According to Margaret Vaughn, government affairs director for the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, 70% of residential fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors. With October being Fire Safety and Prevention Month, now is a great time to take a look at your homes fire safety and prevention.
Smoke Alarms
Did you know that a new state law regarding smoke detectors is going into effect for Illinois? It will require that new smoke detectors with sealed batteries that will last 10 years be installed in all homes that don’t have hard-wired versions by Jan. 1, 2023.
When selecting smoke detectors for your home, you should consider battery operated, 120 volt, or combination of 120 volt with battery backup. No matter what type of smoke detector, they should still be replaced every ten years to ensure your homes safety. There are many different brands to consider, such as Nest Protect, Kidde and First Alert BRK. Don’t let the many different brands overwhelm you! If you have questions regarding your home’s current smoke alarm system, please give Ryan Electrical Solutions a call. We are a provider of Kidde Smoke Alarm systems and would be happy to help provide a recommendation for your home.
Faulty Electrical Wiring
The U.S. Fire Administration states that Americans experience 25,000 electrical fires annually. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind that electrical work is never a DIY project. We recommend having all your electrical work done by a qualified electrician, including electrical inspections, repairs and installations. We also suggest the following, to help ensure electrical safety throughout your entire home:
- Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways where they can get damaged
- Have a qualified electrician add more receptacles in your home to reduce the need for extension cords
- Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on a lamp or fixture
- Install interconnected smoke alarms where required
With the holidays approaching, now is good time to come up with a fire escape plan. Did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries? It’s likely we’ll all be doing lots of cooking over the holidays. Do your best to be prepared! You never know when a disaster might occur.
Click here for some useful tips from the National Fire Protection Association on making a home fire escape plan. At Ryan Electrical Solutions, our technicians’ priorities are quality and safety. Not sure if your smoke detectors and CO2 detectors are up to par? Our technicians will make any necessary repairs, as well as recommend only the best electrical products and devices. Ryan Electrical Solutions has been Central Illinois’ one stop electrical contractor for over 24 years. Give us a call for all your electrical, generator and audio-visual needs. We give free estimates!