Doug Neal talks about a few items in your home that you may want to check.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors need replacement every 10 years – which means all of ours are due now. Legacy Ridge homes were built with interconnected Kidde brand detectors, so one alarm will trigger all connected alarms in your home. From what I’ve seen in most homes, we have AC detectors with DC (battery) backup – hidden within the unit – with photoelectric sensors.
There are two types of sensors, ionization detectors to detect flaming, fast-moving fires and photoelectric detectors (what most of us have) to detect slow, smoldering fires. For use in a typical home, the Duvall Fire Department recommends either type or a mix of both types.
Replacement of our detectors is as easy as buying replacement Kidde branded photoelectric sensors (like what we already have). Upgrades would include a mix of both types scattered throughout your home ($9-$19) or replacement detectors that have both types of sensors built into each unit ($25-$35). Make sure all of your new detectors are AC (house current) with DC (battery) backup. The battery will be easier to check and replace if you get one with an external battery door (unlike what we have today). And if you upgrade to Kidde branded smoke detectors, you’ll be able to retain the interconnected feature without having to buy a converter cable for any non-Kidde smoke detector you buy.
Replacing your old detectors now is a safe investment to protect your family and your home. Even safer is the recommendation of the Duvall Fire Department and fire experts nationwide: perform regular tests on your smoke detectors and replace the batteries twice a year. It’s easy to remember if you test and replace every time you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
Home Depot, Lowe’s, the local True Value and Amazon.com all have good replacement smoke detectors for $9-$39 apiece.
Dryer Vent
Fortunately, our homes have metal dryer venting (if you have collapsible venting, it should be replaced immediately). Regardless of type, your dryer venting needs a yearly cleaning. Making Legacy Ridge venting worse than others is both the long run to an external vent and 90-degree bends in the venting. Not only does the long run reduce the pressure needed to push out flammable lint, but each 90-degree ‘elbow’ catches lint and reduces pressure in as much as 15 feet of venting pipe. The trick is to have metal venting pipe, no (or only one) 90-degree elbow, and the shortest run to the outside vent as possible.
Not only is there a severe fire risk for clogged piping, but dryer efficiency is greatly reduced. After removing two unneeded elbows, removing two leaf bags full of clogged lint and re-routing the venting to shorten the distance to the exhaust, we saved $50 a month in electricity and our dryer started working twice as well.
Frost Plate
Lift up the cover of your water meter and check for standing water. If you see water, call the City of Duvall and have them check for a broken frost plate. There’s no charge when there’s a leak or broken frost plate in the water meter part of your system. If fixed, you’ll save water and the City may even refund you money if you know when an increase in your water bill started.
