Fire Prevention Tips: Kindle The Flame With Your Love, Not Your House

Spark romance, not fires this Valentine’s Day. Here are the top 5 fire prevention tips so you can focus on kindling the flame with your loved one – not your house.

1. Be Mindful of Your Space Heater and Fireplace

It’s common to break out your space heater and turn on your fireplace as temperatures drop. Not to mention, sitting by a cozy fireplace is a perfect, romantic setting for you and your special someone. If you use either one, make sure there’s at least three feet of space around them. Never place fabrics or any items on the space heater. With fireplaces, you always want to make sure there is a metal screen around it. When you’re not home or when you go to bed, turn off your space heater and fireplace to prevent a fire.

2. Test Smoke Alarms Regularly

While smoke alarms don’t prevent fires, they can help alert you of one – and that is important. According to American Red Cross, you should test your smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries. You rely on your smoke alarm to give you an early warning that there’s a potential fire. Make sure yours is working this Valentine’s Day!

3. Consider Using Flameless Candles

Flameless candles are a great alternative to regular candles. Using battery-operated or flameless candles are a great way to ensure you don’t find yourself in a dangerous situation with fire this Valentine’s Day. If you do use regular candles, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends you keep any lit candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.  Not only that, but make sure you blow them out before you go to sleep or leave the house, and that they’re always placed on something study and safe.

4. Practice Cooking Safety

Cooking a romantic meal for that special someone this Valentine’s Day? Prevent a kitchen catastrophe! Make sure you never leave any cooking food unattended, especially if you have kids or pets in your home. Not only that, but keep flammables away from the stove when you’re cooking. This includes items such as towel, and even certain clothes you’re wearing. Think twice before wearing long scarves or flowy shirts while cooking.

5. Unplug Appliances That Aren’t In Use

Did you use a straightener or electric shaver to get ready for your Valentine’s Day date? Did you make a quick snack in the toaster before heading to dinner with your partner? It’s always a good idea to unplug appliances that aren’t in use. Faulty wiring in things such as your toaster or microwave can spark a fire even if you’re not using it.

RestoPros Is Here For All Your Dallas, TX Fire Mitigation Needs

Serving Dallas, TX and surrounding areas, RestoPros is here for all your fire mitigation needs. First, we will assess the damage and inspect your property. Then, we’ll mitigate the situation. Our team of experts will first turn off the water, shut off the electricity system and ensure there are no gas leaks before beginning work. After we remove the soot and smoke, remove debris and charred items, and pack up any items, our professionals will sanitize the premises and extract any water left by the fire department. With RestoPros, you and your home are in good hands. Contact us today at 855-587-3786 or fill out our form online.

Top 6 New Year’s Resolutions To Help Prevent Water Damage

Most people would do anything they could to prevent water damage. Not only can it be a huge inconvenience, but it can also cause serious damage to your home, appliances, and more. Here are the top 6 New Year’s Resolutions to help you prevent water damage this year.

1. Shut Off Your Water Main

Do you have any big travel plans coming up this year? One way you can make sure you don’t come back home to an indoor flood is to shut off your water main before you leave. Even a small leak can cause extensive damage by the time someone notices or comes back into town.

2. Know Where Your Water Shut-Off Valves Are

The first prevention tip leads us to this one – know where your water shut-off valves are. In case of an emergency, you want to know where your water shut-off valves are located so you can use them if you ever experience a flood in your home. This includes the whole-house water shutoff, hot water shutoff on your water heater, shutoff valves to toilets and sinks, and valves leading to the washer and dishwasher.

3. Check Your Appliances Regularly

Appliances such as your refrigerator, water heater, or AC unit could experience leaks at some point. By regularly inspecting them, you can make sure you catch any problems before they get much bigger – and costlier.

4. Fix Water Leaks

No matter how big or how small, you should always fix water leaks right away. If you notice any dripping pipes, contact your local plumber. Some water leaks aren’t always noticeable at first sight. Some ways to check for leaks include checking for dark spots around pipes and on the ceiling and also checking for proper drainage. Insufficient drainage can weaken your foundation, causing cracks. Cracks is an easy way for water to enter your home.

5. Monitor Your Water Bill

Unless you’ve had guests over, your water bill is likely close to the same price every month. Check it regularly to get an estimate of how much water you use each month, on average. If you have an unexplained increase in usage from one month to the next, it’s possible you have a water leak that needs to be addressed. Unaddressed water leaks can lead to water damage. A higher-than-usual water bill could be due to:

• A leaking toilet
• A dripping faucet
• Broken pipes
• Leaking water heater
• Running water to prevent pipes from freezing
• Watering the lawn or filling a swimming pool (usually around the hotter months)

6. Clean Gutters and Downspouts

It usually isn’t until something goes awry that homeowners pay attention to their gutters. This year, make sure to pay extra attention to your gutters. When leaves and debris collect in them, eventually it can lead to clogs in the downspouts. The last thing you want is for rainwater to overflow your gutters and cause water damage.

Need Water Damage Restoration? Contact The Experts At RestoPros In Richardson, Texas and Surrounding Areas!

Sometimes, no matter how many preventative measures you take, water damage can still happen. In the event that your home has water damage, RestoPros is here to help. We offer the following water damage restoration services:

• Water extraction
• Thorough structure drying
• Rapid emergency response
• Inventory storage and processing
• Warranty protection to all of our customers

Whether you need emergency water damage repair, or need to restore a home that has been flooded, call the pros at RestoPros. We can be reached at 855-587-3786 or you can contact us online here.