Its Time to Check and Test Your Dwelling for Security and Safety

After all October is home security and safety month too... Packs Hardware asks; What are you waiting or?

Packs Hardware wants to consider some places in the home where you may not always check and should.

1. Investigate Your Fireplace or Wood Stove

 

Woodburning stoves and fireplaces can undeniably help keep us hotter in the colder season! But please DO NOT forget or dismiss to upkeep your wood stove or fireplace before you use them each year. If you do have a fireplace, typical inspection or maintenance before you start it back up for the season could inhibit an unwanted house fire. The more you use the fireplace – the more cleaning and maintenance it will need. Some spaces to view are the top vents, you probably should purchase new ones and replace them if they are damaged, old, or rusty, etc. Assess and test to see that there are absolutley no blockages in the chimney, by lighting very small pieces of wood and see if the smoke ascends and is not hindered by anything. Also, do not forget to oversee the external part of the chimney for damage and cracks. If not repaired, these can leak combustion gasses indoors, creating a fire hazard.

If you are unsure of these things, have a pro clean and inspect your chimney. CSL (Creosote Sweeping Log) logs available at Packs Hardware do help improve your fireplace performance as it helps avert the buildup of deposits, which are both a fire hazard and a hindrance to performance. Creosote is a brown or black residue that can be crusty or flaky, tar-like, all varieties of it are highly flammable and can create a fire. You should always burn seasoned firewood, no trash, no driftwood, treated wood, or artificial logs, for the best results and safety of your fireplace or woodstove.

If you use a wood stove, it’s important to know some of these facts. Your wood stove will need a stack thermometer to help monitor the gases leaving the stove. This is essential when keeping an eye on efficiency and pollution control. Also, smaller fires genuinely facilitates and improves pollution and quality air control. Strive to remind yourself to keep the ash cleared out, it helps oxygen better get to the fire to fuel it. The lesser the smoke, the cleaner the burning will go. So go now and get your fireplace and/or wood stove all set for the sharp cold season by buying helpful items at Packs Hardware today.

2. Secure Your Flat Screen TV To Avert A Disaster

With lightweight televisions, they get hit and fall over easier, chiefly with children and animals running and jumping around. According Consumer Reports, 340 persons have been killed from a TV falling on them from the years 2000 – 2017. (https://www.consumerreports.org/product-safety/tv-tipovers-still-pose-danger-despite-lighter-flat-screens/)

It’s easy to prevent an accident. Install the specific Anti-tip hardware to your TV or Furniture soon with any of these options:

• Wall mounting
• Anchoring furniture with anti-tip brackets
• Installing anti-tip straps on the back in non-mounted

Most local hardware stores will have a range of brackets and fasteners if you plan to mount by a custom design.

3. Check Out Your Driveways and Walkways

 

This can seem like an easy thing to do, but how many times do you consider that you have Inspected and then a person stumbles on a rough part or there is awefully cold weather that came in overnight and there is an incident on the sidewalk?? After a while the cement can sink or buckle due to tree roots or other causes. If you detect some cracks or uneven areas, have them repaired by doing it yourself, or call someone to help. If you are in a really cold area, during winter be sure to have ice melt and snow shovels ready to go. We are your place for bitter winter weather help. Just ask a department specialist in the store for help with cement crack filler to restore your sidewalk or ice melt for seasonally cold days.

  

4. Replace Your Locks & Door Knobs

If your locks are worn, old, or you have lost all the keys, it could be time to improve your locks and door knobs. With the influx of an assortment of smart locks on the market, finding the correct way to secure your home will depend on what is best for your family. Packs Hardware features smart locks with keypads, smart locks with touch screens, smart locks to use with your smart phone, and smart locks with hidden key options in an assortment of styles and colors. Do a little bit of exploration for which design is best for you. Some are special order only. But ask an associate to to help service you.

  

You can also save cash by re-keying your lock, instead of purchasing new. You might need to switch out your lock due to a new renter, you lost your keys, or you need to change your keys for the lock. You might need to re-key your lock instead of purchasing a new one to save money. You will have to harmlessly remove it from the door and bring it into the store, the cost of doing this is far less than a new lock. Check with our hardware store in Smithville to see if they offer this service.

 

5. Try Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors