3 Tips For Preventing Electrical Fires at Home

According to the EFSI, home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year. These devastating fires have resulted in nearly 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage. When we think of electricity in our homes, we usually only think of the electrical appliances we can see. However, electricity runs through our walls, to the corners of our kitchen cabinets, making potential harm from electricity in the home high. The good news is that electrical fires are often preventable and can be avoided by doing your research and by showing care. In this article, we take a look at 3 tips for preventing electrical fires at home, so you can have peace of mind that you’re not putting your own and your family’s safety at risk. 

Make Sure Your Electrical Outlets Are Safe

Making sure that your electrical outlets are safe and undamaged is one of the most important things you can do in preventing electrical fires in the home. We’ve all seen that one electrical outlet that seems to be hanging on by a thread, whether from visible damage or because it’s overloaded with cords. This is a fire hazard that can easily be avoided if the proper care is taken.

Platinum Electricians explains more on what you should look for when it comes to damaged or overloaded electrical outlets:

“Worn-out or faulty outlets are one of the most common causes for electrical fires in the home. Inspecting these electrical sources in your home for damage or deterioration helps to reduce the risk of electrical fires. When conducting these inspections, be on the lookout for worn or frayed cables, overloaded power sockets or power boards. Secondly, note the location of the electrical cords, if they are near sources of heat and water, try moving them away from these areas to avoid any accidental harm.”

Never Cut Off The Third Prong On A Power Cord 

If you only have two prong outlets in your home, it may be tempting to simply cut off the third prong and see if it’ll still work in the same way. This is a very obvious fire hazard and should never be attempted, as the third prong is included for a reason.

Economical.com tells us why the third prong is present on a power cord and what you can do in order to use it safely:

“The third prong (also known as the “ground”) is there for a reason: to protect you in the event of a power surge or other electrical malfunction. If your home only has two-prong outlets, consider having an electrician inspect your home’s electrical system to see if they can update your outlets to three-prong ones.”

Check Your Light Fixtures

You may not think to check your wattage when replacing a light bulb in your light fixture, thinking it can’t make that much of a difference. In reality, the wattage is listed on both your light fixture and on replacement light bulbs for an important reason. 

FireRescue1.com explains more about bulb wattage and not taking care to use the correct bulbs can easily result in an electrical fire:

“Light fixtures, lamps and light bulbs are another common reason for electrical fires. Installing a bulb with a wattage that is too high for the lamps and light fixtures is a leading cause of electrical fires. Always check the maximum recommended bulb wattage on any lighting fixture or lamp and never go over the recommended amount. Another cause of fire is placing materials like cloth or paper over a lampshade. The material heats up and ignites, causing a fire. Faulty lamps and light fixtures also frequently result in fires.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

While gasoline is a highly flammable fluid, you may not think about this fact while you’re completing an everyday task like filling up your car. There are several fire safety hazards that present themselves while going through the ordinary task of filling up your tank, many of which can be easily prevented. And while static electricity-related incidents are rare, the potential for this type of accident is higher in both abnormally cool and dry climate conditions. So, what steps as a customer can you take to prevent these possible fire hazards when filling up your car? We take a look at what to avoid next time you’re at your local service station.

Do Not Reenter Your Car While Refuelling

While static related fires are uncommon, they become more likely when you reenter your car while in the process of refuelling. When you’re rushing to get to work or rushing to get home in the evening, giving your full attention to fuelling your car may prove to be difficult at times. However, it’s important that you do not reenter your vehicle to avoid that build-up of static that may result in a serious accident.

American Petroleum Institute explains more on why getting back in your car while refuelling could be a dangerous move:

“…motorists should not get back into their vehicles during refueling. It may be a temptation to get back in the car for any number of reasons. But the average fill-up takes only two minutes, and staying outside the vehicle will greatly minimize the likelihood of any build-up of static electricity that could be discharged at the nozzle.”

No Cell Phones

We’ve all heard the stories regarding the dangers of cell phones and gas stations and wondered whether there is really any truth to them. However, whether or not you’ve personally known anyone who has been involved in this type of accident, there is indeed evidence that cell phone usage near gas pumps poses potential explosion risks. 

