We can’t stress enough how important smoke detectors are. Smoke detectors provide an early indication of a fire in your home and can provide your family with the necessary time to safely get out of your home in the event of a fire.
They are the easiest way to detect fire in your home and to keep your family safe. In fact, working smoke detectors more than double the likelihood that you will survive an in-home fire, whether it be in the day or night.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss fire safety by looking at the importance of maintaining smoke detectors and their electrical wiring, by looking at ways to reduce fire risks.
Don’t Make That Mistake - Check Your Smoke Detectors
Hopefully, you were no fool this month and checked your smoke detectors. Given that smoke detectors can mean the difference between life and death, it’s important to make sure that they’re working properly at all times.
Here are a few tips for smoke detector maintenance.
Every month you should test your smoke detector. For most units, you do this by holding down the test button. If it’s working correctly, you’ll then hear a loud, ear-piercing siren.- Unless you’re using a 10-year battery, you should replace the batteries in your smoke detector once a year.
- About every three months clean your smoke detector using a small vacuum brush.
- Replace the whole system at least every 10 years.
Checking your smoke detectors regularly is easy to do and is essential to keeping your family safe. So, make this easy maintenance a part of your routine.
Electrical Safety
Any time that you are working with an electrical system or wiring there is a chance of shock.
Plus, if your electrical work is outdated or not done correctly it can dramatically increase the risk of having an electrical fire in your home.
As a result, DIY projects are not a good idea when they will involve anything dealing with your electrical system. One common DIY mistake is puncturing but not completely severing a wire. This can result from drilling, nailing or other home projects.
When a wire is punctured it causes an arc fault which can lead to a fire. If you happen to puncture a wire, shut off the power and call an electrician immediately.
Electrical work is dangerous and, if not done correctly, can put you at risk for an electrical fire. If you are not qualified for electrical work, leave it for a licensed professional.
The Benefits of Using Tradesmen
Electricians are trained professionals that are licensed and have on-the-job training and experience.
Not only are they qualified to handle the risks associated with electrical work, but they also have the knowledge to know when something is outdated or needs to be replaced. Out-of-date wiring increases your fire risks, so you want to ensure that you’re updating your electrical system as needed.
Using a professional not only ensures your safety and that you’re doing a project right, but it also ensures that what’s already in place is working correctly, is safe and is up to code. Given the risks that can come from electrical problems, this is an area where you want to have experienced tradesmen.
Has anyone ever had a bad experience trying to fix an electrical system yourself? If so, we’d love to hear about it so we can all learn from it. And, if you haven’t, avoid any future bad experiences by calling us today and letting our qualified professionals handle all of your electrical issues.
