Archive for the 'Home Improvement' Category
Jul
15
(BPT) – Fire safety leaders are partnering for the Town/Gown Fire Safety Community Service Project, pairing college students with fire departments across the nation to help install smoke alarms in at-risk homes in their communities. This unique project is coordinated through a partnership between First Alert, Campus Firewatch and the Michael H. Minger Foundation, and invites colleges, universities and fire departments across the country.
Jul
12
4 steps to keep your home safe from fires
July 12, 2019 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms — often due to missing alarm batteries or expired alarms.
Fortunately, a new generation of home safety technology — combined with tried-and-true safety practices — can help keep homes and families safer from the threat of home fires. First Alert offers the following tips and products to keep your family safe and healthy:
Be safe, replace: If you can’t think of the last time you installed a smoke alarm, chances are, it’s time to replace your old ones. All smoke alarms — including battery and hard-wired models — are tested to function for 10 years. Installing new alarms ensures you are protected with the most advanced smoke-sensing technologies and latest safety features available. Conversely, by neglecting to replace alarms, you could be putting yourself, your family or tenants at serious risk.
Go for a 10: One of the greatest advancements in smoke alarm technology in recent years has been the development of new 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms, such as First Alert’s 10-Year Atom Smoke & Fire Alarm, which consumers have used to add fire protection to their homes. The Atom features an advanced smoke entry system designed to reduce the chances of false alarms, along with a loud, penetrating siren. In addition, 10-year alarms provide hassle-free protection so homeowners, property owners and renters no longer need to remember to replace costly batteries for the life of their alarms. They also eliminate the risk of ever having an alarm deactivated due to battery removal.
In many areas of the country, upgrading to 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms is also the law. Several states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Louisiana, New York and Oregon, as well as the cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and New York City, have passed laws requiring 10-year battery smoke alarms in residential buildings. Numerous other states and municipalities are considering similar legislation.
Double-up on safety: There are two main types of smoke alarms — photoelectric and ionization — which utilize different technologies to sense smoke and fire. Ionization smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fast-flaming fires, while photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”). Rather than relying solely on one, install both — or a dual-sensor alarm — to maximize your protection. The NFPA and other safety advocates recommend having dual-sensor alarms because they provide the best potential for early detection of all types of common household fires.
Featuring Smart Sensing Technology to better detect slow smoldering and fast-flaming fires, the First Alert 10-Year Alarm Life Dual Sensor Smoke & Fire Alarm provides the peace of mind of a dual-sensor alarm with the convenience of a 10-year sealed lithium battery. The alarm better detects real threats and helps to combat false or “nuisance” alarms that may lead to device deactivation — all while providing a decade of protection without the need for battery replacement. It also signals an end-of-life warning, notifying consumers when it needs replacement.
Cover your bases: Even if you have smoke alarms in your home, you and your family may not be sufficiently protected if you don’t have enough devices. To ensure the highest level of protection from smoke and carbon monoxide, the NFPA recommends installing smoke alarms at the top of each staircase and one in every bedroom or sleeping area. To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America — a two-story, three-bedroom house — needs a minimum of five smoke alarms.
To learn more about 10-year alarms and alarm laws in your state, or tips for protecting your family from smoke, fire and carbon monoxide, visit the First Alert website at https://www.firstalert.com.
Jul
12
4 steps to keep your home safe from fires
July 12, 2019 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms — often due to missing alarm batteries or expired alarms.
Fortunately, a new generation of home safety technology — combined with tried-and-true safety practices — can help keep homes and families safer from the threat of home fires. First Alert offers the following tips and products to keep your family safe and healthy:
Be safe, replace: If you can’t think of the last time you installed a smoke alarm, chances are, it’s time to replace your old ones. All smoke alarms — including battery and hard-wired models — are tested to function for 10 years. Installing new alarms ensures you are protected with the most advanced smoke-sensing technologies and latest safety features available. Conversely, by neglecting to replace alarms, you could be putting yourself, your family or tenants at serious risk.