LoveToKnow.com tells us more about the associated danger between filling your gas tank and cell phones:

“Neither cell phones or full-function pagers are designed to be used in any type of ignitable environment. Certainly any area where fuel is being pumped is one where risk of ignition is high. There are situations in which cell phone usage can create sparks capable of igniting a fire or causing an explosion in such an environment.”

Never Fill a Portable Gas Can Inside a Vehicle

Have you ever set your portable gas can down on the floor of your car or on the bed of a pickup in order to refill it? While this may seem like a harmless act, this is another leading cause of static fires that may occur at a service station.  

The Salina Journal explains how filling a portable gas can inside a vehicle can cause a potential fire:

“When filling a portable gasoline can, always place the container on the ground and keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container while refueling. Containers never should be filled inside a vehicle, in the trunk, on the bed of a pickup or on the floor of a trailer. The carpeting and truck bed act as insulators, allowing static electricity to build up in the can while it is being filled. That static electricity could create a spark between the container and the fuel nozzle.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Fire safety can be a significant issue for seniors who choose to continue to live in their own homes, especially if they are living alone. There are a variety of reasons why seniors in particular face fire risk factors that are not an issue for the young, in the form of age-related changes. These may include weaker physical or mental capabilities, limited mobility and side effects of prescribed medications. Most seniors are also on a fixed income and deem home improvements an unnecessary expense. In this article, we take a look at how you can assist your senior family member in making sure they can safely evacuate in the event of an emergency, or what you can do as a senior citizen to ensure that your home is equipped for independent living.

Make Sure Smoke Alarms Are Installed and Working

Arguably, the most important aspect of fire safety and fire prevention in the home is making sure smoke alarms are installed and working, which includes testing and changing the battery regularly. It’s also important to ensure that a senior’s home is equipped so that they are able to be alerted to a fire, regardless of if they are hard of hearing. 

The Canada Safety Council explains more on fire alarm safety for seniors:

“Install a smoke alarm on each level of the home and outside all sleeping areas: in Ontario this is now the law. Anyone who sleeps with the bedroom doors closed should have a smoke alarm inside the bedroom. Test each alarm monthly and replace the battery twice a year. Remind loved ones that if they hear the smoke alarm “chirp” it means the battery needs to be replaced immediately. Seniors who are deaf or hard of hearing should consider purchasing flashing or vibrating smoke alarms.”

Make Sure All Doors and Windows Are Able To Be Opened

It’s important to make sure that all doors and windows are able to be opened in any home, in order to ensure that you are able to escape in the event of a fire. If a fire is quickly progressing, simply walking out the front door is usually not an option. In the case of a senior with potentially limited mobility, the ability to open the nearest window may make the difference between being able to evacuate and a serious accident.  

The NFPA tells us more on how you can ensure that every door and window in your house is able to be opened in the event of an emergency:

“Locks and pins should open easily from inside. (Some apartment and high-rise buildings have windows designed not to open.) If you have security bars on doors or windows, they should have emergency release devices inside so that they can be opened easily. These devices won’t compromise your safety, but they will enable you to open the window from inside in the event of a fire. Check to be sure that windows haven’t been sealed shut with paint or nailed shut; if they have, arrange for someone to break the seals all around your home or remove the nails.”

Practice Electrical Safety

In the case of an older home versus a newer home, an older home presents significantly more fire safety issues. Newer homes will need to be updated in order to ensure that they have updated safety features and are able to handle newer appliances.

The U.S. Fire Administration confirms that older homes must be inspected in order to ensure that electrical safety is not an issue and that updated safety features are installed:

“Older homes are more likely to catch fire from electrical causes than newer homes. Older wiring may not have the capacity to safely handle newer appliances and equipment and may not have updated safety features.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Most of us are used to identifying a fire alarm by the harsh, high-pitched sound it emits. However, what are your options for becoming alerted to the danger of a fire if you are deaf or hard-of-hearing? While the sound of a fire alarm may seem intolerable to us, even those with a mild hearing loss may take much longer to become aware of it. In this article, we take a look at what alternative options are available to the deaf and hard-of-hearing when it comes to fire safety, in order to ensure that everyone can evacuate safely and in a timely manner.

