Your home is meant to provide sanctuary for your family and belongings. However, the risk of fire is a real one. Fires devastate homes across Massachusetts every year, usually without warning. While there are many things you can do to prevent a fire, it’s not always possible. Extra steps can be taken to protect your most valuable possessions—such as irreplaceable family heirlooms and important documents—in case a fire does break out in your home. The proactive measures listed here can increase your peace of mind by allowing you to have effective fire protection for your most valuable belongings.
Keep Items in a Fire-Proof Lock Box
Lock boxes have been gaining in popularity in recent years. These small protective chests are an inexpensive form of defense for vital documents, such as wills and birth certificates, as well as other essentials. Fire-proof lock boxes are easy to use and maintain, and provide a fair amount of fire resistance. Make sure to do your research and choose a lockbox that is well-rated and worth the money.
Acquire a Fire-Resistance Safe
If you have a lot of items that need fire protection, or you prefer a more sophisticated method of defense, a fire-resistant safe can be invaluable. Purchasing a home safe can be one of the best steps you take to protect your belongings from fire damage. Varying grades of fire resistance exist to accommodate different needs. Papers and other delicate items would require a safe with a 350 fire rating, for example, meaning the interior temperature would stay under 350. Electronics, such as hard drives, would be able to withstand a higher temperature. Not only do safes offer effective protection, but they also allow you to convenient access to the contents any time you need it.
Store Valuables Off-Site
A final option to consider is storing your valuables away from your home. While this could mean keeping them locked up in a detached garage or shed, usually people choose to store their items in a storage unit or safety deposit box at the bank. Both of the latter options usually already have fire prevention methods in place, such as sprinkler systems. The drawback of storing your belongings away from your property, especially in the case of a safety deposit box, is that you won’t be able to access them any time you need to. If you need your social security card in a hurry, for example, you would have to take a trip to acquire it. Depending on what you’re trying to protect, this may or may not be an issue.
Keep Up With Your Fire Prevention Measures
Never procrastinate on your home fire safety maintenance. Install working smoke detectors on every floor of your home and inside every bedroom. Check the batteries once a month and replace them as soon as they get low. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in reach of your kitchen and laundry room, two of the most frequent sources of home fires.
The methods listed here should be considered by every homeowner as part of an overall fire prevention plan. However, house fires can and do still happen every day. RestorePro’s services can help you through the distressing aftermath of a fire. Contact us at 1-800-847-0114 for more information or to request our services. Visit us on Facebook for more advice at https://www.facebook.com/RestorePro911/.