As 2008 rolls in, it is a good time to take a moment for a quick "Home Safety Check".
Des Moines Iowa Home Buyers and Sellers... Your Safety is Important!
by: Brian Wentz, Relator
Smoke Detectors
Those little doo-dads have been going about keeping you safe all year now. So FEED THEM! They need a fresh 9-volt battery to keep them happily working for another year. And if the detector is more than 5 years old, it may be a great time to replace them.
In 2006 there were 3,245 deaths in the US due to fire, and 81% of these occurred in a residence!
Carbon Monoxide Detector
I still find a lot of people who don't have one of these. Early in my career I had a family who had been getting pretty sick, and didn't know why. Turned out their furnace was emitting some pretty bad stuff into their house at night. Thankfully, everything was OK with them after it was all said and done. But I always remember when they called me to tell me about it.
If you don't have one, please get one. They are about $40.00 or so. Unlike smoke detectors, which are mounted at th ceiling level, it is important to mount these units close to the floor on any level where daily living occurs. You can find a variety of CO2 detectors units, and comparision information, here.
Between 2001 and 2003, the CDC tracked over 15,200, non-fire relates carbon monoxide exposure cases. 64% of these were occurred inside personal residences.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
This was a new one to me a few years back- frankly I had never heard of the issue before! A keen-eyed home inspector brought it to the attention of one of my buyers. Dryer fires occur from the accumulation of lint in the ventilation system of your clothes dryer. This buildup reduces airflow and can create a highly flammable source for the electric element or gas flame in a dryer. 
It is just amazing, but FEMA reports that clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually. 80% of these occur in residential structures.
There are service providers listed in the "yellow pages" who provide cleaning services for clothes dryers. Most use a unique tool to remove the lint from within a dryer and the ventilation system.
Taking a few moments today will be time well spent, and just might help
keep your home safe from some of these dangers!
Brian Wentz & Beth Ernst
Burnett Realty
515-334-4994
www.BrianWentzRealtor.com
Specializing in the Metro Des Moines Iowa Real Estate Markets, including Urbandale, Clive, West Des Moines, Johnston, Ankeny and Waukee.
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