Best Security Products blog

In 2010, 16,800 reported fires involved clothes dryers or washing machines.  Of those fires, 92% were caused by clothes dryers. And the leading cause of those clothes dryer fires was attributed to failure to clean. ¹

Clothes dryer fires are easily preventable, which makes the high numbers of fires even more of a tragedy.

The National Fire Protection Association has created a quick video tutorial with tips on how to prevent a clothes dryer fire.  See below for some highlights from the video.  Click the video to watch the entire presentation.

1.  When you purchase a clothes dryer, do not attempt to install it yourself.  Let a professional install it for you.  In addition, when the clothes dryer needs to be serviced, only allow a professional to assist you.

2.  Never use your dryer without the lint filter installed, and make sure you clean the lint filter after every time you use your dryer.

3.  Check the dryer drum to see if any lint has collected there.  If it has, remove it before using the dryer again.

4.  Lint buildup can cause the exhaust vent pipe to become clogged and restricted, posing a fire hazard. Check the pipe frequently to ensure it is clear.

5.  If you notice that it starts to take longer than normal for your clothes to dry, you may need to hire a professional service to clean your dyer’s exhaust pipe.

6.  Do not over load your dryer with garments; this could pose a fire hazard.

The National Fire Protection Association also has a tip sheet that can be downloaded here.  Take a few minutes to review the tip sheet and make sure your clothes dryer is not presenting a fire hazard to you and your family.  It only takes a few minutes to clean your dryer, and it could save your life.
For instructions on how to clean your dryer, check out this article on wikiHow.
Best Security Products specializes in Honeywell fire protection.  We will work with you to find a customized solution to protect your home and bring you peace of mind.  Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.

^{1 http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/dryers-and-washing-machines}

According to this story in the Boston Globe, 4 people died in a Maine cabin recently.  They were celebrating a birthday and a high school graduation.

Evidently, the generator had been powered up and left to run in the basement of the cabin where the friends were staying.  The cabin has no electricity, so the generator was the power source. Even though the only safe place to run a generator is outdoors, there was nothing to suggest that the friends had taken the time to move it outside, and instead turned it on inside the cabin.

Authorities believe the generator had run until the gas ran out.  When the friends were found, they had evidently been dead for several days.  A dog died in the cabin as well.

Each year, approximately 4,000 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States.  The tragedy lies in the fact that death from carbon monoxide is so easy to prevent.  Simply installing a carbon monoxide detector is the solution.

The Honeywell Wireless Carbon Monoxide Detector is a smart way to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.  Here are some features of this high quality detector:

Electrochemical Sensing Technology - Electrochemical detectors are the newest, most refined CO detectors available and provide the most accurate measurement of CO concentration obtainable. They can take readings from low levels that may be hazardous over long periods of time to high concentrations that present an immediate danger.

Local Sounder - A built-in piezoelectric horn generates the ANSI S3.41 temporal 4 pattern in an alarm condition. The local sounder will also alert the end-user of other conditions such as low battery, detector trouble and end-of-life.

LED Status Indicators - Dual LEDs provide local visual indication of the detector’s status–including normal operation, alarm, low battery, trouble and end-of-life.

End of Life Timer - When the detector has reached the end of its life, the detector will send a trouble signal to the panel. This indicates that the CO sensor inside the detector has passed the end of its life and the detector needs to be replaced. The detector’s lifespan is approximately six years from the date of manufacture.

Full Supervision - The 5800CO is fully supervised to monitor for low battery, case tamper and trouble conditions.

Test/Hush Button - This dual purpose button allows the end-user to perform periodic testing of the detector. In the event of a CO alarm, this button will silence the local sounder alarm for a five minute period. Note: the Hush feature will not operate at levels above 350 ppm (parts per million) carbon monoxide.

Versatile Mounting - Whether you choose to affix the detector to the ceiling or a wall, mounting is made simple with the enclosed hardware. The mounting base has large mounting ports, which accommodate drywall anchors for easy surface mounting.

Tamper Protection and Tamper Resistant Element - The detector has a built-in tamper switch that can communicate back to the control panel in the event it is removed from the base. For an added level of security, the detector also includes a tamper resistant element that prevents removal from the base without the use of a tool.

At Best Security Products, we specialize in commercial fire systems for your business or industry.  Contact us at 1-800–988–2378 or sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Sources:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/18/die-apparent-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/x8FkfvL1ucqukiathGrnSP/story.html#
http://www.security.honeywell.com/hsc/products/intruder-detection-systems/life-safety/wireless-carbon-monoxide-detector/242073.html

It seems harmless enough.  You are about to go out with a friend for the evening, and before you go, you post a quick status update on Facebook.  We’ve all done it.

But that quick status update could result in a burglary.  That’s what happened to Keri McMullen, according to this report from CNN News.

Kerri was heading out to watch a show with her fiancé and posted her plans as a status update to Facebook.  However, one of her Facebook friends decided that Kerri’s evening out was a perfect opportunity to burglarize her home.

Sadly, Kerri made it easy for him.  He knew when she was leaving and had a pretty good idea of how long he had before she returned home.  By the time he and his fellow burglar finished, they took more than $11,000 worth of valuables.

This story has a positive twist though.  The reason Kerri was able to identify the burglar is because she had installed security cameras in her house.  The security camera provided an image recognized by others, and police were able to positively identify him.

Click the video to watch the report from CNN:

Let Kerri’s story be a warning for you.  Use social media with caution.  Here are a few statistics from the Prince William Virginia Police Department about how burglars use social media:

• Over 75% of convicted burglars believe that other burglars are using social media to find targets.
• Google Streetview is one of the most used tools of thieves, allowing them to case out likely-looking homes in complete safety.
• Social media tells potential burglars what you have, where you live and how long you are likely to be away from the property.

Please use social media safely.  Think before you post, and make sure your profile is set to be viewed only by people whom you can trust.

It is also a good idea to install video security cameras, just like Kerri did.  At Best Security Products, we can install and maintain your custom video surveillance system.

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