October: Fire Safety
Did you know that October is fire safety month across the US? According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than one quarter of reported fires in the last five years occurred in homes, and three quarters of civilian fire deaths were caused by home fires.
Because of these startling statistics, we met with our friends at KP Electric Innovations to discuss a few ways we can save money and be safe this spooky season. Read below for an insight on some tips and tricks that you can use in the home to make sure you’re protecting what matters.
Q: Obviously the best solution to any problem is prevention- stopping it before it starts. What are some simple things you’d recommend homeowners check into to stop a fire before it starts?
A: The number one thing that comes to mind are checking your detectors- smoke and carbon monoxide. Most municipalities are requiring 10yr battery backups in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to protect you in the long run. It’s not a bad idea to consider that- when you think about the time and energy it takes to replace those batteries every time you hear that warning or “low power” beep go off, a battery back-up can give you the peace of mind to know that if something starts to go haywire, you’ll know right away and can take the necessary steps to prevent it.
Q: What about things that aren’t as well-known as detectors. I mean, we’ve all heard the familiar “beep” when one of those devices loses battery. What else can a homeowner look for around the home that’d help prevent a fire?
A: Extension cords. Everybody uses power strips, but not everybody knows they’re easy to overload and can cause major problems. Those usually equipped with small copper wires, which is fine if you’re powering a lamp every now and again, but when you start to consider they might power a TV, a video game console, a computer, a fish tank, those larger electronics can easily cause a power surge in your home when you keep them on extension cords. The simple solution is to just get another outlet installed, that way you know it can handle your big things, it’s grounded in the case of emergency, and ultimately it can’t cause a spark to go flying that’d start a fire.
Q: You mentioned outlets. Is it difficult to get an outlet installed? Is there a reason someone would need to replace an existing outlet?
A: Absolutely- sometimes outlets can get “saggy”. You’ll notice when you plug something in the plug doesn’t sit firm in the outlet- that’s a big sign you’d want to get it replaced, or at the very least looked at. It’s super simple to get a new one installed or to replace an existing one, and it can seriously up your electrical safety game.
Q: Is there anything else you wanted to touch on that we haven’t yet, that a family can look out for when it comes to electrical safety?
A: Yes, your lightbulbs! If you notice your lights are burning out more often, are flickering, or sometimes even when you slowly flip the switch you hear a “sizzle”, that can be a big sign that you need to get your electrical system checked out!
Q: Thanks so much for your help in identifying things homeowners can keep a lookout for that can help identify when they need to consider their electrical safety- and maybe even call an electrician to help. The Ondik Insurance Agency has been proud to partner with KP Electric Innovations, and highly appreciate their straightforward pricing and white glove service. We know that any of our policyholders we send your way will be treated with genuine respect and care.
