Consider Upgrading To a 10-Year Smoke Alarm

5/1/2023 (Permalink)

A smoke alarm is vital to the safety of everyone in your home.

Think About Purchasing a 10-Year Smoke Alarm

There are approximately 358,500 home fires a year, which makes outfitting your Chandler, AZ, home with a smoke alarm vital. They are the first line of defense to ensuring everyone’s safety and minimizing the fire damage remediation and restoration services needed. Unfortunately, maintaining them is easy to forget, but that is changing with new products on the market.

Benefits of 10-year Lithium-ion Alarms
The advent of lithium-ion batteries hasn’t just benefitted people by allowing cellphones to last for hours. These impressive batteries are now being used in other areas, including protecting your home. A smoke alarm with this type of battery is designed to last for 10 years. There are numerous benefits to making the switch, including:

• You never have to replace the battery, which means annual cost savings.
  
• After 10 years, simply replace the unit.
  
• Since the battery isn’t slowly dying, you won’t have to deal with incessant chirping.
  
• The battery is sealed, which means it can’t be removed or tampered with.
  
• It provides a warning after a decade of use.
  
  

Standard Smoke Detector Maintenance
If your standard alarms have already been replaced in the past few years and you aren’t quite ready for an upgrade, it is essential to stay on top of maintenance. The 9-volt battery in traditional alarms needs to be replaced every six months. The detector should be tested monthly to ensure it is properly working and replaced every 10 years. Below are signs of trouble to watch for:

If your detector has turned yellow, it means it is getting old. They turn yellow due to the flame retardant, bromine, it is coated in.
Constant chirping shouldn’t be ignored. If replacing the battery doesn’t work, consider if its placement in the home is the issue, such as too close to the kitchen. Replace if the problem persists.
Regular testing is essential for peace of mind. If you get no response from the test, it may be worth investing in a new one.

A smoke alarm is vital to the safety of everyone in your home. A modern alarm powered by a lithium-ion battery lasts 10 years, minimizing maintenance and adding peace of mind.

What To Know About Home Fire Alarms

1/1/2023 (Permalink)

Do you know where each fire alarm is in your home?

Do you know where each fire alarm is in your Chandler, AZ, home? Do you remember the last time you changed the batteries? If you just thought to yourself, “I have no idea,” you came to the right place. Below you will learn why detectors are so important, how many you need, and what proper maintenance looks like.

What Is the Importance of a Fire Alarm?

Fires can move slowly through a home or engulf stories within minutes, causing widespread fire damage and smoke damage. Early detection from smoke alarms and quick reaction can save precious time responding to and escaping a fire.

How Many Alarms Do You Need?
The number of necessary alarms varies due to house size and layout. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, alarms should be placed as follows:

• Install them on every level of the home.
  
• Place them inside each bedroom.
  
• Position them outside sleeping areas.
  
  

Since roughly half of home fires occur at night, alarms around sleeping areas are essential to alert you before fire and smoke reach you. Install them high up on walls or ceilings, away from fans or vents. 

What Kinds of Alarms Are There?
There are two types of smoke alarms you can purchase for your home: ionization and photoelectric. They detect different kinds of fire, so the recommendation is to install a combination of the two or dual sensor alarms. Furthermore, installing interconnected alarms allows quicker reaction time because one alarm sounding off sets off all the others to alert you to danger.

How Often Should You Replace Them?
Each fire alarm needs replacing every ten years, and batteries need to be changed yearly. They are not helpful if they do not function properly, so test each alarm monthly. Many fire departments will install smoke detectors for free, so contact your local fire department about possible assistance and questions. 
Early fire detection is imperative to the safety and survival of your family. Properly installing and maintaining smoke detectors will ensure your home’s protection. 

Knowing How Your Renters Insurance Policy Covers You

11/18/2022 (Permalink)

Tenants should have a renters policy to protect their items and liability for starting a fire.

Per a lease agreement, your landlord or property owner provides a place for you to live based on you making regular payments to cover your monthly rent. Typically, property owners carry homeowner’s insurance to cover damages from certain perils, such as fire, theft, and natural disasters. If you experience a fire at your apartment or rental home in Chandler, AZ, the landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your belongings, which is why you need renters insurance. 

Understanding Your Renter's Insurance Policy

Here’s what you can expect your renter's coverage to include:

Personal belongings: You’re covered for items that are lost due to a fire, but pay close attention to the language used. Your plan should offer the replacement value for your belongings, as opposed to the actual cash value. If you had to replace an old television, the actual cash value would be significantly less than the cost to replace it.
Liability: If you started the fire, generally your plan covers any fire damage to third parties, including personal injury or destruction of property.
Medical bills: Your policy should include some coverage for injuries to others due to fire.
Loss of use: Your unit may not be inhabitable after a fire. “Loss of use” coverage can help pay for temporary relocation and other expenses.

The property owner’s policy generally only covers damage to the building. You should also confirm that your renter's policy covers fire-related losses such as smoke or soot damage.

Knowing When You’re Not Covered
Renter's insurance generally applies to accidental fires. If you started a fire on purpose, you won’t be covered. Be aware that if a fire you started accidentally destroys the building structure, your landlord’s insurer may come after you for losses. In that case, your renter's policy could help cover those costs. Fire restoration by a professional remediation company may be covered by a landlord. 
Tenants should have a renters policy to protect their items and liability for starting a fire. It’s important to know what is and isn’t covered before you find yourself in an emergency situation. This is part of being a responsible tenant.

