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Prevent Fire-Related Tragedies
Here are some tips to prevent fire-related tragedies in your home. Unfortunately, you may have fire hazards in your home that you don't even know about. Take some time to remove, or minimize, potentially flammable items and make sure caution is taken around anything that can cause a fire. For example:

• Inspect your home from the top down. The next time you're in your attic, check the insulation. If you have cellulose insulation, made of ground newspaper, consider removing it because it is naturally flammable. While cellulose is treated to make it fire resistant, the permanency of the treatment has recently come into question. (To find out what kind of insulation is in your attic, contact a professional insulation contractor. To find one, look in the Yellow Pages of your telephone book. If you have cellulose, consider having it replaced with a noncombustible insulation.)
• Install smoke detectors or check your existing ones. In the event of a fire, smoke detectors can reduce the risk of death in a home fire by nearly 50 percent.
• Install detectors throughout the home if you don't already have them. If you have some, check the batteries at least once a year.
• Plot out and regularly practice escape plans. Hold frequent "fire drills." In a two-story home, consider keeping a ladder near all upstairs beds.
• Install automatic residential fire sprinklers. If a fire breaks out, sprinklers can help contain and subdue it quickly.
• Use caution with cooling equipment, heating devices and smoking materials. Keep fire extinguishers handy in the kitchen in case of a fire.\
• Have your heating system checked yearly by a qualified specialist. Preventive maintenance can uncover a problem before it occurs. It's a simple procedure to call a heating contractor to inspect and test the system.
• Use caution with the fireplace and woodburning stoves. Always use a screen when a fireplace is in operation. Also, have the fireplace cleaned annually.

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Energy-Saving Ideas
Using energy wisely can reduce consumption and save money on utility bills, according to the American Gas Association (AGA) and Kokomo Gas. We offer these suggestions for homeowners looking for simple ways to conserve energy:

• Seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings, such as pipes or ducts -- with caulk or weatherstripping.
• Set thermostats between 65-70°F in the winter, at least five degrees lower when you're sleeping, and at 58°F when you're away from home for more than a few hours. (Warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants.)
• Set water heater temperatures at 120°F and install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
• Change filters or clean the filters in heating and cooling units twice a year. Close vents and doors in unused rooms. If pipes or ducts run through unheated areas, insulate them.
• Use drapes, shutters, awnings, shade trees, glass with reflective film or solar screens to keep sunlight out in the summer and let it in during the winter.
• Check to see if attic and basement (or crawl space) have the recommended level of insulation.
• If you have a woodburning fireplace, consider installing a natural gas fireplace insert, which can save on energy costs compared with wood. A gas fireplace also will dramatically reduce the air pollution created from burning wood.
• Consider storm or thermal windows and doors or double-paned glass. A less-expensive alternative is plastic sheeting, which can be temporarily fastened over doors and windows to retain heat or air conditioning.
• Be sure that dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers are fully loaded before using them.
• When buying new appliances, compare energy-efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. A slightly higher initial cost for high-efficiency appliances could be recovered in a very short time through energy savings and lower utility bills.

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