It’s the time of the year when most people start to think about turning on their heater for the first time this season. SoBellas Home Services suggest that you take this time to not only get your heaters ready for the winter, but change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. If you don’t have both of these devices in your house, you should think twice. Read on for more information about carbon monoxide and fires damage.
Most of the big box stores sell smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. They even sell units that are combos looking for smoke and CO in a single unit. Battery only units are available along with hard wired ones with battery backup are on the market. Both are good, just make sure to keep the batteries changed twice per year. Most of these units are fairly inexpensive. If you need any further assistance with this, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can help with the purchase and installation of either of these units along with anything relating to your kitchen and laundry appliances or heating and air conditioning equipment.
Keep your family safe this winter, have your gas heaters, furnaces and any fuel burning appliance like a dryer or oven professionally maintained and cleaned this year. It helps save energy, extends the life of the appliance and keeps everyone safe.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when burning any fuel: gasoline, propane, kerosene, natural gas, oil, wood and coal. When CO is inhaled it can lead to difficulty breathing, impaired judgment and memory, damage to the nervous system, cardiac trauma, brain damage, coma and even death. It can kill in hours or minutes depending on the level in the air.
Safety Tips:
• Install CO alarms in central locations to provide an early warning of CO accumulation.
• Test CO alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year.
• Schedule annual inspections of fuel-burning household heating equipment.
• Never use your oven to heat your home, crack a window when using kerosene heaters and only use barbecue grills outside.
• Remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it.
Fire is the cause of thousands of deaths each year. Smoke and gases typically spread farther and faster than heat so most fire victims die from smoke and toxic gas inhalation - not as a result of burns. Ionization detectors respond quicker to fast flaming fires and photoelectric detectors respond quicker to slow smoldering fires but fires are never predictable so both types should be installed for quick detection. Smoke and fire alarms can be interconnected to improve audibility during a fire. Alarms can be hard wired, battery powered or both.
Safety Tips:
• Install smoke and fire alarms in and outside each bedroom and on each level of a building.
• Test smoke and fire alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year.
• Schedule annual inspections of heating, cooling, and water appliances.
• Do not leave candles burning, use appliances with damaged cords and always be attentive while cooking.
• Never place portable heaters too close to combustible items or leave them unattended.
* Know the difference between the sound of CO alarms and the sound of smoke alarms.
* Have an evacuation plan to ensure all residents get out safely if an alarm sounds.
* Install air safety alarms to protect living spaces and prevents fatalities.
For more information on carbon monoxide and smoke alarms give us a call.
SoBellas Home Services
1-800-617-6235
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Thanks to Jackson Systems
