Monday, January 25, 2016

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

Snowzilla 2016
Snowed in? Use the time at home to clean your dryer vent. When we got a new washer and dryer, I was shocked at how much lint was in the vent tubing. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fires are sparked every year by clothes dryers. 

First, make sure your vent to the outside is clear and not blocked by snow. Then, follow this step-by-step guide for cleaning out your dryer vent.

And, just in case, don't forget to clear the snow from around the fire hydrant in your neighborhood. 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Tax Favored Status of Employee Benefits (Enjoy it while you can.)

Image from cagle.com
The real impact of the Cadillac Tax is that it begins to chip away at the tax favored status of employee benefits Most of the news coverage I've read seems to have missed this point; and I'm a bit bewildered that this isn't the focus. I know it's been delayed until 2020, but it's still worth pausing now to consider the impact. First, a bit of background...