What To Expect During a Home Restoration Process After a Fire

9/24/2022 (Permalink)

Roof damaged by fire in a home in Chandler, AZ.

Fire Restoration Process

If flames break out in your home, it can be a daunting task to clean up the mess and get your house back to its previous condition. That is why trusted fire damage restoration professionals should take the lead after an emergency to issue all necessary repairs. Here are the six things you can expect out of the fire restoration process.

1. Damage Evaluation
The first key step for experts is to inspect your Chandler, AZ, home and assess all the damage. This allows them to get a full-scale picture of what repairs will be needed and officially launches the restoration project.

2. Securing the Structure
Your property may be unsafe even after flames are put out, with windows and the roof especially likely to be compromised. Experts will board up the structure and tarp the roof to ensure the highest level of structural safety.

3. Water Extraction
After a fire, most homes face water damage due to responders' efforts of putting out the flames. Before fire restoration can begin, water damage must be taken care of in full, including the removal of excess water and drying of the structure.

4. Smoke Damage Removal
At this point in the process, professionals will tackle the smoke and soot buildup within the home. This step requires specialized cleaning techniques to remove the smoke and prepare the space for a rebuild.

5. Overall Damage Cleaning
Following water and smoke removal, crews will sanitize every impacted surface to kill off any bacteria or harmful properties. They may also use deodorization techniques should smoke odors remain.

6. Restoration and Repairs
Last but not least, the process will conclude with restoring the home to its pre-fire condition. This could involve a number of repairs from minor efforts like re-painting walls to an extensive reconstruction of some areas.
The damage in each fire restoration project will vary, but the process itself will typically always include these six steps.

4 Great Products Safer Than Candles

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Battery-operated candles provide the same flickering light as traditional candles while holding minimal fire danger risks.

Candle Alternatives

Many people love candles for their fragrance and ambiance. However, they can also be a fire hazard if left unattended. Here are some great candle alternatives to keep your Chandler, AZ, home cozy without compromising on safety.

1. Battery-Operated Products
Candle fire creates a relaxing atmosphere you may wish to bring to celebrations or holiday gatherings. But candles may catch nearby objects on fire, causing danger and damage, which could require you to hire fire damage restoration professionals. Battery-operated candles provide the same flickering light as traditional candles while holding minimal fire danger risks. Sizes range widely from small tealights to tall pillars. Some products also come with timers and remotes for your convenience. Choose a wax-based version if you want the product to resemble a real candle, as plastic at times appears less authentic.

2. Fragrance Warmers
Flameless warmers use either light bulbs or warming plates to melt candles and scented wax cubes, producing fragrance. Warmers are available in a variety of decorative forms, including lanterns, ceramic dishes, and holiday-themed shapes. Illuminated varieties such as lamps imitate the glow of a flame, minus the smoke and soot.

3. Plugin Candle Alternatives
Plugin alternatives to candles are among the most convenient forms of aromatherapy. They connect to an outlet and consistently release scent throughout the day. Many of these products act as nightlights, too. Plugin products don't usually require batteries, just occasional replacements of the fragrance or light bulbs. 

4. Salt Lamps
Salt lamps are electric lights carved from large pieces of Himalayan salt. The pink and orange mineral produces a steady, colorful glow once plugged in. Himalayan salt lamps are popularly believed to help improve mood, sleep, and allergies. Unfortunately, scientific evidence doesn't currently support these claims, but you can still enjoy the lamps purely for their beauty and ambiance.
Remove the fire hazards and inconvenience of traditional candles without giving up relaxation and comfort. Choose affordable and attractive replacements from among these candle alternatives.

How Do You Remove Lint From a Clothes Dryer?

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

Removing lint from your dryer is important for the dryer to run correctly and for avoiding a lint fire.

How Do You Clean a Clothes Dryer of Lint?

Removing lint from your dryer is important for the dryer to run correctly and for avoiding a lint fire. About 2,900 fires occur every year because of dryers.
If your dryer does catch on fire in Chandler, AZ, you may need help dealing with the fire damage. A professional can assist with fire cleanup and remediation and remove unwanted odors. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce the risk of this disaster by taking proper care of your dryer.

Cleaning the Lint Tray
You probably know that you should clean out the lint tray each time you use your dryer. To clear the tray:

• Remove the tray carefully using the handle
  
• Clear off any lint
  
• Wash with water and soap if the tray is particularly dirty
  
• Replace the tray
  
  

However, lint also accumulates in other parts of the machine and must be dealt with periodically to avoid a lint fire.

Removing Lint From the Exhaust Hose
First, unplug your dryer. Next, detach the hose, which might require the use of a screwdriver. Be careful because if you are too rough, you could cause damage that might prevent the hose from reconnecting.
Next, use a brush to clean the lint from the hose. You can also use a vacuum cleaner attachment for this step.

Clearing Lint From the Wall Vent
The vent on the wall where the hose attaches gathers lint, too, leading to the possibility of a dryer fire. You can purchase a tool designed to clean the vent, which is effectively a brush on a long arm.
Feed the arm into the wall and carefully rotate the device to clean out the vent. You may need to repeat this step several times to get all of the accumulated lint. After this, you can reattach the hose and tighten the clamps.
By taking these steps on a regular basis, you can reduce your risk of a lint fire and the damage it can cause to your home.