Specialized Smoke Alarms

Specialized smoke alarms are those that go beyond the mostly audible traditional smoke alarm. There are several types of specialized smoke alarms available, including fire alarm strobe lights, vibration notification appliances and mixed pitch alarms.

Koorsen Fire & Security explains more on how fire alarm strobe lights work for those who cannot rely on auditory signals:

“Fire alarm strobes are flashing lights that are built into systems specifically designed for the hard-of-hearing and deaf community. These lights should be tested by a third-party testing laboratory to ensure that they possess the intensity to wake sleeping individuals. When the fire alarm is triggered, in addition to sounding an alarm, the strobe lights will begin flashing as well. It should be noted, however, that according to NFPA research studies, older individuals were unlikely to waken in response to the fire alarm strobes. Thus, it is recommended that strobe lights be used in combination with other devices such as vibrating appliances and/or mixed-pitch alarms.”

Fire Extinguishers & Fire Blankets

Whether you belong to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community or you are able to rely on the auditory sounds of traditional smoke alarms, having fire extinguishers and fire blankets in your home is still an absolute must. Most small fires can be eliminated by fire extinguishers before they progress to a much larger and potentially fatal accident, deeming it necessary that everyone in the household is trained to operate one.

Relay South Dakota tells us more on why having fire extinguishers in the home is an important part of fire protection:

“Having personal fire extinguishers on each level of your home is smart. Though most house fires start in kitchens, having multiple extinguishers can eliminate any problems reaching one because of a fire. Make sure you checked each pressure gauge monthly and documented your findings. A complete fire extinguisher breakdown and internal inspection should be done every six years.”

Don’t Isolate Yourself

If you are part of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and are unsure of what you would do in the event of a fire, it’s important that you reach out to a local professional for help. There is nothing worse than living in fear that if an accident occured, you would have no idea how you would be alerted to it or how you would take care of it. There are plenty of resources available out there in order to ensure that you are safe in the event of an emergency, including contacting your local fire station.

Polk County Fire District tells us why you should contact your local fire station for more information if you have special needs such as a hearing loss:

“Contact your local fire department on a non-emergency telephone number (use appropriate amplified phone or TTY devices if necessary) and explain your special needs. Your local fire department may be able to help you with your home fire escape plan and may also be able to perform a home safety inspection. The fire department may also offer suggestions about what type of smoke alarms will work for you and where you can get them. They also will explain correct placement.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

The answer to this question may seem obvious – after all, we need to be able to hear a fire alarm from wherever we may be, whether that be in a house or a commercial building. However, is there a science behind why fire alarms hit the decibel they do and this can vary depending on the size and use of the building you’re in. In this article, we take a look at what is behind the level of noise that your fire alarm emits and if there’s anything you can do to change it.

Does Your Fire Alarm Need To Be So Loud?

Although you may believe that it wouldn’t make a difference to adequately alert you to a fire if your alarm were turned down several decibels, there is a science behind the deafening noise that emits from it. The loudness associated with your fire alarm is arranged the way it is for a reason, although you may be able to purchase a fire alarm that has a lower decibel than others.

Fireline.com tells us more about the exact frequency that comes from your fire alarm:

“There are two many types of notification systems: audible and visual. Both are often used in tandem with one another, so a building would rarely be equipped with one or the other. The audible component is delivered via horns and sirens. These devices range between 65 and 120 decibels relative to the person who is standing 10 feet away. The second component of the fire protection system is the visual component. Strobe lights deliver this. These devices flash once every second from anywhere between 15 to 1000 candelas, depending on preconfigured settings.”

The Varying Degrees of Volume

As mentioned, you may be able to purchase a fire alarm that contains a lower dB than others. However, this may not be adequate depending on your surrounding environment. Some fire alarms are meant to be louder than others, depending on the noise you can expect from your regular surroundings.

