FabSwingers.com forum: check your smoke alarms

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Please fellow fabsters, check your smoke alarms ITS IMPORTANT.

Early hours of yesterday morning I was woken up by a beeping noise, I was still half asleep, but soon came to the realisation that it was my smoke alarm in the living room.

A fire had started and the smoke alarm allowed me to get my son out of the house and call the fire brigade.

It could have been a different story, on Christmas day I took the battery out of that very smoke alarm for one of my sons toys, and replaced it the day after boxing day.

The living room is basically a right off, and theres a bit of smoke damage around the hallway door and ceiling but nothing that cant be fixed, the important thing is, we are ok, thanks to the smoke alarm and fire door.

So please, go check your smoke alarms, because the best case scenario of a house fire is that you have to replace a lot of things, and re decorate, worst case doesn't bear thinking about, so check them now

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm so glad you're both ok. That must've been bloody awful. I hope all the repairs don't take too long. Fire alarms checked. Thank you

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Hope you are OK

Just checked mine and they are both working ....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bloody hell! Glad to hear you saved the important things.

It's added to today's to do list. I'd also recommend getting someone from the fire brigade to come around and check where your alarms are positioned.

Had a really helpful bloke come around and give us some hints and tips

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wow. Op, good advice and glad your okay.

just wow.

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By *eliWoman
over a year ago

Glad to read you and your son are ok OP. Sadly these things happen and it tends to be with hindsight that people check (writing as someone who has lost a family friend in a house fire).

Hopefully things get sorted soon for you both and your home.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Bloody hell! Glad to hear you saved the important things.

It's added to today's to do list. I'd also recommend getting someone from the fire brigade to come around and check where your alarms are positioned.

Had a really helpful bloke come around and give us some hints and tips "

Yes, the fire brigade are a good resource when it comes to fire safety, it was them that told me years ago the there is a good chance of a smoke alarm failing if its at an angle like if its on the stairs, you can never bee too careful

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

I replaced my battery just before Christmas but a timely reminder. Not a nice thing to happen.

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By *ootballFlowerCouple
over a year ago

Ollerton

Great post OP - Glad you and your son are OK. Hope you didnt lose to much.

We dont need to check ours, it goes off every time one of us uses the bloody oven.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have brand new smoke alarms that aren't set off by cooking and a co2 detector.

What caused your fire OP?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I have brand new smoke alarms that aren't set off by cooking and a co2 detector.

What caused your fire OP?"

Extension lead

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Phew buddy so glad your ok and safe .

Yes great advice , and having a Co2 alarm makes jolly good sense too

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By *eltonmanMan
over a year ago

Melton Mowbray

Glad you're ok after that.

I regularly check mine, got a 10 yr battery inside it, with receiver and vibrating pad to wake me up if it goes off overnight, I'm deaf, but peace of mind.

Swear it shakes more than any toys ??

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mine were installed last year so could probably do with a check.

Glad you and your son are okay.

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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago

carrbrook stalybridge

"Great post OP - Glad you and your son are OK. Hope you didnt lose to much.

We dont need to check ours, it goes off every time one of us uses the bloody oven.

No its not because we are bad cooks, it is because it not only does smoke it also does rapid heat change too. Open the oven door with the kitchen door open too and all hell breaks loose. Its a royal PITA but I couldnt recommend them highly enough!"
ours is the same open the bathroom door after a hot shower and its bleeping away 10seconds later proper pita when your frying anything but good peace of mind

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fire alarms x2 and a CO2 detector here

all working.

So glad you and your son got out safely, and that is the most important thing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Im not sure how it works in other regions but if you get in touch with the fire service in my area they will come and fit smoke alarms in your home for free.

I had 2 ten year smoke alarms fitted last year and you know they are fitted correctly and in the right place.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I have brand new smoke alarms that aren't set off by cooking and a co2 detector.

What caused your fire OP?

Extension lead

Scary stuff, glad you're all ok

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good to hear you're both ok. Good advice

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

glad your all ok and safe .

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By *ewrocksWoman
over a year ago

button moon

"Im not sure how it works in other regions but if you get in touch with the fire service in my area they will come and fit smoke alarms in your home for free.

I had 2 ten year smoke alarms fitted last year and you know they are fitted correctly and in the right place."

I've had the same done, but just a heads up, in case you've not seen theres been a faulty batch, they start pipping as if the batties gone, my 2 were fitted 16months ago, I've got 2 of the dodgy batch and 1 is pipping! if you google it you should find the info, if not I'll find the link.x

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By *ewrocksWoman
over a year ago

button moon

Kinkybutler, I'm glad you and your lad are safe and well.xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Oh my gosh! Glad you are both ok c

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Glad all that's important is ok. All 3 of mine and my carbon monoxide alarms are freshly batteried as per the new year

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Glad you ok. They cost so little why not one in every room. Make sure you fit them correctly, recommend heat alarm in the kitchen, smoke and carbon in rooms that have gas appliances, if you get main ones fitted the battery's last far longer.

any one local need advice pm me.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Oh gosh... I'm so pleased you're both okay. That's really scary stuff! I went past a fire in a block of council flats last Saturday in Brixton, I've never seen anything like it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Having a plan really does work

Smoke alarm are a great first alarm warning

But something else so simple is closing all the doors down stairs

And finally on most modern pvc doors you need keys to lock the door from the inside - not good if you ve left the keys in a rooms that's filling rapidly filling up with smoke. I upgraded the front lock (usually get a crap key lock on the door) with a more secure antibreak barrol and a thumb lock on the inside

Make a plan how to get out - personal effect can be replaced but family can't

Speaking from experience

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By *cduck and Blue eyesCouple
over a year ago

nr chester

Oh my goodness kb, so, so glad you are both ok, you may find the shock sets in at a later point, so take care of yourself and talk it through as much as possible, it's a common thing where people feel they are ok because all is fine and they are safe, so they don't talk it out, but then shock sets in and it can affect some, so talk, talk, talkxxxx

Also all fire brigades will give a free home safety check and fit free smoke alarms and they do this seven days a week so if you need one, call your local station today, also they will replace certain electric blankets and they will give you a free electric deep fat fryer if you have the old stove top chip pan, all worth remembering

Mrs blue eyes

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I'm seriously at risk of boring people about smoke alarms, but its a point that needs bringing home.

I'm now setting about upgrading the smoke alarms in my properties as well as my own home (same brand as the ones I've got, I know they work) as well as redecorating and having all my electrics sorted so I don't have to use any extension leads or multi plugs.

Its not the best start to the year, but it could have been much worse.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

mine are wired into the electrics and are super sensitive - no burnt toast happens here without the tea towel dance - so so glad youre ok

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By *ichaelangelaCouple
over a year ago

notts

"I have brand new smoke alarms that aren't set off by cooking and a co2 detector.

What caused your fire OP?

Extension lead

So on that note. I would like to add more advice.

Never use an extension lead unless it is fully unwound. Cassette type are the worst for getting hot if only partially unwound. I understand the coiled up part acts like a magneto or similar

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I have brand new smoke alarms that aren't set off by cooking and a co2 detector.

What caused your fire OP?

Extension lead

So on that note. I would like to add more advice.

Never use an extension lead unless it is fully unwound. Cassette type are the worst for getting hot if only partially unwound. I understand the coiled up part acts like a magneto or similar "

always fully unwind a coiled extension lead - they get very hot - so many buy say an extra long one just in case and undo just enough - please dont

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm going to add another story to this and really want to reenforce the butlers point.

We had a coal/wood burner fitted and stacked the logs near the side of it. Always stacked them there and never no issues.

Anyway, night luckily it was a day I hadn't been working so wasn't tired. Had the fire on and thought this fuel is a bit smokey tonight and didn't think anything of it. So continued feeding the fire while smoke built up around me...I didn't really notice since it was gradual.

So it gets to the point where I fully notice and my eyes are starting to sting.

The logs had moved and caught fire...just slightly smouldering away. There was probably 20kg of logs stacked there.

If I'd of been working I usually fall asleep on the sofa until mrsdpt comes home....usually about 2-3am. Now it was probably 9pm when I realised what had happened.

The battery in our smoke alarm was dead....and if I'd of fallen asleep the chances are so would I.

Get the check peeps

99.9% stupidity on our behalve for putting them there...but never had an issue before. A lesson well and truely learnt.

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By *sGivesWoodWoman
over a year ago

ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL

"Please fellow fabsters, check your smoke alarms ITS IMPORTANT.

Early hours of yesterday morning I was woken up by a beeping noise, I was still half asleep, but soon came to the realisation that it was my smoke alarm in the living room.

A fire had started and the smoke alarm allowed me to get my son out of the house and call the fire brigade.

It could have been a different story, on Christmas day I took the battery out of that very smoke alarm for one of my sons toys, and replaced it the day after boxing day.

Glad to hear you're both ok xxx

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By *andACouple
over a year ago

glasgow

Any idea how the fire started?

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By *hav02Man
over a year ago

Glasgow/London

Yikes. Glad to hear you're OK.

I've just bought IKEA extension Leads to wire up all my gadgets in my lounge feed from my TV unit. Making me think whether thata bad move now...

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By *eliz NelsonMan
over a year ago

The Tantric Tea Shop

Extension leads are notorious for causing fires, costs a few quid more, but a lead with a 'cut off/safety' stops them overheating

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

All fire and CO alarms tested and working.

Hope we never need them but reassuring that they are there.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Blimey

Glad you're ok. Off to test mine now.

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By *elvet RopeMan
over a year ago

by the big field

Have you noticed how your low battery chirp always seems to start about 3am on a cold night?

Extension leads are usually pretty safe things, as long as you don't overload them and you don't use them with any sort of damage (cracks, broken cases, missing neon windows, cable damage- things that fail a PAT test)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Guys as a tradesman ive been to my fair share of house fire repairs. Dont just check your smoke alarms yearly do it monthly! If you have a basic smoke alarm change it for a heat+smoke alarm. 10 year batteries are made as backup batteries for hardwired alarms!

If you use extension leads buy decent ones that are properly protected not just a 13amp fused plug and dont overload or daisy chain extension leads

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By *ackDMissMorganCouple
over a year ago

Halifax

Glad all ended well,reminded me i.nee a battery for mine.

Miss

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