When we give out security tips, we do our best to provide very specific and relevant information. Several factors play into our security approach at any given time. For example, different applications (homes, businesses, apartments, etc.) require a different security approach. Likewise, your preferred security experience also changes our approach. However, perhaps no factor brings about more unique security threats than the time of year. Earlier this year, we posted our Spring and Summer Security Tips for Your Home. As we turn our calendars to October, we shift our security perspective, especially when it comes to the elevated risk of experiencing a fire-related emergency over this season. Today, we show you some ideas for securing your home against fall fire threats for this year and beyond.
First, we’ll share some tips for keeping your home safe during “heater season.” Then, we’ll discuss some best practices for candle safety as well. From there, we’ll shift our focus from fire security best practices to some security equipment you can install this year. Specifically, we’ll show you how monitoring your smoke and carbon monoxide detection can create a unique layer of security this autumn. We’ll then wrap up our post with a look at fire extinguisher security in the home. Now, let’s dive in with some best practices for heater use this fall!
Following Best Practices for Heater Season
While we’re not quite there yet, most of us will turn to our heaters to warm the home at some point over the next several weeks. As you can probably guess, heater use contributes to the overall fire threat that the fall season ushers in. Before turning the heat on for the first time, consider inspecting and cleaning all of the components of your heating system, including both the cleaning unit itself and all heaters throughout your home. Of course, some heating maintenance differs based on what type of heat you have. We encourage you to consult your heating unit’s manuals and call the company that installed your heating unit for tips on maintenance.
Candles make for a popular autumn decoration. However, when left unattended they can also create an instant fire hazard.
Additionally, clean off your heaters before turning them on for the first time this year, and make sure that the areas around your heaters remain clear. Drapes, clothing, and loose papers around heaters can all work to undermine any autumn fire security precautions that you may undertake this year. Simply keeping your heaters clear of any flammable objects goes a long way! Now, let’s take a look at how following some candle-related best-practices can improve your overall fall fire security. Let’s shift our focus now to some
Gearing up for Peak Candle Season
What’s better than a cinnamon, pumpkin, or equally fall-related scent drifting through your home as the result of lighting a cozy-looking candle? Many homeowners begin burning candles in earnest as the weather gets colder. Of course, this practice brings its own fire-related dangers if those lighting candles fail to take proper precautions. For example, do not leave a room with a lit candle for a long period of time. Furthermore, as we pointed out in our Best Practices to Improve Bedroom Security, sometimes people fall asleep in bedrooms with burning candles. We strongly recommend blowing all candles out well before falling asleep.
Additionally, candles and decorations paired together pose a unique fire threat. In fact, the NFPA shares that festive decorations can lead to more candle-related fires. From Halloween through Thanksgiving and then through the holiday season, the danger from festive decorations obviously increases. We recommend keeping a safe distance between decorations and candles and, once again, making sure you do not leave lit candles unattended. Taking basic precautions can go a long way towards adding both security and peace of mind as turning on your heat, lighting candles, and decorating your home all come into play this autumn. Let’s now turn our attention to a couple security products for securing your home against fall fire threats!
Monitoring Your Smoke and CO Detection
When we install a security system for our customers, we also connect their alarms to our monitoring service. In doing so, we make sure that our central station responds to any alarm activations. Up an activation, our central station dispatchers can call the premises to check on the situation. If necessary, they can even dispatch the proper authorities to your home! Obviously, this adds quite a bit of security and peace of mind for our customers. When most of our customers think about this service, they think about it in terms of burglary-related security. Of course, this represents an extremely important aspect of what these systems offer. Thieves coming through doors or windows activate door sensors and motion detectors that activate your alarm’s siren, set the monitoring response in motion, and get the police to your property.
However, burglar security only represents a small portion of what these alarms can accomplish. In addition to watching over your home for criminal activity, they can also provide a valuable measure of life safety as well. We offer monitored smoke and CO detection that can alert you to the presence of a fire or carbon monoxide-related emergency in your home. More importantly, these devices also create a fire department dispatch that can save your home in your absence, or even save the life of you or a family member if someone is home during one of these events! We highly recommend adding this security to any existing alarm system. Now, let’s look at using fire extinguishers to increase your home’s autumn fire safety.
Equipping your home with the proper fire extinguishers goes a long way towards helping you stop house fires in their tracks.
Stopping Fire in its Tracks
Fire extinguishers provide our customers with a quick, effective way to control the spread of fires. Unfortunately, we run into a couple issues when it comes to extinguishers in homes. For starters, many homeowners fail to purchase any fire extinguishers at all. We consider these devices a basic and essential piece of any security plan. However, many people see them as a “commercial” security measure and fail to install them at home. Obviously, purchasing extinguishers and placing them strategically can help address this issue.
Additionally, we often find that customers buy the wrong types of extinguishers for the job. For example, did you know you should fight any grease or cooking oil-related fire with a very specific type of extinguisher? These extinguishers, called class “K” extinguishers, can douse kitchen fires that no other extinguisher could properly fight. Moreover, using the wrong type of extinguisher can actually make fires spread more quickly! Feel free to check out our post on Fire Extinguisher Classes and Best Practices for more information on this subject.
Putting it All Together and Securing Your Home Against Fall Fire Threats
We hope this post aids your efforts in securing your home against fall fire threats. Additionally, we encourage you to contact us with any questions that this post may raise for you. We will happily provide answers to all of your pressing security inquiries! Moreover, we also encourage you to take advantage of our free site survey program. We’ve long offered complimentary security audits and equipment quotes to both new and existing customers alike. During our visit, we can provide solutions to your existing security concerns. Moreover, we can also make our own suggestions based on our observations of your property and as well as your own desired security experience. Over our 38 years in business, we’ve helped over a thousand customers design and implement security plans to keep them secure during every season. Together, we can help you secure your own home through this autumn and beyond!