FloridaFireService.com explains why there are varying degrees of volume in fire alarms:

“A fire alarm’s job is to let everyone in the building know that they need to leave immediately. That’s why the noises are allowed to be louder than most.The exact requirement is usually 15 dB above the average noise level or 5 dB above the maximum ambient sound – whichever is greater. So what does that mean? It means the noise needs to be greater than the surrounding noise. So for example if you’re in a restaurant – you want the alarm to be heard above the background noise, talking, music, clanking of plates and the like. If you’re in a factory where it’s incredibly loud and equipment is going off everywhere – they usually crank it all the way up to the max dB. Why? Because everyone needs to hear it.”

How Can You Protect Your Ears from Loud Fire Alarms?

After it’s established that you have most definitely heard your fire alarm, how can we protect our ears while it’s still going off? It’s not uncommon to temporarily partially lose your sense of hearing after exposure to an active fire alarm for a long period of time, which can be both uncomfortable and worrying.

Guardian Fire Protection Services tells us what you can do to protect your ears as best you can while your fire alarm is going off:

“When you hear the shrill noise of a fire alarm, your first instinct is to cover your ears. This is actually an effective way to defend against hearing loss while you walk calmly toward the exit and make your way out of the building. More importantly, however, is to create a fire evacuation plan and hold fire drills regularly. This way, your staff is confident about what steps to take and where to evacuate in case of an emergency. By planning ahead, you can limit confusion and reduce the time you’re exposed to loud volumes. Finally, if you think the decibel level of your fire alarm is too high, hire a fire protection company to examine your equipment and make a determination.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

 

Hiring a fire protection company for regular inspection of your commercial, industrial or government building is not a task that should be taken lightly. There is a lot to think about when deciding to hire a fire protection company and deciding which is best can be daunting – after all, how do you know that you can truly rely on them to prevent a potentially devastating fire? We’re going to take you through our list of the 4 things you should ask your fire protection company before hiring them, so you can make sure that you’re making the best choice for your family, employees, and yourself.

What Fire Protection Services Are Available? 

Finding out which fire protection services they offer is the first question you should ask a fire protection company. It’s important to hire a company that covers all of the services you need, so you don’t have to end up hiring multiple different providers.

Juddfire.com explains why some fire protection companies only offer limited services:

“Some vendors only concentrate on a few specialized services, but not us. We can help you from start to finish. Not only can we install the fire protection systems that you need, but we’ll design them specifically for your building and help you come up with a fire safety plan. Our job is to make sure that your home or business is fireproof. After we install the fire protection systems, we also make sure that they’re working efficiently year after year. Maintenance is vital.”

How Much Experience Do They Have?

While experience doesn’t always mean everything, you can bet that a company that has managed to stay in business for many years is doing something right. These companies have also managed to adapt to several changes in fire codes over the years and know the importance of keeping up with the latest technologies. 

Associated Fire Protection tells us why experience really can mean everything when it comes to your fire protection company:

“When researching fire inspection companies, pay attention to how long they’ve been in business. If you just need a quick inspection so you can sell your building, it may not matter much. But if you’re looking for a long-term partner, you may want to find out when the company was established. Fire codes and technologies change, but longevity proves that a company can do good work.”

What Certifications Do They Hold?

Did you know that every province in Canada has its own requirements for certification? Your fire protection service provider must be able to provide proof that they are qualified to service special hazard fire suppression systems. This includes acquiring a certificate of training from a manufacturer or from a public post-secondary educational institution.

How Much Do Their Services Cost?

In this day and age, we need to ask how much a service costs up front and compare prices along the way. While price should certainly not be the most important factor when it comes to fire safety, you have to make sure you can afford the company you’re hiring.

