Dale Baker, Home Inspector, has written an excellent post on Fire Safety. This is Part 12 of his series:
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, if your a First Time Home Buyer or a Move up Home Buyer, fire safety sure should be a major concern to you, and your family.
The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Home fires sure can endup causen death and injury. Last year in the United States.
There were 3,320 folks that lost their lives as a result of fires.
There were 16,705 folks injured as the result of a fire.
There were 118 firefighters killed while on duty.
Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
Eighty four percent of the deaths occurred in homes.
An estimated 1.5 million fires occurred in 2008.
Many fires are caused by misuse or poor maintenance of electrical devices, careless use of candles, smoking in bed and kids playing with matches and lighters.
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, all areas of your home:
Its a good idea to cover unused electrical outlets.
Arrange electrical cords so that they don't dangle loosely or entagle with one another.
If your home has radiators, the covers should be made of a non-heat absorbent material.
Wood stoves and fireplaces should have screens to prevent sparks from reaching flammable materials.
Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by a reputable professional every year.
There should be a smoke detector installed on every level of your home, in the hallways leading to the bedrooms. For an extra precaution, you should have them installed in every bedroom or sleeping areas.
Set the thermostat on water heaters between 130 to 135 degrees fahrenheit.
You sould formulate an escape plan for every room in your home, with an alternate plan in case the first escape route is blocked by fire. Be sure to practice these escapes until every member of your family can perfom them in their sleep.
Only use space heaters on non-combustible surfaces and least three feet from the furniture and walls.
Store all flammable and combustible products in a cool, well ventilated area and locked securely out of the reach of kids.
Your basement and garage:
Flammable liquids such as fuels should not be kept in your home.
Keep paints thinners and all other combustible chemicals out of the reach of kids. Ideally, these materials really should be kept in a locked metal cabinet, away from all heat sources.
Keep dirty rags in a metal can and dispose of them, by following the same disposal directions of the products they were used with.
When not in use, lawn mowers and all gas powered equipment should be stored empty.
Keep electrical outlets covered and do not leave anything plugged in, when not in use.
Store gasoline only in approved containers.
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, your kitchen:
Turn pot handles in while using burners on your stove.
Store cleansers and other chemicals out of the reach of kids, preferably in a locked cabinst.
Make sure that kids are in a safe location when your cooking with hot liquids.
Keep cookies and all sweets away from your stove.
Make sure electrical cords are not hanging over the counters and appliances are unplugged when not in use.
Keep a fire extinguisher near the farthest exit from the stove.
Never use water to douse a flaming pot. Smother with a cove or a baking sheet, or use a fire extinguisher.
Your bedroom:
Keep your bedroom doors closed while sleeping.
The use of candles in a bedroom is the most common fire source of a residential fire.
Be prepared to exit a bedroom in case os a fire. If at all possible, have an alternative route than the bedroom door to exit a bedroom, like the window if required. Have a emergency window ladder in the bedroom, in an accessible location in any bedroom thats on a second or higher floor of your home.
Post 626 - 23 Nov. 2009
By the time we complete the Inspection, you will know the Home or Commercial Property better than the owner does!
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A home inspection from Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting, will give you peace of mind, so you and your family can enjoy the things you like to do!
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When buying, renting a Home or Commercial Properties when Relocating in or to Sullivan County, New Hampshire, Windsor County, Vermont, or nearby Counties. When "Good Enough" Isn't, call Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting to schedule, Your New Hampshire and Vermont Home or Commercial Property Inspections!
Phone: 603-826-4207
Mobile: 603-477-8072Posted at: Localism.com/neighbor/bakerhome all links open in a new window!
Links Home Buyers, Home Owners, and Real Esate Agents will want to visit:
Life Expectancy of Home Componts New Hampshire and Vermont
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Part 1
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Part 2
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Part 3
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Accompany Series Post 1
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Accompany Series Post 2
A Home's Oil Furnace The Series Windsor County Vermont Home Buyers Accompany Series Post 3
The following blog post link, is a four part series - there are links to each part on the posts:
Coal Firing Furnaces-New Hampshire and Vermont Series Part one
Acheivement Posts
First New Hampshire Real Estate Professional to Reach 400,000 on ActiveRain
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