This post has been sponsored by Kidde. All opinions listed are my own.
With Winter almost here, I am sure you are like me and my heat is on full force. Because of this — there is always an added scare of the house catching fire or worse — CO poisoning.
The National Fire Protection Association reports most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter. Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk. Why not Let Kidde protect your home this year?
I never really thought about my house being a house that would have the potential to have poison flying around in the air, or better yet– catching fire. Kidde sent me this handy Carbon monoxide alarm and asked me to take this quiz to see how susceptible my house really is.
Home Safety Quiz
One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your alarms?
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.
- Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery, such as Kidde Worry-Free smoke and CO alarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade –no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.
Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?
- Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.
- Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.
Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?
- A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years. It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed.
- A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.
- An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.
- An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.
Do you need other safety products?
- Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area
- Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route
Have you developed a family escape plan?
- Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.
Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?
- Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.
Are your appliances and chimney winter-ready?
- Have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances to ensure they function properly and that they vent outside.
- Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.
- Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?
After reading through the quiz — I knew I was not very prepared. Now thanks to Kidde, I am! I hung my monitor in the hallway near our bedrooms.
For a downloadable winter home project checklist and other information, visit www.worryfreealarm.com.
