PREVENT APPLIANCES FROM ENDANGERING YOUR HOME

The household appliances you use every day can be more dangerous than you might think. Fires, electric shocks, carbon monoxide leaks, and floods can all wreak havoc on your home at the hand of a household appliance.

Below are some appliances to be mindful of, and tips to avoid disaster.

1. Stoves

Gas or electric stoves can severely damage your home. Stoves are often left unattended, and that’s when trouble strikes. There have even been instances of stoves turning on unprompted, causing immense damage.

Ensure you have quality smoke detectors to alert you before a fire becomes uncontrollable. Smoke detectors with 24/7 alarm monitoring allow for prompt notification and dispatch of first responders, whether you’re home or away.

360 degree Mini sensor detector switch

2. Clothing Dryers

Lint, gas leaks and overheating can cause your dryer to catch fire. To prevent dryer fires, clean the lint out of the filter after each load. Occasionally, check your vent for a secure connection and cleanliness, as this is another hot spot for dryer fires.

Gas-powered dryers are also an unsuspecting place for a carbon monoxide leak. This is especially dangerous because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless.

In addition to smoke alarms, install a carbon monoxide detector near your sleeping area (at minimum) or on each floor of your home (ideal) to protect you and your family. A carbon monoxide detector connected to a 24/7 alarm centerallows operators to dispatch proper help if needed.

3. Washing Machines & Dishwashers

Washing machines and dishwashers are prone to water leaks. This is no surprise, but the thousands of dollars in flood damage or fires caused by shorted circuit boards can  smart home security  be unsuspecting to homeowners. No one has the time to constantly monitor these machines, so install water sensors to stop the problem at the first sign of a leak.

4. Microwave Oven

The microwave may seem like a safe zone for kids and unsupervised cooking. However, poor electrical wiring, age, water damage and improper use can start microwave fires in seconds.

Always use microwave-safe plates and bowls. Let food sit before you remove it, or wear heat resistant gloves. And never put foil or other dangerous materials in the microwave. If your kids are learning to cook in the microwave and make meals independently, consider facing your indoor smart home security cameras toward their heavily used kitchen appliances, so you can supervise from your mobile device while on the go.

5. Toasters

Toasters can smoke, catch fire or even shock users. Who knew toast could be so risky? Don’t let this scare you from making your morning meal, but do take precautions to prevent electric shocks and fires:

• Keep an eye on bread while it’s toasting.
• Never remove food from a toaster with a conductive material.
• Shy away from choosing foods that are too large or small for your toaster and could cause a jam.
• Unplug your toaster if your toaster is jammed.

Nov 2017 WHAT ARE MILITARY GRADE CELL PHONE CASES?

There are many different types of cell phone cases, but they aren’t all created equally. Before buying a case, read the product description carefully to learn more about the item. One term that often appears in the description of a cell phone case is “military grade,” which may also be referred to as military standard, or MIL-STD. This term is used to describe the durability of the cell phone case, but it’s important to understand exactly what it means before you purchase a military grade cell phone accessory. Here’s what you need to know about this label:

An Introduction to Military Grade Cell Phone Cases

In order to use this term on its packaging, a cell phone case must pass certain testing standards established by the U.S. military. These standards were designed to prove that a product was strong enough to withstand certain conditions, which is why these are known as the most durable cases. When a cell phone case is described as being “military grade,” this typically means that it has passed the MIL-STD-810G standards, which are a series of drop tests designed to measure a case’s ability to protect a phone.

New annual ring mobile phone shell for Iphone 8

What Are the Drop Tests?

Cell phone manufacturers must perform a series of drop tests to prove that their case provides military grade protection to smartphones. In order to pass these tests, a cell phone and its case must be dropped multiple times from a height of either 112 cm or 4 ft. The rules also state that the phone and its case must land on a hard surface of plywood that is at least two inches thick. Although hardwood is not as hard as concrete, it is still a hard surface that can be used to test the durability of a case.

The phone will be dropped a total of 26 times, and it must be dropped in a certain way in order to pass this test. Whoever is performing the test must drop the cell phone first on its face, then on its edges, and then on each corner.

The phone should be closely inspected between each drop to check for signs of damage. The condition of the case does not necessarily matter, but the phone should still be fully functional after each drop or the case is not considered military grade. By passing these tests, manufacturers can prove that their products will hold up in the event that a consumer accidentally drops their phone.

How to Shop For A Military Grade Cell Phone Case

A lot of cell phone cases may claim to be military grade, but before you purchase one of these cases, try to learn more about the drop tests performed by the manufacturer. Why? Some manufacturers perform the drop tests themselves instead of hiring an independent third party firm. If the manufacturer performed the tests, customers have to trust that the results are valid. However, an independent third party would be able to provide more reliable and trustworthy results.

If the manufacturer posts the results from the drop test, see if it includes any information on the height at which the test was performed. Since the standards state that a manufacturer can drop the phone in its case from either 112 cm or 4 ft., many manufacturers choose to do it from 112 cm since this is not as high as 4 ft. A case should still be considered durable if the phone survives a drop from 112 cm, but it’s better to find a case that is dropped from 4 ft. Many manufacturers that are confident in their products will even go one step further by testing the durability of the case from greater heights. These manufacturers want to prove the incredible strength of their cases so they can set themselves apart from the countless other accessories on the market.

There’s also a loophole written into the military grade standards that many manufacturers take advantage of when performing the drop tests. Even though the rules state that the cell phone and cell phone case must be dropped a total of 26 times, it does not state that the same phone must be dropped each time. In fact, the rules allow manufacturers to use up to five different samples when performing the drop test. This means it’s possible that a case is only dropped five or six times before being considered a military grade accessory.

Finally, the rules are not clear on what types of damage are acceptable in a drop test. The guidelines state that the phone must be inspected after each drop to ensure it is still functional, but what does functional mean? If a manufacturer performs this test, they could define functional as still being able to turn on, even if many of the features no longer work due to the extent of the damage.

For these reasons, it’s important to learn more about the drop test procedures used by the manufacturer before purchasing a cell phone case. Don’t be afraid to contact a manufacturer and ask for more information if there is nothing listed on their website. The more information that a manufacturer can provide, the more confident you should feel that the cell phone case is as durable as the manufacturer claims.

The term military grade is clearly not a marketing gimmick that is used to trick consumers into thinking they are purchasing a high quality product that is worth every penny. As you can see, there are many benefits to owning a military grade cell phone if you are worried about damaging your phone. Find the perfect military grade case by visiting www.CellPhoneCases.com today. As one of our valued customers, you will get free shipping on every order, and if you are not satisfied with your purchase, we offer 365-day easy returns!