May 29, 2017

Home Safety

Tools To Protect Your Home

hen it comes to fire safety, being prepared is only part of the solution. It is just as important to have the proper safety equipment inside your home. Not only will it give you peace of mind, it also increases the safety of your home to eliminate preventable deaths. Here are some must-have pieces of safety equipment to help provide you with a superior level of protection.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that can be detrimental to you and your family. It can be produced any time that you burn fuel such as lighting a grill, using a fireplace, turning on a gas range, using a furnace and more. Inhaling too much carbon monoxide can have devastating effects, so it is important to have multiple carbon monoxide alarms to alert you if levels get too high.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers play a vital role in fire safety. Data shows that in approximately 80 percent of all fire incidents, a portable fire extinguisher was the only fire tool needed to put the fire out. If a fire erupts in your home and you catch it in an early stage, you can opt to use a fire extinguisher to put it out. Only do so if you are educated about how to use one, and ensure that you are using the proper type of extinguisher as well. You can check out our blog on inspecting the fire extinguisher here.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are essential in detecting fires before they erupt- they let the family know that there is a fire as soon as it detects it. Installing of smoke detectors involves location and quantity – and this can make all of the difference in the safety of the home. You should also test that your smoke alarms are working at least once per month.

February 8, 2017

Home Safety Safety Checks and Installations

Holiday Safety

eep your family safe from home fires this holiday season! The leading causes of fire-related deaths in the US; cooking and heating the home. As we get into the holiday season, we are facing the three months out of the year where fire-deaths peak (November, December and January). With temperatures dropping, this is the perfect time to review home fire safety.

Minimize Your Risks

Did you know – Over the past 4 decades, home fires deaths in the U.S. have steadily gone down according to Injury Facts.

But we feel like any preventable fire death is too many. Another difficult statistic is that fire deaths are the third leading cause of children between the ages of 1-14 dying here in the United States. So here are a few tips in how to prevent a fire in your home in this season.

Heating is the second leading cause of home fires. Follow these tips from the American Red Cross:

Keep all flammables, like paper, clothing, bedding, drapes or rugs, at least 3 feet from a space heater, stove or fireplace

Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room

If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, nonflammable surface, like ceramic tile, not on a rug or carpet

Keep children and pets away from space heaters

When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over

In addition to cooking, other top causes of fire include smoking, electrical problems and candles. To minimize risks:

Institute a “no smoking” policy in the house
Check all cords and replace any that are frayed or have bare wires
Switch to flameless candles
Keep matches and lighters high and out of children’s reach in a locked cabinet

February 8, 2017

Uncategorized Home Safety

Electrical Fires – Here are some tips to prevent!

lectrical fires are dangerous and one of the leading causes of house fires in the US. The great news about this - is that electrical fires are often preventable. Here are a few things that you can do to prevent an electrical fire in your home

Start with keeping heat-producing appliances unplugged when not in use. A lot of times what starts a fire is when a heat generating appliance is accidentally left on, or begins to malfunction. Over a period of time, this can cause the appliance to catch fire and begin a home fire. It is safest to unplug items like kettles, curling irons, toasters, irons, hair dryers and small space heaters.
Extension cords should be used as temporary solutions only. As much as it can feel like a lot of work, your home safety is important. Should you need additional permanent power sources in your home, we suggest contacting an electrician and having more outlets installed. Another safety tip is to never cut off the third prong on a power cord. The third prong is there to protect you in the event of a power surge or other electrical malfunction. Again, should your home be older and only has two-prong outlets, consider having an electrician inspect your home’s electrical system
Updating your home’s electrical system – is your home older than 1970? You may have the older Knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, and 60-amp electrical systems>. These systems were known to have a greater risk of overheating. Be sure to price what it would cost to have 100 amps upgrade and wiring in order to reduce your chances of an electrical fire. An additional benefit to updating your electrical is that many insurance companies will give discounts for newer wiring (less risk).

Damaged cord? Don’t plug it in! If you notice that a power cord is loose, cracked or frayed – then you should have it repaired before plugging it in. Be wise and read the directions for new appliances, take note of any warnings or directions that could help prevent an electrical malfunction. Check for signs that may indicate that an appliance is overheating or that there is a problem with an electrical socket:

Any discoloration, or burn marks around the socket, or switch.

Does the cord feel hot to the touch, or the appliance itself (in areas where it should be cool).

Is there a burning smell when an item is plugged in or in use

Are there any electrical sparks when you plug in a deviceY

Do you feel any electricity when plugging in the cord?

If you ever notice one these signs, stop using the outlet or device in question and contact an electrician right away.

These are just some of the steps you can take to help prevent electrical fires in your home.

Even with all this effort, fires can start in homes and our goal is to keep you safe. So have your evacuation plan ready and visible, have your home get one of our free home safety checks, and be safe!