Walking around your house PSA

[kilo charlie]

While you're walking around your house tonight, remember to set your clocks back one hour, check the batteries in your smoke detectors and check your fire extinguishers.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Excellent advice ...

Also... Those that use propane/natural gas for appliances... Hopefully you use a detector for those fuels in your home, just like they use in RV's ... Not sure if they use them in homes, but it makes sense to me to use them... And they can be tested with a propane torch (unlit)....

 

[kilo charlie]

For those that have carbon monoxide detectors, the sensors in the plug in ones are usually only good for about 7 or 8 years. If yours are older than that, consider replacing them.

 

[chopsaw]

check the batteries in your smoke detectors and check your fire extinguishers.

Just replaced all mine a couple months ago . Mine are hardwired , battery backup .
The new ones come with an " integrated " battery . Good for 10 years ( they say ) .
I ordered the wrong ones first , battery only . Amazon refused a return . Figured it wasn't worth the 200 bucks or the fight to have someone trapped in a fire . Reordered the right ones right from the manufacturer and saved 50 bucks on an upgraded model ! Still stuck with the other 4 though .

carbon monoxide detectors,

New furnace and AC last March . Replaced the detectors and added a couple more .

Yup , good looking out .

 

[kilo charlie]

Just replaced all mine a couple months ago . Mine are hardwired , battery backup .
The new ones come with an " integrated " battery . Good for 10 years ( they say ) .
I ordered the wrong ones first , battery only . Amazon refused a return . Figured it wasn't worth the 200 bucks or the fight to have someone trapped in a fire . Reordered the right ones right from the manufacturer and saved 50 bucks on an upgraded model ! Still stuck with the other 4 though .

New furnace and AC last March . Replaced the detectors and added a couple more .

Yup , good looking out .

Perhaps you can pay it forward with the 4 battery only ones? Sounds like you're set on all the things now!

 

[chopsaw]

Perhaps you can pay it forward with the 4 battery only ones?

Not opposed to that , but at 50 bucks a piece gonna hang on to them and see if I have a need down the road . Supposed to be good until you pull the tab on the battery . 10 years from that point . So they say .

 

[kilo charlie]

Not opposed to that , but at 50 bucks a piece gonna hang on to them and see if I have a need down the road . Supposed to be good until you pull the tab on the battery . 10 years from that point . So they say .

Yeah they should be good and perhaps you'll find other areas of your home to use them.

 

[chopsaw]

I could have used them without the hardwire , but I want that " reported " to upstairs if somethings starts downstairs . I didn't know if I could use the 3 new hardwired ones to do that , mixed in with the others not being plugged in ? I have 7 total . I'm thinking to report to all , they all need plugged in , or the plug jumpered ? Like I said , the risk for 200 bucks was silly .

 

[kilo charlie]

For those needing batteries, buying the HDX brand in bulk from Home Depot is the cheapest option I've found. Multi packs of batteries are far cheaper especially when you think of all the things that needs AA batteries like temp probes, grill lights, and TV remotes and such.

 

[kilo charlie]

I could have used them without the hardwire , but I want that " reported " to upstairs if somethings starts downstairs . I didn't know if I could use the 3 new hardwired ones to do that , mixed in with the others not being plugged in ? I have 7 total . I'm thinking to report to all , they all need plugged in , or the plug jumpered ? Like I said , the risk for 200 bucks was silly .

I'm not sure about the wired ones, but a single battery one is likely to be heard through out the house even downstairs unless you're living in a mansion!

Smoke detectors are seriously some of the cheapest forms of insurance you can buy. A fire extinguisher is worth it's weight in gold if you can stop a fire from spreading.

 

[chef k-dude]

Thanks for the reminder. I have everything but the check the fire extinguishers covered. Going on my to-do list for today right now. I got serious about fire some years ago and have them in a central location upstairs, downstairs and right by the door from garage to the kitchen.

I'll add by saying, if you live in a two story house, often the bedrooms are upstairs. Good quality emergency escape ladders can save your life. I bought these and have them at an accessible window on each end of the house. When someone stays here upstairs, I always show them where they are and a brief explanation of how to deploy them. Avoid putting any other stuff on the floor in front of those windows.

This has also reminded me to measure my solvent cans and seek an explosion proof cabinet for my garage. I keep gallon cans of alcohol, lacquer thinner, acetone and mineral spirits up on a shelf in my garage. If those went up...my ammo is only right upstairs 10-12 feet away. Would be pretty ugly. Need to get the solvents on the concrete floor in a safety box in the garage.

 

[kilo charlie]

Thanks for the reminder. I have everything but the check the fire extinguishers covered. Going on my to-do list for today right now. I got serious about fire some years ago and have them in a central location upstairs, downstairs and right by the door from garage to the kitchen.

I'll add by saying, if you live in a two story house, often the bedrooms are upstairs. Good quality emergency escape ladders can save your life. I bought these and have them at an accessible window on each end of the house. When someone stays here upstairs, I always show them where they are and a brief explanation of how to deploy them. Avoid putting any other stuff on the floor in front of those windows.

This has also reminded me to measure my solvent cans and seek an explosion proof cabinet for my garage. I keep gallon cans of alcohol, lacquer thinner, acetone and mineral spirits up on a shelf in my garage. If those went up...my ammo is only right upstairs 10-12 feet away. Would be pretty ugly. Need to get the solvents on the concrete floor in a safety box in the garage.

Most stores like Home Depot, Menards and Walmarts all have sections full of extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors all in one spot. Makes it easier to cover all the bases. Great job on the ladders and sharing the information with your guests!

The cabinets are pretty pricey but still cheaper than replacing a garage full of stuff!

 

[dons2346]

In our neighborhood, the fire department will come out and replace batteries in your detectors. This is especially handy if you have detectors that you can't reach plus they bring their own batteries

 

[kilo charlie]

In our neighborhood, the fire department will come out and replace batteries in your detectors. This is especially handy if you have detectors that you can't reach plus they bring their own batteries

We used to do things like that, but due to liability issues (because of bad people) those things are no longer allowed in my district.

 

[Fueling Around]

Good reminder. Thanks for being proactive

For those that have carbon monoxide detectors, the sensors in the plug in ones are usually only good for about 7 or 8 years. If yours are older than that, consider replacing them.

Not opposed to that , but at 50 bucks a piece gonna hang on to them and see if I have a need down the road . Supposed to be good until you pull the tab on the battery . 10 years from that point . So they say .

CO detectors and Ionization smoke detectors have a terminal life of around 10 years even if not activated. Photoelectric detectors are good for around 10 years after activated.

I just replaced all of mine last year.
Make sure to have at least one of each type detector (ionization & photoelectric) per level in your protection plan.