Go for a 10: One of the greatest advancements in smoke alarm technology in recent years has been the development of new 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms, such as First Alert’s 10-Year Atom Smoke & Fire Alarm, which consumers have used to add fire protection to their homes. The Atom features an advanced smoke entry system designed to reduce the chances of false alarms, along with a loud, penetrating siren. In addition, 10-year alarms provide hassle-free protection so homeowners, property owners and renters no longer need to remember to replace costly batteries for the life of their alarms. They also eliminate the risk of ever having an alarm deactivated due to battery removal.
In many areas of the country, upgrading to 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms is also the law. Several states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Louisiana, New York and Oregon, as well as the cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and New York City, have passed laws requiring 10-year battery smoke alarms in residential buildings. Numerous other states and municipalities are considering similar legislation.
Double-up on safety: There are two main types of smoke alarms — photoelectric and ionization — which utilize different technologies to sense smoke and fire. Ionization smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fast-flaming fires, while photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”). Rather than relying solely on one, install both — or a dual-sensor alarm — to maximize your protection. The NFPA and other safety advocates recommend having dual-sensor alarms because they provide the best potential for early detection of all types of common household fires.
Featuring Smart Sensing Technology to better detect slow smoldering and fast-flaming fires, the First Alert 10-Year Alarm Life Dual Sensor Smoke & Fire Alarm provides the peace of mind of a dual-sensor alarm with the convenience of a 10-year sealed lithium battery. The alarm better detects real threats and helps to combat false or “nuisance” alarms that may lead to device deactivation — all while providing a decade of protection without the need for battery replacement. It also signals an end-of-life warning, notifying consumers when it needs replacement.
Cover your bases: Even if you have smoke alarms in your home, you and your family may not be sufficiently protected if you don’t have enough devices. To ensure the highest level of protection from smoke and carbon monoxide, the NFPA recommends installing smoke alarms at the top of each staircase and one in every bedroom or sleeping area. To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America — a two-story, three-bedroom house — needs a minimum of five smoke alarms.
To learn more about 10-year alarms and alarm laws in your state, or tips for protecting your family from smoke, fire and carbon monoxide, visit the First Alert website at https://www.firstalert.com.
Jul
11
(BPT) – During extreme weather conditions and when threat of danger from wildfires is imminent, California utility companies make a determination whether to temporarily shut off power in specific areas to protect public safety and prevent an increase in dangerous conditions. Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will be monitoring local fire danger and extreme weather conditions to evaluate when a Public Safety Power Shutoff might be necessary this season.
Conditions leading to a potential power shutoff by your energy company may include high winds (including Red Flag warnings declared by the National Weather Service), very low humidity, dry vegetation that could serve as fuel for a wildfire, fire threats to the electric infrastructure and on-the-ground observations about severe weather and safety conditions. If a public safety risk is assessed, customers will be notified by alerts before the power shutoff, and energy companies will provide ongoing updates using local news outlets, their websites and social media.
Because power outages could last anywhere from several hours to several days, all families should set up an emergency plan in case of a shutoff.
What can you and your family do to prepare? Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your comfort — and most importantly, safety — during an emergency power shutoff.
Update contact information.
Make sure everyone has everyone else’s updated contact information, and not just on electronic devices. Keep copies of everyone’s contact information handy in writing as well, in case internet connections are interrupted by power outages wherever you may be. Also make sure that your energy company has your updated contact information, so you will receive timely alerts and updates.
Invest in a standby home generator.
While you may be more familiar with small, portable generators on wheels that can be used for tailgating or powering tools on job sites, larger home units such as Kohler residential generators are installed outside your home, similar to an air conditioning unit. A standby home generator will come on automatically, whether you’re home or not, within seconds of a power outage, to keep electricity flowing to your home in the event of an emergency. Standby generators run on propane or natural gas from your home’s existing supply, so there’s no need for refueling.
Create or refresh your emergency supply kit.
Make sure to include some cash, several days’ worth of non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, a radio, portable phone chargers, new batteries and a well-stocked first aid kit.
Choose alternative locations to meet.
In case of emergency, especially if your home is endangered or there’s an evacuation order, everyone should know an agreed-upon location (and secondary choice) to go for safety, such as a friend or relative’s home, or a community center that is easily accessible most hours of the day. Make sure everyone knows how to get there if they’re on their own.
Practice for an emergency.