Levitt Safety tells us why you should ask how much your fire protection company costs up front:

“Don’t be afraid to ask a company how much their service costs. If a price tag is too good to be true, it probably is. If a price tag seems too high, find out what services are included. Your potential fire service provider should be able to map out what their service includes and what type of service you can expect and the fire suppression products they offer. You can also ask about value added services — what is available, what is included in the price you’re paying and what is treated as extra. This question can help understand the potential hidden value in higher prices.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation, with over 35 years of experience. Fire-Alert is also in good standing with reputable fire and safety organizations such as NFPA, NAFED and Comply Works. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Did you know that common, everyday tasks are most often responsible for house fires? Usually, these tasks start out as perfectly safe, but become a fire hazard when they are not properly attended to or go unnoticed. For this reason, it’s incredibly important to invest in proper fire safety equipment that will not only alert you in the case of an emergency, but will allow you to immediately extinguish small house fires. In this article, we take a look at the three most common causes for house fires, so you can focus on prevention – rather than having to deal with the dangerous aftermath. 

Unattended Cooking and Cooking Equipment

For decades, unattended cooking and cooking equipment are a major cause of household fires. These types of fires can usually be easily prevented and are usually a cause of not keeping a close enough eye on your culinary masterpiece. There are a number of other factors that can contribute to cooking fires, so it’s important to be prepared in case you need to act quickly to extinguish one.

Fireline.com tells us more about why unattended cooking and cooking equipment is one of the leading causes of household fires:

“The most recent piece of data from the NFPA show that cooking accounts for about half of all house fires reported every year. Almost half of these fires will cause injuries, and they’re the second leading cause of death in house fires. Since the 1980s, the amount of deaths and injuries has fluctuated with no real trend up or down. Most house cooking fires are smaller fires that do not spread beyond the pan, oven, or container in which they started. While these are considered smaller fires, more than half of the non-fatal injuries were caused when people tried to control the fire. Cooking grease, oil, and other fats are the top causes of fires that begin in the kitchen. Fire suppression systems and proper fire safety protocols can help you in case of a cooking fire.”

Cigarettes and Smoking

While smoking indoors may have become a thing of the past in public places, that doesn’t mean that residents are not still actively smoking in their own homes. Due to the fact that smoking cigarettes quite literally involves using a flame, this is still one of the most common culprits of household fires. 

Fuse Insurance explains what you can do to prevent fires caused by cigarettes and smoking:

“According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading cause of fire fatalities comes from the use of smoking materials. Cigarette butts and ashes can cause beds, curtains, carpets, and other furniture to ignite in seconds. If you are smoking, do it outside when possible, or use an ashtray to reduce your fire risk. Do not put out cigarettes in planters or potted plants, as potting soil contains peat moss. Peat moss will smoulder for hours then eventually ignite, leading to a significant fire in minutes. This is one of the primary causes of catastrophic fires in Canadian multi-family residences.”

Heating Equipment

It will come as no surprise that heating equipment is another leading cause of house fires, with space heatings being responsible for a large number of cases. Simply leaving a flammable object too close to a space heater can quickly cause a fire, making these portable devices a significant fire hazard.

FirstAlert.com tells us more on how you can prevent heating equipment from starting a potentially devastating house fire:

“When the weather turns colder, we are going to heat our home. Space heaters should be used if only a small portion of your home needs to be heated. Keep your space heater away from anything that could easily catch fire, including curtains, laundry, blankets, and furniture. If your home relies on a furnace during the winter, call a professional to get it inspected once a year to ensure it is running properly. Carbon monoxide can be produced by any fuel burning device, like your stove or furnace. For protection against a possible carbon monoxide leak, have carbon monoxide alarms. Alarms should be installed on every level of your home, outside of each sleeping area, and inside every bedroom. Test the alarms monthly to ensure it is functioning properly and replace the batteries every six months.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

When buying a new home, fire safety is probably not the first thing on your mind – and if it is, good for you! More than likely, you’re thinking about the more exciting aspects of moving into a new home, including who’s going to get which room and the large kitchen space with plenty of storage. Having said that, fire safety should be thoroughly observed when moving into a new house. This not only includes making sure that the house doesn’t contain faulty wiring, but establishing a fire escape plan for yourself and your family in the event of an emergency. We’re going to take a look at our top fire safety tips when purchasing a new home, so you can know exactly where you stand when it comes to your family’s safety. 

