Best Security Products blog

You may feel like your home is safe, but there are dangers lurking that you may not even know about. It only takes a second for a fire to start, and it can quickly escalate. Prevention is the best way to deal with fire, so let’s take a look at some fire hazards you may not be aware of.

1. “Daisy-Chaining” power strips. Power strips can be a great way to expand an outlet’s usability. However, they are not designed to be interconnected with other power strips or extension cords. In this newsletter, Harry J. Oster warns that interconnecting power strips and extension cords can present a fire hazard. If you use a power strip, be sure that the power strip is connected directly to the wall outlet and do not plug additional power strips or extension cords into the main power strip.

2. Combustible Kitchen Items. This Old House reports that 41% of house fires start in the kitchen.¹You can reduce the danger by keeping combustible items at least 3 feet from the stove.²Recipe cards, pot holders and paper towels are all items that can ignite when close to your stove.

3. Dryer Lint. Even if you clean your lint trap after every dryer use, lint still collects in the dryer cabinet and can cause a fire.³Hire a professional to clean your dryer and exhaust duct.

4. Barbecue charcoal: According to Renters Insurance.com, damp charcoal can ignite, even without a flame to initiate it. Place your charcoal in a metal container with a tight fitting lid for safety.⁴

5. Curled or squashed Electrical Cords: Rachel Smith with ninemsn Homes reports that curling or squashing electrical cords can cause a fire.

6. Exposed Light Bulbs. Since light bulbs create heat, combustible items near an exposed light bulb could ignite and cause a fire. Place protective globes around all exposed light bulbs.⁵

¹ http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20567755_21119328,00.html
² http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20567755_21119328,00.html
³ http://www.asgsecurity.com/asg-security-blog/fire-risks-at-home-3-little-known-culprits.html
⁴ http://www.rentersinsurance.com/2012/02/top-10-unexpected-fire-hazards-in-the-home/
⁵ http://www.mybiginsurance.com/homeowners-insurance/hidden-fire-hazards-that-can-cause-serious-damage/

Another tragic house fire occurs in a home with no working smoke detectors.

According to this article in the telegram.com, two elderly siblings died in a house fire where there were no smoke detectors. It took about 30 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.

Such a tragedy, and it could possibly have been prevented if there had been working smoke detectors in the home.

The National Fire Protection Association reports nearly two out of five deaths from

home fires happen in homes where there are no smoke alarms. This is a staggering number in light of the fact that smoke detectors are so effective at detecting fire.

What about you? Do you have working smoke detectors in your home? Can you say with certainty that they are functional? When was the last time you changed the batteries or tested the detectors to ensure they are still in good, working condition?

If you have elderly parents, do they have working smoke detectors in their homes?

It is easy to neglect smoke detectors, and that is probably why there are so many deaths from fire occur in homes where there are either no smoke detectors or where they are not working.

Please use this as a reminder to check not only your own smoke detectors, but also to remind your friends and family to check theirs.

If you do not already have both photo electric and ionization type detectors in your home, install both kinds and then check them for proper functionality and change the batteries every six months. Many people find that changing the batteries when the time changes each year is a great way to remember.

Just be sure to correctly store and dispose of the 9-volt batteries that most smoke detectors use. Cover the terminals with electrical tape to prevent shorting out and possible fire.

Contact us today at 1-800–988–2378 or sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

The Consumer Insurance Blog has released an article dealing with the little-known fire hazard of 9-volt batteries.

The article points out that these batteries, found in so many household items and toys, can be dangerous if they are not taken care of properly.

Dave (of Kids and Character), a victim featured in the article and accompanying video, had his home totally destroyed by a fire started by a 9-volt battery. He shares from his own personal experience in an effort to get the word out about safety.

On April 21, 2011, the 9-volt battery from inside Dave’s smoke detector caused a fire that would destroy Dave’s home.

After removing the old battery from his smoke detector, Dave wanted to recycle it. But he didn’t know there are certain things you must to do to make sure the battery is safe and does not present a fire hazard.

There is a common element (or flaw) to every 9-volt battery: the terminals are close together. And creating a short across those terminals is very easy to do. 

Dave stored the old 9-volt batteries in a sack in his garage. A couple of weeks later, however, the bag was bumped causing 2 of the old batteries to short out together. This started a fire which destroyed Dave’s home.

If you have batteries lying around together in drawers and other places, you have a potential fire emergency on your hands. When the terminals short out together, they first become very warm and then they burst into flames.

To make the batteries safe for storing, simply place a piece of electrical tape over the terminals. This will keep them from shorting out and causing a fire.

Click here to watch the whole video.

It is a good idea to take some time as soon as possible to look around in your home for incorrectly stored 9-volt batteries. Whether they are new or old does not matter. Just be sure they are stored properly.

At Best Security Products, we can help you with all commercial and home fire security and safety needs. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Source: http://www.insureinfoblog.com/2015/01/the-little-known-fire-hazard-of-9-volt-batteries/