Home Fire Safety
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Article by: Erby Crofutt Home , A Fireplace Screen for decoration and protection! Fire , Thyme: The Herb of Courage Safety By Erby Crofutt, B4U Close Home , Forget Everything You've Ever Read About Water Heating... Inspections www.b4uclose.com Is your home , Ceiling Fan Blades as Fire , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe Safe as you can make it? The answers to these questions will help determine if your home , Murder in the Foliage is as safe , Garden Fencing as you can make it. * Do you have the right kind of Fire , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe & Smoke Detectors? * If your house , Garden Fencing has natural , Rug Royalty: The Karastan Carpet. gas, propane or oil service, or a fireplace/wood stove, do you have Carbon , Growing manual for the production of Sandersonia cut flowers. Monoxide Detectors? * Are the detectors in the right places? * Did you replace the detectors when you moved into your home , Murder in the Foliage and at least every 10 years thereafter? * Do you test the detectors on a monthly basis? * Have you replaced the detector batteries recently? * Do you have the right kind of Fire , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round Extinguishers in the right places? * Do you have a fire , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. escape plan , Lawn Care Tips and practice it with your children? * Do you have a fireproof container for all your really important documents? (Birth Certificates, Stocks, Wills, precious drawings from school, etc) * Do you have a residential fire , Garden Fencing sprinkler system in your house? (These are mostly found in newer homes. , Security in Todays World They typically cost $0.60 to $1.00 a square foot in new homes , Selling Your - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe (about the same as a carpet , How To Plant Potted Roses replacement) and can greatly reduce both fire , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors and water , What You Don't Know About Roses damage. Only heads exposed to the fire , Using popular rose varieties in your garden start spraying water. , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round The 15—18 gallons a minute from the sprinkler system are significantly less than the 75—250 gallons from the firefighter's high pressure hose! Costs to retrofit a home , Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet with a sprinkler system will be higher.) Smoke Detectors: There are three basic types of residential smoke detectors, all with different means for detecting smoke and fire, , Seeking the best advice witrel="nofollow" h reference to oak furniture. different types of fires , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors they detect best, and different replacement reasons & needs. * Ionization Smoke Detectors powered by batteries are the most common kind and economically available at most local , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses hardware and discount stores. They can be mounted easily in just about any location. , How to Create a Backyard Oasis They use a small radioactive source (not harmful to humans) to cause the air , Forget Everything You've Ever Read About Water Heating... inside the detector to be capable of carrying electric , Keeping Water In - Pond Liners Reviewed current. As particles of smoke enter the detector they block the flow of electricity. , Making Space In Your Home Low electrical current causes the alarm , Rug Royalty: The Karastan Carpet. to sound. These detectors work best on flaming type fires , Gardening - A Relaxing Hobby (wood, paper, etc) and react a little slower on smoldering fires , Mistletoe The Plant - Is It Good Or Bad? (mattresses, couches, etc). Batteries need to be replaced occasionally. If your detector starts making a chirping sound every so often, you need to change , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship the battery. A general recommendation is to change , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round these batteries every six months, usually timed to a major event like springing forward to daylight savings time or falling back to normal time. (Some newer smoke detectors come with a 10 year Lithium battery that eliminates the need to change , How to Create a Backyard Oasis batteries.) Remember battery powered detectors operate even during power , Security in Todays World failures. * Photoelectric Smoke Detectors use a light , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe sensitive photocell to detect smoke inside , Ceiling Fan Blades the detector. They usually require a connection to an electrical supply but are also available with a battery backup. A light , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Line Lexington Pa bulb puts out a beam of light. , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens The photocell is hidden from direct exposure to the light , Garden Ponds For Outdoor Design of Yard beam. Smoke entering the detector causes the light , Butterfly Gardening beam to be reflected in several directions. The photo cell detects the reflected light , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses and causes the alarm , Thyme: The Herb of Courage to go off. These detectors work best on smoldering fires , How