home safety Archives - Jen is on a Journey

For the longest time, I wasn’t sure what season we were in. Californian’s sure do have it good when it comes to the weather, but finally winter is here and for many Americans, it’s time to bundle up and stay indoors! Whether you have a favorite down quilt to bury yourself in or love sitting by the wood-burning fireplace, keeping warm is key this winter! To ensure a wonderful and cozy winter season, licensed contractor and TV home-improvement expert David Leon from Home Made Simple on the Oprah Winfrey Network has provided the following tips for winterizing your home this holiday season.

Heating system and air filters – Have your heating system serviced every year and check the filters system every month. Also, inspect your system’s exhaust vent for rust, damage, or any corrosion.
Seal the leaks – Check to make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed so heat doesn’t escape. Inspect caulking and weather stripping around openings for wear and tear, and replace if necessary.
Plumbing – Busted water pipes can cause expensive damage. Take time now to wrap outside pipes that might be exposed to extreme temperatures. Review the locations for the main water and fuel shut-off valves with all members of your household.
Have a plan – When you own a home, you know that things are going to break down – but when it happens, do you know who you’ll call or what you’ll do? A home warranty is a great way to protect your budget against costly repairs, and save yourself the time and hassle of finding a qualified professional to get major systems and appliances up and running again.

Homeowners should also be aware of important warning signs and potential heating system hazards to protect their homes from any accidents! In 2011, faulty and improperly used heating equipment accounted for nearly 400 deaths nationwide, more than 53,000 fires and $893 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association. To help prevent heating system hazards, be aware of the following critical signs when you’re indoors this winter:

Always be aware of gas odors. If you smell gas around your heating unit, leave the area and call your gas company immediately.
Be sure your pilot light is burning a steady blue flame. If it is not, call your heating professional or a gas company.
Take a close look at your exhaust fan for any rust, damage or deterioration. If you notice any, call a qualified professional and describe what you see to determine whether a repair is needed.
Take extra care with space heaters. They should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord, and turned off at night. When in use, always be sure space heaters are a safe distance from curtains and other flammable items

Along with these warning signs, American Home Shield, the nation’s leading provider of home protection plans, reminds homeowners to use extra care when operating space heaters. For instance, they should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord, and turned off at night. When in use, always be sure space heaters are a safe distance from curtains and other flammable items.

Homeowners can watch helpful videos about a variety of home maintenance tips and home heating warning signs at www.YouTube.com/TheAHSTeam, hosted by David Leon. American Home Shield also publishes the Home Matters blog, a resource to help homeowners balance their busy lives with tips and news on everything home and you can find them on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/AHS_Warranty as well.

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Since their introduction in the 1970s, the majority of smoke alarms have relied on 9-volt or “AA” batteries for power. Recently, “long-life” smoke alarms which provide continuous protection for a decade have come onto the market, and national fire experts like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend their use.

Did you know that these long-life alarms will soon be the only type of battery-powered alarms available at stores in California? Due to a new law, California consumers will begin to see smoke alarms powered by alkaline batteries disappear from store shelves.

Already this year, media have reported 71 residential fire deaths in California. To help keep families safer, the new law took effect on July 1, requiring any battery-powered smoke or combination (smoke and carbon monoxide) alarm approved for sale by the Office of the California State Fire Marshal be powered by a sealed, 10-year battery. By this time next year, all alarms on store shelves must be powered by sealed, 10-year batteries. This law also will hopefully decrease the likelihood that a firefighter would be injured or killed trying to save a life.

In addition to possibly saving a life, alarms like the Kidde Worry-Free line save consumers about $40 in battery costs over the life of one alarm – and remove the burden of remembering to change batteries every six months!

Benefits of Worry Free Smoke Alarms

• It’s Always On: 24 hr/day, 7 day/week protection from smoke and fire
• Decade of protection: sealed lithium battery provides 10 years of continuous power
• Maintenance-free, hassle-free: never replace a battery during the alarm’s operating life and no need to worry about the batteries being removed
• Goodbye late night low battery chirps: an end-of-life chirp tells you when it’s time to replace the alarm
• Location-based attributes make it simple to select the right alarm for the right location in your home
• Money savings: no batteries to buy and replace every six months, save up to $40 over the life of the alarm
• Quick and easy installation: simply twist the alarm onto the mounting bracket and it activates

Overall Product Line Features

• UL Listed
• 85 decibel alarm
• Only UL-listed alarms to contain a photoelectric smoke sensor that is programmed to reduce nuisance alarms
• Only smoke alarms with SEALED long-life lithium battery to prevent tampering or removal; operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for a decade
• Test-Reset Button tests the alarm circuitry and horn. Resets memory after alarm has sounded.
• End-of-life signal chirps every 30-45 seconds when alarm needs replaced
• Deactivation switch disables the alarm and makes the batteries safe for disposal once the unit has reached the end of its 10-year life. Tamper resistant feature prohibits a disabled alarm from being placed back onto the mounting bracket.
• 10-Year Limited Warranty

Ten-year sealed-battery smoke alarms, such as Kidde’s Worry-Free line, are available at home improvement retailers and cost between $25 and $50. For more information, visit worryfreealarm.com.

Partnered post.

Tips for Winterizing Your Home #winteriscoming

New California Law will Reduce Preventable Home Fire Deaths