Re: [californiadisasters] Life: As Frail as a Frayed Cord, Clogged Filter or Careless Storage

Its not just LA and I'll be more specific. 

Heating appliances are the number one cause of fires in homes.  This includes cooking appliances.   This costs lives. 

Ask your local utility company to check your appliances (furnace, ranges, water heater).  Many offer this as a free service (they look and advise about repairs); fire departments may as well.  Inspections include housekeeping (blocked access or vents, flammables near a heat source etc), checking for gas/vent leaks and wiring issues.   

Check ALL power cords and if in doubt, replace them or the appliance.  If the cord is warm to the touch during use, it isn't heavy enough (my rule, not an exact science).   Cords should be cool to only slightly warm during normal use. 

If there's a fray, it goes away. 

Don't overload the circuits.  Learn the amperage of every device you plug in.  It's on the UL label or: divide the watts by 120 (average house volts) to determine the amperage.*  

Most older homes have 15 amp circuits; which may be spread over several plugs in one or more rooms.   Newer homes may have 20 amp circuits (which require a different plug; one of the spades is a tee).  Presume 15 amp circuits until proven higher (read the circuit breaker values).  The circuit rating is the maximum load and some appliances exceed briefly that during startup (anything with a big motor; i.e. frig, freezer, washing machine, furnace).

Test your GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) devices (a required electrical cut off near faucets).  There is a test button and a reset button for that purpose.   [Yes that *#{% button that pops out when you run your hair dryer in the bathroom.]  Some circuit breakers incorporate GFCI devices. 

One electric space heater can consume 1500-2300 watts (12-18 amps) which means NOTHING else on that circuit can be used safely (and it can overload a 15 amp circuit all by itself).  Overloads create heat, which may cause a fire.  If the cord is warm, what is the wire inside the wall doing?

Portable heaters should shut off NOW if tipped over.  Not all do this.  Check at time of purchase or replace them.  [I prefer to avoid Chinese goods; in part because quality control may be sporadic.  Many from there meet only basic standards to be certified.] 

No unvented fuel powered (gas of any kind) heaters in enclosed spaces, EVER.  Carbon monoxide kills without noise or smell and it kills every year.  This is also one of the reasons you have the chimney cleaned. 

Chimneys are designed to vent hot GASES and smoke, nothing more.  Wood rarely burns cleanly which results in creosote (chimney residue).  Creosote can burn at up to 3,000 degrees.  Steel melts at ~2,700 degrees; it won't contain the chimney fire when creosote burns. Neither will old (cracked or missing) mortar in unlined brick chimneys; which lets fire into the attic or wall spaces (buh-bye house; cancel Christmas).  Have the chimney cleaned and inspected!!  If you burn often; twice a year. 

Chimneys must have specific screens over the vents to catch particulate matter (embers); that's law (PRC 4291).  Insist the chimney service include that in the inspection/cleaning/repair. 

Have an escape plan, meeting place outside your house (neighbors tree?) and a contact person not in the local area (Aunt Mathilda in Miami?) in case local phones (cell) are down and have fire drills (just like in school).

When an alarm (smoke or CO detector) goes off; GET OUT and call the fire department.  They don't mind a few false alarms if the people are safe.   Those alarms are cheap LIFE insurance, not death insurance like you'd get at Allstate.   Vacuum the detectors when you clean house and change the batteries when you "spring forward" or "fall back" (daylight saving changes).

[The smoke alarm simply told my ex that dinner was done!  She adored me; three burnt offerings a day!  Ba dum dum dum]

Be safe!  A little paranoia can be a good thing.  ;o)

Rick

* math lesson:

P=power (watts)

I=current (amps)

E=energy (volts)

P=I*E so E=P/I and I=P/E

10 amps is ~1200 watts (house voltage is 116-124 AC so mileage varies)

Tiny iPhone 5 keypad, typos are inevitable

On Nov 12, 2012, at 12:38 AM, Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Let me keep this short and to the point. Accidental fires caused by home heating take lives.