site features a "Find an Agent" section that sorts insurance agents by zip code in individual states. Be aware that some zip codes may not be covered.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners divides its insurance information into life stages: “Young Singles,” “Young Families,” “Established Families,” and “Empty Nesters.” Each of these life stages has a section on either renter’s or home insurance that addresses the special considerations that come with buying adequate coverage for a particular life stage. Look at the "Home" category for the life stage you are researching.

The Consumer Action Website is a site from the Federal Citizen Information Center that offers advice for making sure your insurance policy includes the right coverage.

Move.com presents “Tips for Reducing Your Homeowners Insurance Costs,” an article that teaches you how to save on your insurance rates.

MSN Money explains how the process of filing an insurance claim works, and offers some tips to help your claim move along quickly.

The New York Times notes that some homeowners have experienced problems with their insurance companies after filing a claim, and discusses strategies for avoiding those problems.