Technical Writing

I provide technical writing services for several clients, including for CCC Information Services and for CertaSite, among others. Samples of my work can be found below.

https://www.certasitepro.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-smoke-detectors-and-fire-alarms

Everything you need to know about smoke detectors & fire alarms

When it comes to home fire safety, one of the most important things you can do is make sure you have working smoke detectors and fire alarms. With this one crucial step, you’re ensuring that if a fire happens, you’re going to know about it.

Fortunately, it’s fairly simple to keep your smoke detectors and fire alarms working correctly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about types of detectors and alarms, maintenance, placement and more, so you can keep your family as safe as possible.

Types of Alarms

Smoke detectors and fire alarms are terms often used synonymously, but there is an important difference. A smoke detector works as simply a sensor, and a fire alarm acts on it – it sounds an alarm. Nearly all smoke detectors also act as fire alarms, but if purchasing a new one, you’ll want to be sure to check the package to make sure. For the purposes of this blog, we’ll be calling them all fire alarms.

Fire alarms also can either be electrical or battery powered. Electrical ones plug directly into the wiring of your home (often with backup batteries also), while battery powered ones run on batteries only.

Ideally, the alarms around your home will be interconnected – if one goes off, they’ll all go off. They can be interconnected via hardwiring, or wirelessly. You may have to purchase within the same brand or make to ensure that they can communicate effectively in case of a fire.

Another key difference is in the type of detector itself. There are two main types of detectors: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization alarms are better at detecting fires with flames, and photoelectric are better at detecting smoldering or low-flame fires. These days, many alarms offer both types of detectors, but if yours does not, you’ll want to include both types around your home.

Finally, check to see if your fire alarms include a carbon monoxide detector. If not, you’ll want to make sure to purchase this type of detector as well for each level of your home and outside each sleeping area.

Where to Place Them

Another important aspect to making sure your fire alarms will work when you need them to is proper placement.

Generally, fire alarms should be placed:

High on the wall, no more than 12 inches from the ceiling
10 feet away from cooking appliances (to prevent false alarms)
3 feet away from bathrooms with tubs and showers (to prevent false alarms from steam)

If you have a pitched roof or high ceilings, check with your local fire department for specific guidance on placement.

Fire alarms need to go on every floor of your home and in every sleeping area or bedroom. That way, you’ll definitely hear them, even if they go off in the middle of the night.

Maintenance & Replacement Timeline

Of course, even if your fire detectors are placed in all the right places and connected appropriately, you won’t hear them go off if they aren’t working in the first place. For this reason, following proper maintenance and replacement timelines is crucial.

All smoke detectors and fire alarms should be tested at least once a month by pushing the test button on each alarm to ensure it’s working properly. Fresh batteries should be put into each alarm at least once a year. Among fires in which smoke alarms were present but didn't function correctly, 46% of the alarms had missing or disconnected batteries, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Finally, smoke detectors should all be replaced every 10 years, or sooner if they’re also serving as a carbon monoxide detector. Those often have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years.

Final Word

Working smoke detectors and fire alarms can save your life if a fire happens in your home. They’re too important to ignore – especially when keeping them functional is so simple.

Overwhelmed with fire safety options? CertaSite can help simplify the process. Check out our website for more helpful blogs, resources and more, or to book a private consultation for your business with our highly-trained fire and life safety experts. Get started at CertaSitePro.com.

https://www.carwise.com/blog/2022/10/18/can-i-repair-my-car-after-flood-damage/

Can I repair my car after flood damage?

Water can wreak havoc on a car – especially if that water comes in the form of flooding.

If your car is exposed to flood damage, sometimes it can be repaired, though oftentimes those repairs may cost more than simply replacing the car. This is especially true if your car is flooded with saltwater. Saltwater damage can be extremely difficult to repair, and oftentimes it’s better to simply consider the car totaled. Freshwater damage is sometimes fixable, though it often depends on how high the water was – and which aspects of the cars were damaged.

Not sure where to start after a flood? Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to begin considering your options, though at the end of the day, you’ll likely need to bring in a trusted expert to help you determine the extent of the damage.

Check the level of water damage

When you first return to your car after a flood, you should see if you can tell how much of the car was submerged. You might be able to see an actual water line on your vehicle, or you may be able to tell by where the damage seems to be.

Flooding can damage a whole host of things in a vehicle, but the most concerning is damage to the engine or electronics, which can be difficult if not impossible to repair. If the water only rose to the level of the flooring of the car, it might be more likely to be salvageable. However, you’ll need to take care to properly dry and clean all interior aspects, as well as ensure there’s no damage to the exterior that could promote rusting down the road.

Even if the damage appears to just be superficial, it’s still best to bring the car in to a professional. A trained expert will likely remove paneling from your vehicle to ensure it dries properly, inspect the engine and electrical systems, and potentially install new seating or carpeting if necessary.

Check the engine oil for water

One of the biggest concerns if your car is flooded is damage to the engine. An important note – never turn on your car’s engine until you know whether it’s been contaminated with water. Turning on an engine that’s been exposed to water can force water through the whole system, worsening damage.

One way to tell if water has compromised your engine is to check the engine oil with a dipstick. If the fluid level is unusually high, there’s likely water in it, since oil floats in water. If you find any evidence of water in the oil – or if you know that water rose to the level of the engine – it’s best to take it straight in for evaluation by a professional.

Determine if it’s worth repairing

At the end of the day, many flooded vehicles would cost more to repair than they would to replace. One of the most important assessments you can make is figuring out the worth of your car, then determining if the cost of repairs will exceed the value. Insurance companies can often help with this – though they may recommend simply considering the car totaled, especially if flooded with saltwater.

If your car is flooded, bring in an expert who has experience dealing with flood damage to make these determinations, and to run a full diagnostic test on your car’s functionality. Not only can flood damage be complicated – it can also be dangerous if not diagnosed or repaired correctly.

Carwise.com can help you find a mechanic near you who can help you make the best decision for your particular situation. Use Carwise.com to start your search today.