Fire Hazard - From 9-Volt Batteries

Do you have a “junk drawer” somewhere in your house?  Most people do, and most of us probably don’t give a second thought to what we put in it.  We probably should since there may be items that, when thrown in together, can start a fire.  People have all sorts of stuff in a “junk drawer.”  One of those things could cause a fire, such as a 9-volt battery.

In a demonstration, items like keys, the clip of a pen and paper clips were put on a 9-volt battery and set next to a tissue.  In minutes, the battery heated up.  In approximately 10 minutes, the tissue had already browned.  The same process works even faster with steel wool.



There are easy solutions.  Just take a piece of electrical tape and put it across the battery posts.  It’s a simple move to protect your house from a common, but very real risk.  Experts also say it’s dangerous to store 9-volt batteries in containers with other batteries, as this can also cause a fire.



Article taken from Standard Mutual Insurance Company News & Views – May, 2014

Backyard Safety Tips #

The Grill

1.        Keep barbecue grills on a level surface away from the house, garage, landscaping and children.
2.       Wear a heavy apron and use a long-armed oven mitt to protect yourself.
3.       Let the coals cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container.
4.       Remember that grills remain hot long after you are through barbecuing.

Play Sets

1.        Have adult supervision on hand while children are playing on the equipment.
2.       Regularly check the equipment for sturdiness, rusty bolts and wood rot, and make necessary repairs.
3.       Ensure that play sets do not have openings between pieces that could trap a child’s head or neck.
4.       Place play sets securely on level ground and on wood chips or other soft materials to cushion and help prevent injuries.



Information taken from Travelers Insurance

What You Don't Know About Smoke Detectors Could Save Your Life!

The facts are clear that smoke detectors in your home are important.  In fact, not having a functional smoke alarm doubles your chances of dying in a house fire.  And, two-thirds of all fire-related deaths happen in homes without functional smoke detectors.

So, if you're like 96% of the nation's homes, you have at least one smoke alarm.  And because you are concerned about minimizing fire risk you change the battery twice a year when we set the clocks back and forward.  You can rest easy knowing that you're protected, right?

The answer is maybe and maybe not.  It all depends on the type of smoke alarms you have.

The Two Types of Smoke Alarms
Most residential smoke alarms utilize either ionization or photoelectric technology.  And while you may think that "a smoke alarm is a smoke alarm" there are crucial differences in the ways these two technologies respond to fires.

About 90 percent of installed alarms are ionization type smoke detectors which are typically more responsive to fast flaming fires such as stovetop or cooking fires.  These types of fires often occur when people are awake and can more easily escape.

Photoelectric smoke detectors are typically more responsive to smoldering fires in living spaces where furniture, mattresses and synthetic materials generally burn more slowly with a long period of smoldering before they erupt into open flames.  These fires often start overnight when occupants are likely asleep.

Here's the critical difference between these two types of smoke detectors:

On average, ionization smoke detectors respond about 30 seconds faster to an open-flame fire than photoelectric alarms and in a flaming fire there can be little time to spare.

In a smoldering fire, however, ionization units may respond on average 30 to 60 minutes slower than a photoelectric unit.  In some cases, ionization smoke detectors may not always alarm even when a room is filled with smoke from a smoldering fire.

Photoelectric detectors can provide a lot more warning time than ionization detectors in a smoldering fire.  While smoldering fires account for only about 12 percent of fires, they also account for more than half of fire-related deaths and a third of fire-related injuries (most residential fire fatalities occur at night and are the result of smoke inhalation).

Changes in building materials and furnishings over the past decades have reduced the time available for safe escape in any fire so having the proper warning of either a smoldering fire or an open flame fire as early as possible is absolutely critical.

