4 Tips to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

January 15, 2020 by

Having a busted frozen pipe in the middle of winter isn’t pleasant. Many don’t realize how much damage it can cause to a home. Here are 4 tips to take some preventative measures to help avoid a frozen pipe disaster this winter:

  1. FAUCETS: Let your faucets drip. The slow drip reduces the pressure in the water system. If a pipe freezes, it’s less likely to rupture when the pressure is lower. Especially focus on letting the faucet that is furthest away from the main pipeline drip because this line brings water into your house. More pipes will benefit from the main line being allowed to drip.
  1. OUTDOOR SPIGOTS: If you are in house, you should protect your outdoor spigots. Make sure all garden hoses are disconnected from outdoor spigots. Shut down the water supply to outside if possible and drain remaining water. Purchase inexpensive insulated domes to be placed around each spigot for optimum protection. If you are living in an apartment, you may want to confirm with your building manager that any outdoor spigots are protected.
  1. PIPES: Insulate pipes and exposed water supply lines. Look for pipes in unheated areas and those needing extra insulation such as in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under cabinets. Again, if you are living in an apartment, check with your building manager.
  1. GARAGE: If you have a garage, close it! Keep water supply lines in the garage warmer by minimizing length of time the garage doors are open. Do the opposite with kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. Leave them open to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

As the temperatures continue to drop, practice these 4 tips to help prevent frozen pipes and potential damage to your home. Even a small burst pipe can become costly. If you live in an apartment, check with your building manager to see what preventative measures they are taking to avoid a frozen pipe disaster.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of avoiding a frozen pipe disaster this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding New York safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: ,

Protect Your Family With These Furnace Maintenance Tips

December 15, 2019 by

Our number one priority at Sentry Window Guards is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. Another danger that can occur in the home is deadly carbon monoxide leaks from your furnace. Here are a few DIY annual maintenance tips that will protect your family, prolong the life of your furnace and heating system, and save you some money on future repairs.

Prevent Deadly Carbon Monoxide Leaks!

  1. To get started, turn off power to the unit by switching off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse.
  2. Clean the blower fan, blades, and space in between with a toothbrush, duster and vacuum.
  3. Make sure the furnace motor is lubricated with oil once a year or more.
  4. Inspect and replace furnace air filters once a month. Depending on the filter, you will potentially spend less than $20 for a new air filter.
  5. Inspect the motor belts for tension and damage. It is in good shape if the belt is firm when pressed. Replace it if there are any cracks or damage and if it isn’t firm when pressed.
  6. Inspect duct joints for any leaks. Repair leaks by sealing them with metal tape.
  7. Make sure any outside vents and chimneys are clear of debris or snow blockage.
  8. If DIY isn’t your thing, shop around for a furnace and heating system professional for the best rate. Also, ask if they will analyze combustion gases and inspect wiring.

Create memories safely with your family in comfort this winter with a well-maintained furnace and heating system. By being proactive, you can keep your furnace running efficiently all year and protect your family from deadly carbon monoxide leaks. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

 

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,

6 Tips To Help You Winterize You And Your Family

January 10, 2019 by

New York City has already experienced frigid temperatures this winter season. Keep your home warm by setting your thermostat properly, reversing ceiling fans, and considering energy efficient windows. But what about “winterizing” you and your family? As we experience colder temperatures this winter, winterize yourself with these 6 tips:

Tip #1 – Dress in layers: You can always remove a layer when you are hot. Thanks to polypropylene and silk, long underwear provides additional heat without the bulky versions of the past. Wear warm socks or slippers to keep your feet warm.

Tip #2 – Move your body: Nothing warms the body up quicker than to get it moving. Run up and down the stairs a few times or grab your family and have a dance party in your living room. You’ll be shedding some of those layers quickly while having fun and doing your body good!

Tip #3 – Hot food and drinks: Feel your body instantly warm up by sipping on a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Add a bowl of hearty beef stew and a slice of warm bread to warm your insides and satisfy your palate!

Tip #4 – Kitchen heat: Get cooking and baking in your kitchen and you’ll be surprised how quickly it can help warm your home. Run your dishwasher during the day and open it up after the cycle to allow some of the warm steam to seep into your kitchen.

Tip #5 – Warm slumber: Dress warmly and have warm bedding. Flannel or jersey sheets are much more cozier than chilly percale sheets. Warm bodies rest better than shivering ones!

Tip #6 – Snuggle: Nothing is better than snuggling! Body warmth is almost as good as a heating blanket. Got no body or pet to snuggle with? Make a minimal investment in a body pillow or pull out that huge stuffed animal you won at the carnival in high school!

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of staying warm and safe this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,

Tips To Avoid Christmas Tree Fire Hazards During the Holidays

December 5, 2018 by

Happy Holidays New York! With the excitement and anticipation of this magical season, we want you to remember a few safety tips when trimming your Christmas tree. Although beautiful to admire, overloaded lights and dried-out trees are a recipe for fire disaster. According to the National Fire Protection Association, here are some scary facts:

#1: Fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees each year.

#2: One of every three home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical failures.

#3: Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur they are more likely to be serious.

#4: A heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every five of the fires.

We advise you to take the necessary steps to ensure you and your loved ones stay safe during the holiday season.

1.  How to choose the right tree for your family:

  • Artificial Tree: Make sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
  • Live Tree: Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that don’t fall off when touched.

2. Where to place the tree in your home:

  • Cut 2” from the base of the live tree trunk before placing it into the tree stand.
  • Make sure the live or artificial tree is at least three feet away from any heat source such as a fireplace, radiator, candle, heat vents or lights, and not blocking an exit.
  • Add water to live tree stand daily.

3. How to safely light the tree:

  • Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety.
  • Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
  • Do not use more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
  • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. Lights could short out and start a fire.

4. How to dispose of the tree after the holidays:

  • Get rid of the live tree when it begins dropping needles. Check with your local community to find a recycling program for your tree.
  • Bring outdoor electrical lights inside to prevent hazards and extend the life of the lights.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe in New York. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of preventing potential fire hazards in the home. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding New York City safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Holidays, Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,

Tips to Help Keep You Safe from Heating Equipment Accidents

October 19, 2018 by

Autumn and cooler temperatures have arrived. While it may be a few more weeks before turning on the heating system, a space heater may be used to make things more comfortable in the evenings. But safety precautions must be taken seriously when you utilized heating equipment in the home. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Here are a few simple safety tips and precautions you can practice to help prevent heating equipment fires from happening:

  1. Keep any flammable items (curtains, paper, plastic, solvents, matches, lighters, etc.) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
  1. Create a “kid and pet-free zone” at least three feet around the heating and teach children to stay away. Invest in a baby play yard or fence system to create the zone, still keeping it at least three feet from the heater.
  1. Never try and cook on a space heater.
  1. Never stick objects into the heater.
  1. If you have a fuel burning space heater, make sure to use the right kind of fuel as specified by the manufacturer.
  1. Remember to turn off all heaters before leaving the room, going to bed or leaving your home.
  1. If the heater is portable and you need to move it, make sure it has cooled down completely before touching it.
  1. Test smoke alarms monthly.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of heating equipment safety precautions in homes. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »