Safe-Home.com

Question about Kids Edge Hearth Safety Pad installation when there is no metal frame.

Q: "How do I install hearth pad on the edge and sides of my fireplace hearth if it does not have the metal frame? My hearth is poured concrete so I don't need the frame. How do I know if I have purchased enough padding? Thanks." Tom

Answer: First decide which color you want. Padding comes in gray, brown, black, taupe and ivory. Next measure the length of the hearth. Then measure the width of the side or sides. If the total equals 150 inches or less, the standard hearth pad kit will work. Each kit contains 90 inches of straight padding and two corners that are 10 inches by 20 inches. So you can cover the front of a hearth that is up to 130 inches long with 10 inches of returns to the fireplace or 110 inches of width with a return of 20 inches in depth.

These are the steps to take:

1. Make sure the hearth edge is clean and dry.
2. Lay out the pad on the hearth to determine how it will fit.
3. Attach the corners, Remove the adhesive backing from the lower part of the pad. Fit it onto the hearth. Next remove the adhesive backing from the upper portion and press it onto the hearth.
4. Next attach the straight pieces to the hearth. Press ends together as you attach each piece to help conceal joints.
5. Most likely, you will need to cut the last piece installed.
6. Measure the space to be covered accurately
7. Add approximately 3/8 inch and mark the pad.
8. Place pad on shipping box edge.
9. Use a sharp long bladed knife such as a fillet knife in this next step
10. Lubricate the entire length of the knife with liquid soap or soapy water
11. Using light pressure, move the knife back and forth on the top of the pad, keeping the blade straight.
12. Repeat on bottom half after turing over the pad
13. Attach the last piece of pad by removing the backing as noted in step 3.

If you need additional lengths of padding, you can purchase by the foot or by the 54 inch stick. Remember extra padding can be used to pad tops of stairways into basements, etc.

Thanks for your question. We recommend that you do a safety walk around of your entire home as well to find other places that need safety proofing. Among the most dangerous items are aquariums, tv sets, bookcases, windows open more than 4 inches and sharp corners and edges on furniture.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question: about the WaterCop and the Flood Stop

Q:"Does Safe Home Products have an opinion as to the comparison between Water Cop and Flood Stop? I've read the product guides and understand the product's features. Which is more reliable or has the best track record? Thanks, David S"

Answer: Your decision needs to be made upon these factors:

1. What do you want to protect? A single appliance or several appliances? Floodstop makes single water appliance units for water heaters, washing machines, sinks, icemakers, etc.     More...

Question about the product Banister Guard 15 feet by 33 inches high, Product Code: =SF-BG15

Q: Does the plastic around the holes crack? Is the plastic very strong?" Thanks, Twig

Answer: We've sold this indoor banister guard product for about 9 years and never had a complaint about the plastic cracking. The plastic is quite strong. PET medical grade plastic. Once this is installed, it is tight to the banister so there should be no tearing. You cannot tear this: you have to punch the holes and cut with sharp scissors.   More...

Question about the product 16 oz. Bottle Grip On Anti-Slip Solution SS0016

Q: "Can this be used on fingers/hands?" Carl
Answer: No, Grip-On is not for use on hands. To apply it to ceramic tile, concrete, marble, etc. to increase the coefficient of resistance to slipping, skidding, etc. , you should wear rubber gloves or be careful not to get the product on your hands.

Below is information from the Material Data Safety Sheet:

Chemical Name: Hydroxy Acetic Acid.

Physical State: Clear yellow, mild odor.

pH: 7.6.

Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid eye contact. Wear rubber gloves. Use in ventilated area. Can be fatal if swallowed. Do not use on wood, vinyls or plastics.

Our feedback on this product has been completely positive. Applying the solution to my bathroom ceramic tile took only minutes. Since the product is clear and invisible after application, you don't have to worry about applying it "perfectly." I applied it over 3 years ago. It is great to get out of the shower or tub and not worry about hydroplaning with my wet feet.