Take Note of All Smoke Alarms and Check the Batteries Regularly 

Legally, there must be more than one smoke alarm in your home and this includes laws on exactly where they must be positioned. While it’s not necessary to demand that these smoke alarms are installed before you move into your new house, it’s important to make sure they are purchased and installed as soon as you move in. 

FireProtectionBlog.com tells us more on where your smoke alarms must be installed throughout your new home:

“Notice where your home’s smoke alarms are installed and check the batteries after you move in. You should have an alarm on each level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside any sleeping areas (like an upstairs hallway). If you need additional ones, install them as soon as possible. You should also test each alarm’s batteries each month to make sure they’re still working, and always change the batteries immediately if needed.”

Put Together a Fire Escape Plan

You will likely have just minutes to escape in the event of a fire, so it’s important that you establish a fire escape plan with your family. Taking just a few moments of your time to ensure that your family knows what to do in the event of a fire could quite literally save lives.

Fireline explains why putting together a fire escape plan is crucial to your family’s safety:

“If a fire occurs, you might have less than two minutes to get to safety. That is why it is vital for everyone to have an escape plan. Each family member should know of two ways to escape from every single room in your home. Practice the escape plan with your family at least twice a year.”

Check All Wiring

Checking to make sure the wiring isn’t faulty is something that should be established in a home inspection before you buy your home – unless you’re willing to shell out thousands of dollars either way to fix this critical issue.

Trulia.com tells us why you should investigate all wiring before you buy your home:

“According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about 48% of home electrical fires involve “electrical distribution or lighting equipment.” No doubt, wiring is an important consideration before buying a home. Whether your home is very old, has been recently renovated, or is new construction, it’s never a bad idea to hire a licensed electrician to check all wiring and outlets just to make sure there’s no chance of overload or sparking (preferably before your closing date!). Also check for animal damage outside and around the house — mice and other rodents often chew on electrical insulation. Damaged wires are a fire hazard and need to be replaced.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Fire extinguishers are not only incredibly handy to have in the event of a small fire breakout, but they can potentially be lifesaving. The downside is that once the fire is completely extinguished, you’ll be left with a substantial amount of fire extinguisher residue. It’s important to know how to clean up this residue for a variety of reasons – firstly, you’ll be able to assess the real damage to your home underneath the fire extinguisher residue. You’ll also be able to minimize potential respiratory irritation, which can be caused by the ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate powder that are often found in ABC fire extinguishers. In this article, we explain how to properly clean up fire extinguisher residue, so you can know the proper procedure regardless of the type of extinguisher.

Understand Your Fire Extinguisher

Understanding your fire extinguisher is key to ensuring that you are able to properly clean up any residue that will come from extinguishing a fire. Not all fire extinguishers use the same chemical makeup in their extinguishing agent, and will include either wet or dry chemicals.

Fireline.com expands more on why it’s important to understand the chemical makeup of your fire extinguishing agent: 

“Before starting any cleanup, you must identify the chemicals used as an extinguishing agent. All fire extinguishers have a tag or label which identifies the type and class of extinguishing agent. Agents could include water, dry or wet chemicals, foam or Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Pressurized water fire extinguishers or CO2 fire extinguishers will not leave chemical residue. Drying the area to remove any lingering moisture is all that is necessary. If foam fire extinguishers are used, any residue should be diluted and dried thoroughly. You can sanitize those areas or spot clean any remaining residue,if needed. They might even need more intensive cleaning.”

Cleaning Fire Extinguisher Residue from a Dry Chemical Extinguisher

Dry chemical extinguishers can be  used for class A, B, and C fires and are therefore the most common and most versatile fire extinguishers as they can put out class A, B, and C fires. However, these types of fire extinguishers contain fire fighting agents like monoammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate, which leave behind a corrosive powder. Not only can this powder be potentially damaging to your respiratory system, but it can also cause damage to electronics and metal surfaces if left to sit. 

FireSystems.net explains how to safely and effectively clean up fire extinguisher residue from a dry fire extinguisher:

1. Vacuum or sweep up as much of the excess residue as possible

2. Mix together a solution of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% warm water then spray the area to break up the leftover silicone. Let the solution settle for about five minutes then rinse the area using warm water.