Another Problem with Ionization Smoke Alarms
A recent Alaskan nuisance alarm study indicated that 92% of homes with ionization smoke alarms experienced nuisance alarms compared to only 11% with photoelectric smoke alarms.  The reason this is important is that occupants disable ionization smoke alarms by removing the batteries because of frequent nuisance alarming.  And a disarmed smoke alarm is, obviously, useless.  In fact, homes with non-functional smoke alarms account for close to two-thirds of all fire-related deaths.

What Type of Smoke Detectors Should I Have?

You should perform your own research before making a final decision, but consider that the Consumer Products Safety commission says that best protection when it comes to smoke alarms is to:

   - Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms

   - Install both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms

   - Install interconnected smoke alarms

   - Install smoke alarms using house wiring with battery back-up

The data is clear that having both ionization and separate photoelectric smoke alarms provides the best protection from both fast moving flaming fires and smoldering fires.

Consider that the National Fire Protection Association, Consumer Products Safety Commission, United States Fire Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Association of State Fire Marshals all recommend having both types of smoke alarms installed.

Additional Features to Consider in Your Smoke Alarm

Interconnected Alarms: This type of alarm causes all the interconnected alarms in the home to alert if one has detected smoke.  For example, if a fire starts in the basement all the alarms in the house, including those on the upper bedroom level will sounds which may give occupants additional escape time.  Interconnected systems can be hard wired or are available using wireless technology.

Talking Alarms: There are now talking alarms that not just sound an alarm but "speak" to you alerting you to the detected hazard.

Kids and Your Escape Plan

Remember that many children will sleep through smoke alarms!  Do not assume they will awaken and find their way out of the house.  Make sure everyone in your family knows how to escape when the smoke alarm goes off, whether they are awake or asleep.

Courtesy of:

Alliance Disaster Kleenup 

574 Wheeling Road, Wheeling, IL  60090 

P: 847-205-2100  F: 847-205-4100  

www.adk911.com

10 To Do's To Keep Your Home Safe Before You Leave For Vacation!

Summer is almost here and that means one thing: Vacation.  Whether you follow Route 66 or fly the friendly skies, you will most likely be one of the many people taking a well-deserved break!

To reduce the likelihood of house damage or a break-in, be sure to take the following steps before you go on vacation:


1) Turn off your water.  Many expensive losses occur when water leaks from a hot water heater or broken pipe.

2) Unplug your coffee pot, TV and other small appliances.  This will lower electric costs, as well as prevent possible fires.

3) Cut your grass and water your plants.  High grass or wilted plants may indicate you are away from your home - a possible draw for thieves.

4) Lock your windows and doors, and close curtains on windows where people can see into your house.  A simple, but oftentimes overlooked, step.

5) Install smart timers.  These inexpensive items can be programmed to turn lights on and off throughout the evening.  Burglars are less likely to target houses with lights on.

6) Stop your paper and mail deliveries.  Full mailboxes and a stack of old newspapers on your porch may signal you are out of town.

7) Don't leave an outgoing message on your phone announcing that you are away.  In this time of social media, even a post on Facebook could draw trouble.  Instead, try "I'm not able to take your call" or "I will respond to your message as soon as possible."

8) Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house.  You may also want to give them your contact information while you are away.

9) Unplug the motor of your garage door opener.  This will help ensure that no one will find a compatible opener and get into your garage.  (Leave a key with a neighbor or relative so you can get in upon return).

10) Ensure required security devices are in place - especially around your pool.

Taking some simple precautions will help ensure you enjoy your vacation - and your return to your home sweet home... exactly as you left it!



Source: MSB

Inexpensive Home Maintenance Can Prevent Big Expenses in the Future

For a few hours of time and a small investment, you can do a lot to protect your property. Even renters can ensure comfortable surroundings with some of these tips:

Get energy efficient. If you have not yet installed a programable thermostat, now is the time to do so. You can reduce your cooling costs by 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Thermostats cost between $40 and $70.

Seal around the tub and shower. Cracked or poorly sealed calking around tubs, showers and sinks can lead to water damage to floors, walls and the ceilings below, say experts writing in Money magazine. When you see cracks or gaps, buy a $5 tube of caulking and reapply.