Run a drill with your family. Can everyone (on their own) locate the emergency supply kit? Does everyone know how to use the flashlight and radio, and how to change the batteries? Can family members who drive manually open the garage door if needed? Do you have important information in your wallet or purse where you can find it? Does everyone remember where to go if you can’t stay in the home?
Each family has unique challenges, so consider your family’s needs when developing an emergency preparedness plan. If any family member has medical needs, be sure to have up-to-date medical and prescription information easily accessible. For those who rely on medical technology that requires electricity or batteries such as a wheelchair, home oxygen or other medical equipment, make sure to plan for an extended power outage. If you have household pets, be sure you have done your best to ensure their health and safety during an emergency. Do you have a carrier to transport your pets? Do you have enough pet food to last several days?
Planning for a Public Safety Power Shutoff will give you peace of mind. For more information on how to prepare, visit prepareforpowerdown.com.
Jul
11
(BPT) – During extreme weather conditions and when threat of danger from wildfires is imminent, California utility companies make a determination whether to temporarily shut off power in specific areas to protect public safety and prevent an increase in dangerous conditions. Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will be monitoring local fire danger and extreme weather conditions to evaluate when a Public Safety Power Shutoff might be necessary this season.
Conditions leading to a potential power shutoff by your energy company may include high winds (including Red Flag warnings declared by the National Weather Service), very low humidity, dry vegetation that could serve as fuel for a wildfire, fire threats to the electric infrastructure and on-the-ground observations about severe weather and safety conditions. If a public safety risk is assessed, customers will be notified by alerts before the power shutoff, and energy companies will provide ongoing updates using local news outlets, their websites and social media.
Because power outages could last anywhere from several hours to several days, all families should set up an emergency plan in case of a shutoff.
What can you and your family do to prepare? Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your comfort — and most importantly, safety — during an emergency power shutoff.
Update contact information.
Make sure everyone has everyone else’s updated contact information, and not just on electronic devices. Keep copies of everyone’s contact information handy in writing as well, in case internet connections are interrupted by power outages wherever you may be. Also make sure that your energy company has your updated contact information, so you will receive timely alerts and updates.
Invest in a standby home generator.
While you may be more familiar with small, portable generators on wheels that can be used for tailgating or powering tools on job sites, larger home units such as Kohler residential generators are installed outside your home, similar to an air conditioning unit. A standby home generator will come on automatically, whether you’re home or not, within seconds of a power outage, to keep electricity flowing to your home in the event of an emergency. Standby generators run on propane or natural gas from your home’s existing supply, so there’s no need for refueling.
Create or refresh your emergency supply kit.
Make sure to include some cash, several days’ worth of non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, a radio, portable phone chargers, new batteries and a well-stocked first aid kit.
Choose alternative locations to meet.
In case of emergency, especially if your home is endangered or there’s an evacuation order, everyone should know an agreed-upon location (and secondary choice) to go for safety, such as a friend or relative’s home, or a community center that is easily accessible most hours of the day. Make sure everyone knows how to get there if they’re on their own.
Practice for an emergency.
Run a drill with your family. Can everyone (on their own) locate the emergency supply kit? Does everyone know how to use the flashlight and radio, and how to change the batteries? Can family members who drive manually open the garage door if needed? Do you have important information in your wallet or purse where you can find it? Does everyone remember where to go if you can’t stay in the home?
Each family has unique challenges, so consider your family’s needs when developing an emergency preparedness plan. If any family member has medical needs, be sure to have up-to-date medical and prescription information easily accessible. For those who rely on medical technology that requires electricity or batteries such as a wheelchair, home oxygen or other medical equipment, make sure to plan for an extended power outage. If you have household pets, be sure you have done your best to ensure their health and safety during an emergency. Do you have a carrier to transport your pets? Do you have enough pet food to last several days?
Planning for a Public Safety Power Shutoff will give you peace of mind. For more information on how to prepare, visit prepareforpowerdown.com.
Jul
11
5 tips for stress-free outdoor entertaining
July 11, 2019 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Good food, great company and the beauty of the outdoors: Dining al fresco with family or friends is the perfect way to enjoy beautiful weather. For many people, though, the job of outdoor entertaining can feel somewhat intimidating. But it does…