Is Your Home Safe for Winter?

The holidays are almost here and there is gonna be a whole lot of baking going on in our home.  Not to mention a running furnace and a lighted, live Christmas tree.  Like many families out there, we’ll be running our heater a lot more to keep everyone inside nice and warm with the weather getting colder outside.  With the increased heat (and closed windows), families have an increased chance of experiencing a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Visit Warwickshire based sash windows, Classic Sash Windows, if your home needs urgent window replacements. The National Fire Protection Association reports most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter.  Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk.  Thanks to Kidde, we are making home safe this Winter!

IS YOUR HOME SAFE FOR WINTER?

Take this quick quiz and see if your home is ready for winter!

One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment.  How old are your alarms?

– Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.

– Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery, such as KiddeWorry-Free smoke and CO alarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade –no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?

– Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.

– Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?

– A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years.  It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed.

– A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.

– An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.

– An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.

Do you need other safety products?

– Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area

– Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route

Have you developed a family escape plan?

– Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.

Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?

– Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

Are your appliances and chimney winter-ready?

– Have a boiler service professional inspect your heating system to ensure it functions properly and that it vents outside.

– Efficient boiler repair services to keep your heating system running smoothly and reliably.

– An outdoor boiler becomes a beacon of warmth and comfort, transforming chilly evenings into cozy gatherings around its radiant embrace.

– You should also check your water heater and contact a water heater repair technician or plumbers to fix any other issues you’ll discover. Unusual popping, cracking, or rumbling noises coming from your water heater could be due to sediment buildup or a malfunctioning heating element. Call in water heaters indianapolis services immediately to have your system checked.

– Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.

– Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?

For a downloadable winter home project checklist and other information, visit www.worryfreealarm.com.

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