3. To treat sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate based dry chemicals, mix together a solution using 98% hot water and 2% vinegar and wash the area with it. Let the solution settle for about five minutes then rinse the area using   warm water.

4. To treat monoammonium phosphate based dry chemicals, mix together a solution using hot water and baking soda. Let the solution settle for about five minutes  then rinse the area using warm water.

5. Wash and rinse the area with a solution made of soap and water.

6. Use a fan to spot dry the wet areas.

Cleaning Up Wet Chemical Residue

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are most often used for class K fires. Class K fires are those that are fueled by flammable liquids that are unique to cooking, such as cooking oils and greases. Although easier to clean than dry chemical extinguishers, there are extra precautions that should be taken while doing so.

Koorsen Fire & Security expands on the potential dangers of cleaning up wet chemical residue:

“Class K wet chemical fire extinguishers are used in commercial kitchens to fight cooking fires. These extinguishers use a wet mixture of alkaline chemicals such as potassium carbonate, potassium acetate, or potassium citrate that turns into a foam, which blankets the fire depriving it of oxygen. Because this type of extinguisher is used primarily in commercial kitchens and around cooking appliances, one of the most important steps is to turn off all power to any equipment prior to cleaning it. Make sure everything is completely dry before turning any power back on for any appliance.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Not only is it illegal to not have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas in your home, but they are absolutely detrimental to yours and your family’s safety in the event of a fire. A smoke detector notifies occupants when there’s a smoke or a fire, giving them enough time to be able to safely leave the building. Having said this, part of the legal requirement of having smoke alarms is ensuring that your smoke detectors are in working order, whether you’re the homeowner or a tenant renting out the space. We’re going to take a look at how often you should check your smoke detectors, so you can make sure you can rely on them in the event of an emergency.

Why Should I Check My Smoke Detectors?

You may think that just because your smoke detector isn’t making noise to the point that it’s becoming an overall nuisance, that you don’t have to check it. But in fact, it’s important to check your smoke detectors to ensure that the battery didn’t simply go dead, or that it’s performing at its peak ability.

Fireline.com expands on why it’s so important to check your smoke detectors:

“Electronic devices are not invincible. Batteries die, and smoke detectors become less sensitive over time. Dirt and dust can also affect performance. You must regularly check your detectors and replace their batteries. In fact, a good practice is to replace detector batteries, if so equipped, every time you change your clocks in the fall and spring. Some newer detectors come with long-life batteries that don’t need replacement.”

Are There Different Kinds of Smoke Detectors?

You may have noticed as you’ve moved over the years that there are different types of smoke detectors – the ones that are battery-operated and the ones that are hardwired. There are certainly pros and cons to each of these devices, however, hard wired smoke detectors tend to come on top in the “most preferred” department.

Craig Lloyd of HowToGeek.com tells us more about these two different kinds of smoke detectors:

“On top of the different types of sensors, smoke alarms also come in two different types of power connectivity: battery-operated or hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired smoke alarms are arguably the best because not only do you not need to worry about changing the batteries, they’re also interconnected. This means that if one alarm goes off, then all of the other alarms go too, which is great if you have a larger house and there’s the possibility of not being able to hear one alarm go off from across the house.Not all houses are wired for smoke alarms, though, which is where battery-operated units come into play. They’re also easier to install, since there are no wires to deal with.”

How Often Should I Check My Smoke Detectors?

Now, for the question you’ve been waiting for – how often should you check your smoke detectors? Even though there are different types of smoke detectors, with one’s power supply arguably lasting much longer than the other, they need to be checked at the exact same interval – once per month.

CanadaSafetyCouncil.org expands more on why homeowners must be checking their smoke detectors at least 12 times per year:

“Test your alarm monthly by pushing the test button. Once a year, use a smoldering cotton string, cigarette or incense until the smoke makes the alarm sound. If the alarm is battery-powered and doesn’t sound, replace it with a new battery and try again. If it’s electrically connected to household circuits and doesn’t sound, check the fuse and try again. In either case, if the alarm still isn’t working, replace the entire unit.”

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