STOP Restoration of Albuquerque, NM knows that a house fire can ruin your home, destroy your belongings and leave your property with smoke damage. The STOP Restoration knows that after a fire is distinguished, there is still work to be done to clean up the effects that smoke leaves on your home or business. Fortunately for you, the homeowner, there are many precautions you can take to minimize the risk of fire and smoke damage.
Properly Install and Service Your Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors may not prevent fires, but they do alert you to the potential dangers of a fire. A working smoke alarm can save your life and if triggered at the start of a fire, prevent a small fire from becoming a large one. It is advised that homeowners install a smoke detector in every bedroom, hallway outside sleeping areas and an additional one on each level of your home.
Beeping smoke detectors are undoubtedly annoying, but need to be given proper attention. (They’re alerting you for a reason!) The first thing that comes to mind when you hear your smoke detector making those annoying beeps is that it probably needs its battery changed. To see if this is the case, press the test button on your detector. It is recommended that you test the batteries in your smoke detectors once a month.
In addition to batteries dying, your smoke detectors themselves have limited life spans. You should be replacing them every 10 years. Each detector should have a manufacture date on the back if you are unsure how old yours are.
Use Electrical Outlets Appropriately
Each household is full of electronics (televisions, lamps, kitchen gadgets, etc. that work by using the electricity in your home). Usually, they don’t cause any problems, but any electronic plugged into an outlet is a potential fire hazard.
The easiest things to keep an eye out for are damaged cords. Laptop and cell phone chargers are especially prone to cracking, leaving exposed wiring. Cords with visible damage should be replaced immediately for your safety.
Another common issue that occurs in most homes is overloaded sockets. Because there are so many different electronics we use on a day-to-day basis, it’s easy to accidentally plug in too many things at once. Try to spread out your electronics around your home.
Lighting
Cracked or dysfunctional light bulbs are another fire hazard that should be replaced immediately. Also, make sure that when you replace light bulbs, you are only installing new ones that have the proper wattage. Using light bulbs that exceed what a fixture can handle is an accident waiting to happen. All fixtures should have labels indicating the maximum wattage that it will support.
Additionally, ensure that nothing flammable is hanging over or touching any of your light fixtures and don’t leave lights turned on for extended periods. Bulbs can get extremely hot and become dangerous, especially when left on for long spans of time.
How STOP Restoration Can Help With Smoke Damage Restoration
The experts at STOP Restoration of Albuquerque, NM know that the smoke restoration process needs to begin immediately after a fire. Our trained professionals are experts in deodorization and are certified in smoke damage clean up through the IICRC. If you or someone you know experiences a fire in their home or business, we are available to help 24/7 and can be reached at (505) 892-3112.