Thank you for your question.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the product Product Code: =TD-MXS-40225, the Maxsa Innovations Motion-Activated 80 LED Security Floodlight.

Q: "Are the led lights changeable on this Maxsa Innovations Motion-Activated 80 LED Security Floodlight? What number of lumens does this light give?" Neel

Answer: No, the 80 LED's are not changeable. However, they are rated for 30,000 to 40,000 hours of on time. The lumens are about that of a 40 watt halogen lamp.

Recently, a residential treatment center in New York state chose to equip their center with these lights as a cost-saving, security measure. For this security light, you need a ladder and not an electrician to install the lights. And with solar power you save on electricity, too. The 15 foot cable to the solar panel even lets you install the light inside a building if you choose. Included is a 6V 4ah sealed lead acid rechargeable battery. This light can detect motion up to 35 feet away within a 180 degree detection area. Time, motion sensitivity and LUX (daylight sensitivity) adjustments. And the light can activate up to 360 times on one charge when on for a minute at a time.

Thanks for your question.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about dangerous ceramic tile restaurant flooring and Grip-On .

Q: "We've been lucky so far, only our employees have slipped and fallen on our new flooring. When the new owner bought this formerly Chinese restaurant, he had all the old carpeting ripped out and replaced it with ceramic tile because he felt the tile was easier to keep clean. The tile was laid directly on the concrete slab. The water table is high since we are near the Rock River (Moline, Illinois) so moisture comes up through the tile sometimes and the floor is wet. We've tried everything to make it less slippy. Currently, the floor is cleaned every night with a degreaser followed by a detergent wash and then we pour chlorine bleach on it since we were told the chlorine would make it more slip resistant. The bleach does not help. Help!" Tina.

Answer: Reality is we stopped at this restaurant on the way back from Pennsylvania. The food was excellent. Even with my deep grip athletic shoes I was sliding on this floor as if I was on ice! It was scary to say the least. I talked with our server and Tina and the above was what they shared with me. I promised I would phone our Grip-On supplier and find out what actions the restaurant needed to take.

Here is what William shared with me:

• The janitor should degrease with Blu-It or a similar de-greaser that leaves no residue.
  
• Next, rinse the floor thoroughly with water. Remove all the old detergent and residue.
  
• Then swab the floor with Grip-On. One gallon treats about 400 square feet.
  
• After 20 minutes, wash it off with clear water
• Let dry.

Remember, William, said that there is grease in the air of most restaurants that will settle on the floor. The kitchen area may need mopped twice a day. The eating sections, probably once a day but perhaps more often in the grill areas. He recommended a 12 lb. cotton mop head and a clean bucket. Make sure the mop head is changed every few months.

The anti-slip quality should last about 1 year minimum if the floors are properly maintained.
I'll be faxing you the information, Tina. Hope to enjoy your teriyaki again soon!

Sincerely,
Barbara

Q: "I have anosmia, i.e. I have lost my sense of smell. We have natural gas heat, a natural gas water heater and a natural gas cooking stove. I cannot smell a gas leak. Which gas detector do you recommend?"

Answer: Currently, we sell three brands of combustible gas alarms.

Two brands are UL1484 listed for use with natural gas and propane gas and also work with gasoline fumes and butane fumes. These are the Safe-T-Alert 40-411AC and the Safety Siren Combustible Gas Alarm and the Safety Siren CO and Combustible Gas Alarm.

The advantage of the Safe-T-Alert is the long cord for proper positioning of the detector, i.e. high and near the appliance for natural gas and low and near the appliance for propane. We also sell the Safe-T-Alert in a 230VAC unit for Europe and Asia. The Safety Siren unit is a direct plug in with a safety tab that the outlet plug screw goes through so the unit cannot be easily removed. Most customers who buy the Safety Siren model install an electrical outlet at the proper height for natural gas or propane.


All our combustible gas alarms sound at less than 25% of the lower explosive or flammable level of the gas.

Please contact us if you have further questions.

Sincerely, Barbara