Choose The Right Type Of Lawn Mower and react a little slower on flaming type fires. , Gardening - A Relaxing Hobby The light , Seeking the best advice witrel="nofollow" h reference to oak furniture. bulbs need replacement every few years. * Thermal Detectors, usually requiring a connection to an electrical supply, react to heat , Mistletoe The Plant - Is It Good Or Bad? rather than smoke. A fire , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses must raise the heat , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Line Lexington Pa level near the detector to cause the alarm , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens to go off. This type of detector is primarily used in dusty, dirty environments , FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST usually found in industrial and commercial applications. This is the type of detector that most fire , How To Plant Potted Roses sprinkler heads use to detect heat, , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. pop, and start spraying water. , How to Create a Backyard Oasis This detector would be good near a cooking stove where an ionization or photoelectric smoke detector might cause false alarms. , Seeking the best advice witrel="nofollow" h reference to oak furniture. Where Should You Put Smoke Detectors? The National Fire , Using popular rose varieties in your garden Protection Association (NFPA) recommends smoke detectors in every room; unfortunately that doesn't fit everyone's budget abilities. * In a hallway near several bedrooms, or even in each bedroom, is the most important placement as most fires , Drying Roses occur during sleeping hours. * In the basement, , Seeking the best advice witrel="nofollow" h reference to oak furniture. preferably on the ceiling near the basement , Security in Todays World stairs. * In the garage, , Rug Royalty: The Karastan Carpet. over the door , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa to the house, , Making Space In Your Home is a needed location , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens because of all the combustible materials we store there. * If your house , Mistletoe The Plant - Is It Good Or Bad? has more than one level, there should be at least one detector on each level. Put the detectors on the ceiling or on the wall , Growing manual for the production of Sandersonia cut flowers. with the top of the detector between six to twelve inches from the ceiling. DO NOT put detectors on walls , FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST or ceilings within six inches of the ceiling/wall corner. There is very little circulation within this dead area. DO NOT put them near heating and air , The Fountains and Statuary of Battle Abbey conditioning supply & return vents. Why should you replace your smoke detectors every 10 years? The NFPA recommends, and some cities Fire , Mistletoe The Plant - Is It Good Or Bad? Codes require, that smoke detectors be tested at least monthly and replaced when they fail to respond or every 10 years maximum. In addition, most manufacturers , How to Create a Backyard Oasis now mark their detectors for a maximum life of 10 years. Why do they need to be replaced every 10 years? 10 years is a somewhat arbitrary figure, developed by the Consumer Product , Choosing the Right Lawn Sprinkler Safety Commission (CPSC) but, as with any equipment you buy (TVs, VCRs, etc), parts start breaking and failing as the equipment ages. This includes smoke detectors. Sometimes stuff just breaks without us noticing (in the case of smoke detectors, it's sometimes to late). The detection chamber gets clogged with dust & other airborne debris. In addition, as detectors age the sensitivity settings tend to drift toward being more sensitive causing more false alarms , Making Space In Your Home and people tend to disconnect the power , Garden Fencing supply on those detectors. A 1994 CPSC study found that sixty percent of detector failures were caused by the power , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment supply (electricity or batteries) intentionally being removed due to problems with false alarms. , How to Grow Basil Fifty percent of the failed detectors were more than 10 years old. The fact that some older detectors were made to be more sensitive also resulted in their disconnection from power. , Choosing the Right Lawn Sprinkler Always replace your detectors whenever any of the following occur. * The detector fails to respond to the monthly test and it has power. , Mistletoe The Plant - Is It Good Or Bad? * The detector has gotten wet, been painted, or has other physical damage. * The detector has been exposed to a fire , Forget Everything You've Ever Read About Water Heating... or large amounts of grease (kitchens!) * The detector causes several false alarms , How to Create a Backyard Oasis without apparent cause. When you move into a used home, , Making Space In Your you have no way of knowing how old the detectors are. B Safe—B Sure—B4U Close. Replace them when you move in. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors Carbon Monoxide kills silently and sneakily. It is a colorless, odorless gas , Making Space In Your Home that is a byproduct of fossil fuel burning. It can be generated by wood , Building Better Bathrooms With Your Own Designs stoves, fireplaces, appliances that use natural , How To Plant Potted Roses gas, propane or oil such as furnaces, space heaters, dryers, , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden kitchen , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. ranges, or other open flame appliances. Normally the gases generated by burning are vented safely outside , Rug Royalty: The Karastan Carpet. the house, , Growing manual for the production of Sandersonia cut flowers. however blocked vents or not enough oxygen to the burners can quickly cause elevated levels of CO. The best defense is a good offense. * Check your fireplaces & wood , Seeking the best advice witrel="nofollow" h reference to oak furniture. stoves for closed or blocked flues. * Have a qualified chimney , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship sweep (find one at www.csia.org) inspect chimneys , Butterfly Gardening and vents yearly for cracks, blockages (e.g., bird's nests, twigs, old mortar), corrosion or holes. * If you want to enclose a furnace or water , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe heater in a smaller room , Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet make sure there is plenty of combustion air , Ceiling Fan Blades available. * Have a Heating & Air , Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet Conditioning contractor , Using popular rose varieties in your garden check your fuel burning appliances, before cold , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round weather sets in. Make sure they are in working order. * If you have a downdraft cooktop, such as a Jenn-Aire, or a powerful kitchen , How to Create a Backyard Oasis ventilation fan over the stove, make sure make sure it doesn't pull fumes back down your wood , To Glue or Not to Glue? stove flue or chimney. , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors * Don't use gas , Planning, Creating & Maintaining Rock Gardens or propane cooking stoves or ovens to heat , This is why people Should consider Granite Countertops your home. , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses * Don't use barbecue grills inside , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. the garage , What You Don't Know About Roses or house. , The Fountains and Statuary of Battle Abbey Not even charcoal grills. * Open your garage , FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST door before starting the car in the garage. , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa Back the car out of the garage , Building Better Bathrooms With Your Own Designs right away and close the door. , Garden Ponds For Out Design of Yard Not doing so can draw fumes into the house. , Making Space In Your Home Nor should you use a remote starter if the car is in the garage. , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens * Don't run gasoline engines in a garage , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden or house. , A Fireplace Screen for decoration and protection! * Don't use a kerosene fueled space heater in a garage , Finding Anything You Need About Landscaping On The 'Net or house. , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe If you absolutely have to, make sure there is plenty of ventilation and combustion air , Keeping Water In - Pond Liners Reviewed by opening windows , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses or doors. , Making Space In Your Home When you have to put more fuel in the heater, cool it down first and take it outside , To Glue or Not to Glue? to refuel. * Clean the ductwork for the gas , How To Plant Potted Roses clothes dryer , Rug Royalty: The Karastan Carpet. regularly. Also check it for blockage by snow, , Enjoy Rose Gardening plants , Enjoy Rose Gardening or lint. CO is sneaky. CO hurts you by rapidly accumulating in the blood stream which depletes the bloods ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Even at low levels, carbon , How Choose The Right Type Of Lawn Mower monoxide can cause serious health problems. Some of the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to those of the flu, i.e. headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizzy spells, etc. If you may have been exposed to CO and feel like the flu bug bit you, you should also ask your doctor to check you for CO poisoning. Battery powered and electrically connected CO detectors are available that can detect CO at levels as low as .01 percent. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations in placing & testing CO detectors. They are generally placed near sleeping areas and the home's furnace. Most manufacturers , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa recommend testing CO Detectors weekly and replacing them every five years. Just like smoke detectors, they wear out and fail. How Should You Respond to a CO Alarm? * DO NOT IGNORE the CO Detector's alarm , Drying Roses if it sounds. CO Detectors should sound an alarm , Gardening - A Relaxing Hobby before a healthy , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe adult feels any effects from CO. Treat each alarm , Making Space In Your Home seriously. * Get everyone, including pets, out of the house. , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe Count heads to make sure everyone is out. * If flu like symptoms are present, call , The Best Time to Inspect - Part 2 911. If there are no health problems