The alarms are required to be installed outside of each sleeping area and at least one per floor of living space. The mounting height according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 720), appears to not effect performance. I have read that density of carbon monoxide is similar to that of air at room temperature, and carbon monoxide generally mixes readily with air. Considering that the CO alarms come in a plug in style, battery operated or hard wire installation mounting height may not be an issue.  However, some firemen I have spoke to recommend a lower installation height rather than up on the ceiling. You can buy a combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide alarm, but plug in CO alarms are readily available and require no mounting hardware. Smoke alarms are still required, this new law does not change the smoke alarm requirements.  For those who want to be extra cautious you can place a CO alarm in each bedroom.

1. The number one reason involves safety for your family.  Simi Valley is in earthquake country,  Those that remember the effects of the Northridge Earthquake might not realize how fast time flies and it is now 17 years after that big quake.  Are you earthquake safe in your house? Do you have 3 days provisions for your family in case the next “Big One” hits?  Your 50 gallon traditional tank style Water heater may be your only source of clean drinking water in the event we have another large earthquake.  Make sure your Water heater is braced and strapped so it will not fall over during an earthquake.  I have posted Simi Valley Earthquake preparedness – Water Heater Bracing

2. Cost; while there are a buzzillion commercials on the radio these days talking about tankless water heaters, tankless systems are often significantly more expensive.  Tankless heaters are the buzz, they are sexy and they might sound like a good thing, but for those of us in earthquake country, would you rather have a 50 gallon reserve of clean drinking water or the latest fad.

3.  When there is a power outage, you have no hot water with a tankless system  If the gas or power goes out to your Hot water heater, you will still have hot water for a couple hours.

Please make sure your water heater is properly strapped and braced.  If you need assistance from a licensed plumber, for  Simi Valley Plumbers, you can call Beck’s Plumbing at (805) 300-6146 or T-Top Plumbing  at (805) 527-886

Related Articles:

• Earthquakes – Ted Mackel Guest of Cindy Dole’s Home Wizards Show KFWB radio Los Angeles
• Simi Valley Earthquake preparedness – Emergency Gas Shut Off
• Simi Valley Earthquake preparedness – Water Heater Bracing
• Northridge Earthquake 15 year anniversary

Water Heater Bracing Detail

This detail is only to provide information on how to strap the water heater for security in case of an earthquake. This detail is not an installation instruction for the water heater itself. Please be aware that there is a minimum clearance that must be maintained between the bottom of the water heater and the floor which is not indicated on this diagram. Please consult a licensed plumber, your local building and safety department and/or the manufacturer of your water heater for the proper clearances and installation instructions.

Related Articles:

• Emergency Gas Shut Off
• Chino Hills Earthquake Video Blog
• City of Simi Valley Office of Emergency Preparedness

It’s no secret that people love the topics of real estate and home improvement. Some my most read articles on my blog are home improvement articles. Cindy’s show this time moved away from home improvement and gardening and focused in on a very serious topic related to home ownership and that topic was reminiscing events of the 1994 Northridge earthquake and the preparation for future earthquakes in Southern California.  Two important issues came to surface immediately. First, was understanding that Northridge type events are more common for those of us in Southern California. Examples would be the Whittier Narrows earthquake, the San Fernando/ Sylmar earthquake, etc.

The second issue that came to surface from the experts was that they believe a section of the San Andreas fault between Palm Springs and Palmdale has a high probability rupture in the next 30 years. The difference between an earthquake generated from the San Andreas fault versus our more recent events is that a much larger magnitude quake accompanied by longer shake times (up to two minutes) – will most likely occur.

In sharing my experiences during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and sitting in studio with the experts I quickly realized that 16 years has passed, which has created some complacency in my own preparation. This is an important topic to stay in touch with to make sure your home is safe,  that you have enough supplies for several days and that you have adequate insurance in case of loss.

Good news for those of you contemplating purchasing a home.   Sellers now supply a natural hazards disclosure report prepared by a third-party company that shows where fault lines and liquefaction zones are located in relation to the property you are planning to purchase. Other  hazards such as flooding and fire zones are included in that report as well. If your home is located in one of these hazard zones, it helps to know so you can plan accordingly and be prepared for future likely events.

Also mandatory retrofit items for Ventura County / Simi Valley Home Sellers include water heater bracing and in Los Angeles County a earthquake shutoff valve for your natural gas service.

The player below is the recording of Saturday’s Show.  You can subscribe to Cindy’s Show on iTunes or listen live every Saturday Morning at 8:00 am on KFWB 980 am.

If you can’t see the player for the show above here is the link

Cindy Dole Home Wizards Show on KFWB 980 am May 1st Earthquake Special

Make sure to Follw Cindy on Twitter @CindyDole

Also Cindy has a Facebook Page Cindy Dole on Facebook

And of course her webpage www.CindyDole.com

Related Posts:

Northridge Earthquake 15 year Aniversary

Simi Valley Earthquake Preparedness Emergency Gas Shut Off

Simi Valley Earthquake Preparedness Water Heater Bracing

Cindy Dole’s Remembering Northridge Quake 1994

Thanks for reading Simi Valley’s Premiere Real Estate Blog!
Author – Ted Mackel Simi Valley Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Realty
Ted Mackel is a top producer at Keller Williams Realty Simi Valley,
specializing in Simi Valley Real Estate
(805) 432-7705

Simi Valley Earthquake Preparedness

Emergency Gas Shutoff

Emergency Gas Shut Off Diagram

In the event there is an earthquake do not shut off your gas unless you have a leak. The reason for this is that if you any non electronic pilot light you will need to know how to relight any that exist. It might be a long time before the gas company can come to your home to turn your service back on and reset your appliances. You may need to boil water for several days after a major event and again if you do not detect any leaks in your gas system after an earthquake, you may need the gas more than you realize.

Additionally if your water heater falls over and causes a break at the gas connection there usually is a gas shut off at the wall where the water heater gas line connects, you can shut off the gas there if that is the only place you have a leak and this way you will be able to use your stove and furnace. To prevent your Water heater from falling over in an earthquake make sure it is properly strapped. I will post a diagram for proper water heater bracing soon.