Prevent fires. Check your fire extinquishers to see if they are still charged. If you need a new one, buy an extinquisher that works on both kitchen and electrical fires. The National Fire Protection Agency recommends one that is labeled ABC. Cost is about $40.

Prevent Shocks. Electrical outlets near water in the kitchen and bathroom should have ground fault circuit interrupters that protect from a shock. They have "test" and "reset" buttons. If you need one, the GFCI costs about $10, but you should hire an electricial to install it.

Service the garage door. Spray penetrating oil such as WD-40 into the hinges and rollers so the door will open and close more easily. Test the safety reverse mechanism by placing an object in the door's path to see if it stops. WC-40 costs about $7.

This information is courtesy of Standard Mutual Insurance Company. These tips are small in cost, large in safety.

Be safe and keep watching this blog for additional tips and useful information.

Contact Mars Insurance to see how we may better serve you or visit us on the web at www.marsinsurance.com.

Avoiding a Laundry Room Disaster

There are a number of areas in your laundry room that, if not properly maintained, may be putting your home at risk of water damage. Here are some specific areas in your laundry room that are at risk and what you can do to prevent potential losses.

Washing Machine Connections

• Inspect for tiny leaks in the connections to both the hot and cold water lines. Repair even the most minor leak.
• Check both ends of the water lines for possible leaks. Replace the small hose washers in the line if they haven't been replaced recently.
• Check for discharge hose kinks and cracks. If the hose is brittle or old, replace it.
  

Money-saving Home tip: The most destructive water damage losses in homes come from broken or burst washing machine hoses. In fact, the output of water from a broken hose is approximately 650 gallons per hour! It is recommended that you replace your machine's rubber hot and cold hoses with woven steel hoses. For less than $15 you can get six feet of woven steel hose from your local home improvement store. This simple upgrade could save your home from serious water damage problems.

Hard Water Problems

• In areas with hard or mineral-laden water, if the washer is slow to fill, there's a good chance that the in-line filter is clogged. Turn off the water supply and remove the hoses. Remove t he small wire filters from the washer inlets, or, if not removable, use an old toothbrush, cotton swab or shop vacuum to clean out the clogged filters.
• Is there a steady drip into the washing machine? Grit has probably damaged the shut-off valve. Repair it yourself or call an appliance repair specialist.

Hoses & Filters

• Inspect and periodically replace all types of hoses.
• When replacing hoses, be sure to also install new hose washers.

Utility Sinks

• If the utility sink drains sluggishly, take steps to remove the blockage
• Watch for any sighs of dripping faucets, water damage to the flooring, or leaks in the drain pipe. Do not ignore even a small leak.

Dryer Connections

• If the dryer vent hose isn't tightly connected to the outside vent, repair the clamp or re-tape to seal.
• If dryer lint is accumulating behind and under the dryer, the vent pipe may be clogged. Check that it is free of debris, both from the inside and outside of the house.
• If there are too many twists and turns in the line for the dryer to vent efficiently, make the exhaust more short and straight.

Laundry Room Smart Tips

• Give the utility sink periodic drain treatments to prevent clogs and promote free drainage.
• If at all possible, connect the dryer hose in a straight line with the outdoor vent.
• Metal dryer vent pipes are preferable to the plastic accordion types.
• Hose clamps and good metal HVAC tape can help seal up a poorly connected dryer hose and eliminate excessive moisture and dust accumulation.
• Make it a habit to vacuum around and behind the washer and dryer routinely.
• Keep the laundry area clean, dust and dirt combined with moisture can promote unwanted growth.
• Remember to clean out the dryer lint trap after each load.

Thanks to the Institute for Business & Home Safety for providing this material along with the folks at Kemper Insurance, a Unitrin Company. Visit IBHS for more ways in which to protect your home at www.ibhs.org.

Remember, all of us at Mars Insurance are advocates for home safety.