call , How to Grow Basil your heating contractor, , How to Create a Backyard Oasis gas , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Line Lexington Pa company or fire , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens department to have your house , Emerald Green Arborvitae for Gardenville Pa. tested. * DO NOT ventilate your home, , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment reset the CO detector, or turn off fuel burning appliances unless it is an apartment, , Garden Fencing duplex or other multifamily type home. , Choosing the Right Lawn Sprinkler If it is, the safety , Emerald Green Arborvitae for Gardenville Pa. of your neighbors is more important than finding the CO source. (Many CO alarms , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden have been designated false alarms , Butterfly Gardening because the homeowner ventilated the home , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden and turned off the fuel burning equipment before the source could be traced.) * DO NOT go back in the home , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa until the testing technician tells you that it is safe , How to Create a Backyard Oasis to do so. If you need a CO Detector and you have it, you'll be glad you had it. If you need a CO Detector and don't have it, you may never know the difference, but your relatives will! Fire Extinguishers Neither one extinguisher nor one type of extinguisher is adequate to protect your home. , Gardening - A Relaxing Hobby In a three bedroom home , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. with a basement , FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST and a garage, , Lawn Care Tips I recommend that you have at least four extinguishers. 1. One Class B extinguisher (meant for grease, gas , FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST & other flammable liquids) in the kitchen. , Planning, Creating & Maintaining Rock Gardens Don't keep it to close to the stove. You don't want to reach into a fire , Drying Roses to get the extinguisher. 2. One Class A extinguisher (meant for wood, , Finding Anything You Need About Landscaping On The 'Net cloth, paper, plastics, , Forget Everything You've Ever Read About Water Heating... etc) in the garage. , Making Space In Your Home 3. One Class A extinguisher near the bedrooms. 4. One Class A extinguisher in the basement. , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe Only try to fight minor blazes. If it becomes a serious fire, , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses GET OUT! Call 911 from a neighbor's house. , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa Fire Escape Plan 1. Draw your homes , Finding Anything You Need About Landscaping On The 'Net floor plan , Mistletoe The t - Is It Good Or Bad? being sure to include all doors , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Line Lexington Pa and windows. , Planning, Creating & Maintaining Rock Gardens 2. Determine at least two exits from every room. , Conservatory Planning Permission in the UK 3. Make sure every person living in the home , The Cranberry Viburnum Will Thrive In Furlong Pa is familiar with the fire , Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet escape plan. , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors 4. Designate a meeting place outside , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round the house , Keeping Water In - Pond Liners Reviewed so you can easily determine that everybody made it out. (Some mommies, daddies & firefighters have been seriously injured or killed trying to get back in to a house , Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round to get a child who was already out of the house. , Lawn Care Tips ) 5. Place fire , Garden Fencing ladders in rooms , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Pa. that are to far above ground to jump. 6. Practice your fire , PREVENTION CHECKLIST escape plan , Garden Ponds For Outdoor Design of Yard at least once a year. B Safe—B Sure—B4U Close. Plan , To Glue or Not to Glue? for your family's fire safety. , How to Grow Basil This information , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors is my opinion based on my research and education. It is provided for general information , Taking Care of Futon Frames, Furniture, and Mattresses purposes only. Any actions you take based on this information , How to Create a Backyard Oasis is your responsibility. I suggest that you consult a specialist in the particular field to determine the best practices in your particular situation. Find your Home , Keeping Water In - Pond Liners Reviewed Inspector at: WWW.KREIA.ORG (502)-412-9699 WWW.NACHI.ORG (800)-448-3942 WWW.FindAnInspector.us About the author: Erby Crofutt owns B4U Close Home , How To Plant Potted Roses Inspections (WWW.B4UClose.com ) in Georgetown, KY, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Real Estate Inspection Association. (KREIA). He conducts Home , Murder in the Foliage Inspections in Central, Northern, and Eastern Kentucky. He can be reached by phone , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden at 502-570-4054, by mail at B4U Close Home , Making Space In Your Inspections, 104 Lawson Drive, Suite 103-400, Georgetown, KY or by e-mail at erby@b4uclose.com |
  
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