Category Archives: Home & Family

How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-containing material, including gasoline, natural gas, propane, coal or wood. CO also replaces oxygen in the blood and interferes with the transport of needed oxygen to cells in the body.

You already know what can happen in an extreme case of CO poisoning. Other symptoms include dull headaches, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, and others.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Here’s how to prevent carbon monoxide from becoming a problem inside your home.

Keep your vents clear.
During and after a storm, make sure nothing obstructs the outside stack or vent for your dryer, stove, furnace and fireplace.
Do not run engines in a closed area.
Proper ventilation is critical to avoiding CO poisoning. Therefore, do not start a car, fire up a grill or stove, or run a generator in a closed area — like a basement or garage. Even if you leave the garage door open, carbon monoxide can quickly build up to toxic levels.
Keep fireplaces clean and well vented.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, make sure you keep it clean and that the flue is working properly. Even if the last embers are just smoldering, keep that flue open to let the gases escape.
Install enough CO alarms.
If you have fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage, you should install one CO detector on every level of your home, including the basement. Also, CO detectors should be right nearby sleeping areas.

Some CO detectors can even be interconnected across your house, so that when one detects an issue, they all sound the alarm. If you do hear the CO alarm, immediately move to fresh air and call 911.

Here at Now Security, our home alarm systems include smoke and CO detectors. Equally important, we monitor them from our own in-house monitoring station and, in turn, contact you – to be sure you’re okay or to alert you if you’re not home – and local first responders should the alarms sound.

Contact Now Security Systems today for more information and a free in-home security analysis.

Pet Care for the Holidays

For many, pets aren’t just pets – they’re part of the family. And yet no matter how much they’re loved, it can be difficult at times fitting them into your holiday plans.

So, whether you expect to receive guests with pets, or plan on taking yours out to visit, here are some tips for keeping the peace and keeping Fido and Fluffy safe and comfortable.

Pet Care for the Holidays

Know Local Laws – Different states, and even towns, have their own laws regarding pets. Familiarize yourself with local rules and ordinances ahead of time. For example, some towns have leash laws while others don’t. Knowing the do’s and don’ts will make the visit less stressful for everyone involved.

Look for Pet Hazards – Remove any houseplants that are poisonous to cats or dogs, or anything in a pot that might entice them to dig. If you have a Christmas tree, consider moving fragile ornaments towards the top. Keep counters and tables clear of enticing treats when no one is in the room and be sure to keep cabinet and pantry doors closed.

Prepare for Accidents – Keep carpet and upholstery stain remover on hand should an accident occur. If you want to keep sofas pet-fur free, cover them with a blanket when not in use. Close doors to rooms that are off-limits, especially when everyone has retired for the evening.

Bring Distractions – Purchase a few new toys and tasty treats to keep your pup or feline distracted. If possible, let your dog run around outside and use up some energy to help ensure their best behavior inside.

Protect Floors – Claws can do a number on hardwood floors and carpets. Give your pets a toenail trim before heading to someone else’s home for the holidays. If it’s your home, drop down a few runners or inexpensive area rugs in high-traffic areas to minimize damage.

Let them Adjust – Pets can feel anxious in new surroundings or around lots of people. Give them a place to hide and relax and tell young children to leave them alone when you notice them retreating. A familiar toy or blanket can help lessen pet anxiety.

If you’re planning on bringing a new pet into your home as a holiday gift for your kids, it’s a great time to consider adding video surveillance cameras to your home security system. That way, you can keep an eye on them while no one’s home. It could help you minimize damage if you don’t confine the new pet to a cage or outdoors in your absence.

For more information and a free in-home consultation, contact Now Security Systems today.

Fall Safety Tips for Home & Family

Ask 10-20 local friends and family members what they consider to be their favorite Connecticut season, and we’re betting the majority response will be “fall”. It’s that time of year when the air feels the cleanest and freshest, warm enough to continue outdoor activities, and but cool enough – especially at night – to stoke up the fireplace.

Fall also has its own share of inherent pitfalls, a few of which we present here to help you keep your home and family safe.

Furnace Cleaning & Inspection

Annual heating system service delivers several key benefits, and all for one very affordable price: improved system performance, longer system lifespan, cleaner air, lower utility costs, and added safety. The latter stems from checking your system’s flue and heat exchanger for possible CO or fuel leaks, and electrical connections to help guard against an electrical fire.

Fireplace Safely

If you use your fireplace or wood stove frequently, you should have it and its chimney every year to get rid of lingering ashes and creosote, and wood-burning byproduct. Creosote is combustible and could a house fire. It’s also unhealthy to inhale.

Use Space Heaters with Caution

Don’t assume that all space heaters are alike because they’re not. Some, for example, need to be vented outside. And yet, no matter which type you use, turn it off when you’re not in the room as it heats people, not spaces. Also, keep anything combustible away from it like bedding, window treatments, clothes, and such.

Take Care with Candles

Candles are a great way to add a warm glow to a room, but they’re also responsible for nearly 10,000 home fires per year. Never leave candles burning when you leave a room for more than a minute or two, put them before going to bed, and keep your pets and children away from them when lit.

Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

A good way to remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors is to do so every year when you turn back your clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Make sure to check the alarms once you’ve installed the batteries, too.

For your added protection and safety, Now Security Systems recommends installing hard-wired smoke and CO detectors that we can then monitor from our own dedicated facility, 24/7. Each one has a battery back-up and, when one goes off, they all do so all family members are alerted at once.

It’s just one of the many home security services we offer. Contact us today to learn more or for a free, no-obligation quote.