shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com September 17, 2019 • Page 15 Home Improvement all & Car Care F Exercise Caution Around Brake Dust As cars age, certain wear and tear is to be expected. One of the realities of frequent driving, particularly for drivers who routinely drive in stop-and-go traffic, is the gradual deterioration of brake pads. Do-it-yourselfers can replace brake pads on their own, but those that do should be aware of a potential hazard when doing so. The Mesothelioma Center says that brakes sometimes contain asbestos due to that material’s heat-resistant qualities. As brakes start to wear down over time, the asbestos can escape. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that, while many new automotive components are asbestos-free, asbestos hasnÕt been eliminated entirely from the industry. That is why mechanics and do-it-yourselfers need to exercise caution when repairing or replacing brakes. Brake dust may inadvertently expose individuals to cancer-causing asbestos through inhalation or ingestion. OSHA says that exposure to asbestos, if not properly controlled, can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Symptoms may not appear for years or even decades after contact with asbestos fibers. The Mesothelioma Center estimates that asbestos is present in 30 to 80 percent of brakes and other components. The routine task of “blowing out” brake surfaces, which involves using an air hose to clean the surfaces of brakes and rotors, is one of the most common ways people Tree Trimming, Removals & Transplanting are exposed to asbestos through brake dust. Gray-black brake dust is made up of iron particles formed by the grinding of the brake rotor by the brake pads. However, brake dust also can contain some metallic elements and other components housed in the brake pad, including asbestos. The automotive resource YourMechanic says that, while brake dust is not 605-260-1490 indicative of a poor braking 402-254-6710 system, over time brake Serving Southeast SD & Northeast NE dust can corrode the clear coat on a car and may eat Kent & Kyle Hochstein • Licensed Arborists into the aluminum alloy www.hartingtontree.com surface of the wheel. That is why so many drivers try to clean away brake dust, potentially exposing them to dangerous materials. DIYers may be better off visiting professional service centers to have brakes addressed rather than doing the job on their own. OSHA says all automotive brake and clutch repair facilities in the United States must comply with the OSHA asbestos standard. These include using negative pressure enclosure/HEPA vacuum systems and low pressure/ wet cleaning methods. •Certified Technicians •Guaranteed Color Matching While asbestos is being phased out of many •Unibody & Frame Repair •Tractor & Semi Repair automotive components, •Paintless Dent Repair/ •Free Loaner Vehicles Glass Installation •100% Satisfaction Guaranteed it is always best to treat bakes, clutches and more with extra caution in the Travis Pokorney, Owner event that asbestos is We Work With All Insurance Companies! present. Hartington Tree LLC Trees for sale: EvErgrEEn • ShadE ornamenTal FALL IS A GREAT TIME FOR PLANTING! Yankton Hartington CR AS H? R? BY DEE HIT You Can Trust Us To Make Your Vehicle Look Like New! East Hwy. 50, Yankton • 665-7670 The Threat Posed By Ice Dams Cold, snowy weather can present various issues for homeowners to contend with. One such problem, ice dams, can cause damage to walls, ceilings and other areas. The University of Minnesota Extension says that an ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of the roof and prevents melting snow from draining properly. A complex combination of heat loss from a home, snow cover and outside temperatures can lead the formation of ice dams. An ice dam will be fed by melting snow above it and cause a backup at the edge of the roof. Dams can cause gutters to tear off and loosen shingles and may lead to water backing up and pouring into the home, advises This Old House. Ice dams also can contribute to soggy insulation, making the insulation lose its protective R-value and becoming a magnet for mold and mildew. Homeowners can do a number of things to temporarily prevent the formation of ice dams. Heated cables clipped to the roof’s edge in a zigzag pattern can help prevent dams that lift shingles. Pushing snow off the roof can help. Laying an ice melt product in gutters to help melt the ice that forms also can prevent ice dams. More permanent solutions involve keeping the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves by increasing ventilation, adding insulation and properly sealing air leaks that can warm the underside of the roof. This may involve calling in a professional contractor. Such an investment is well worth it, as it can prevent much more costly damage down the line. ? MetroCreativeConnection Did You Know? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that, per miles traveled in 2018, the number of deaths on motorcycles was nearly 28 times the number in cars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists. That only highlights the important role that helmets can play in preventing injury and even death among motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents. In fact, the IIHS notes that statistics from the NHTSA indicate that helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and roughly 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. Despite that, in many areas of the United States, motorcyclists are free to ride their bikes without wearing helmets. The IIHS notes that only 19 states and the District of Columbia require all riders, including passengers, to wear helmets. Among the remaining states, 28 have laws mandating that some riders wear helmets. As of March 2019, only three states, Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire, do not have any laws regarding helmet use while riding a motorcycle. Things are more uniform in Canada, where all people riding motorcycles, operators and passengers alike, are required to wear helmets. ? MetroCreativeConnection ® ? MetroCreativeConnection Don’t Get Caught In The Cold! Now Is The Time To Schedule A Furnace Tune-Up! 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