Tobacco Cigar- Bring Home the Royalty

March 7th, 2010

Smoked first by natives of Caribbean nearly 1000 years ago, cigar smoking soon caught popularity like wild fire. Made up of tobacco leaves, these cigars are “kings” among the other smoking elements. Cigars represent style, elegance, royalty and passion. Not many can afford to go for these, yet the sky rocking prices are no hurdle towards their mass popularity. The online websites are now supplying not only the tobacco cigars but also the complete range of accessories at amazingly low prices. So, more and more people are now buying these through online channels and gifting them to someone special.

More about tobacco cigars

The tobacco leaves are carefully collected from hearts of Poland, South Africa and Argentina etc. The handmade cigars are much more premium quality than that of machine made cigars and so is the difference in the prices. The tobacco leaves are carefully picked and packed manually. The kind of packing allows the air to circulate inside the butt while smoking, which in turn results in the smoke produced in the mouth and the taste. The smoke produced inside the mouth can be categorized as the mild, medium and full bodied smoke. These are synonymous with quality, yet are totally subjective at their measurements.

Types of tobacco cigars

There are infinite brands of tobacco cigars available in the market of which few are categorized upon size, others on aroma whereas some others on the smoke produced as well. There are infinite numbers of categories and the brands are available accordingly. The Cuban brand is most famous of all. This, despite being the fact that, the Cuban government has itself banned the brand, yet are sold world over in largest number. Even people prefer buying the brand to store it as antique rather than simply smoke and finish off.

Online channels

You can buy them from online channels at amazingly rock bottom prices. Nearly all brands are available at the online stores. You can order as much as you like and buy them all at competitive price tags. For further information about cigars you can search the net.

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Protect Your Home from Inside Dangers

February 26th, 2010

There are both outside dangers and inside dangers to your house. To make your home more secure, you should not only pay attention to outside dangers such as burglary prevention. Inside dangers is as important. The inside dangers includes but is not limited to threats of fire, water flooding, electrical shortages and many others. Many of these threats can even pose a danger to your life in addition to dangers to your property. There are many different ways to protect yourself from the inside dangers and to make sure that your house, your family and your personal belongings are safe and secure. This article will talk about inside dangers and ways to avoid the damage and make you secure. The first inside danger is the fire damage, which is very important. If you are unable to escape or is sleeping when the fire starts, your life is in danger. There are few steps to protect your home from fire threats: 1, Make sure that you turn off all of the gas or electrical equipment after you finished using it. This will protect you from the possibly of a fire that is started because some electrical equipment was left on and forgotten about. Also make sure that all the electrical and gas equipment is off before you leave the house. 2, Make sure that you don’t place any objects that can easily catch on fire (paper towels, for example) near the oven. If you turn the oven on, these items can light up and cause a fire. 3, Make sure that you never smoke inside your house. It is especially important that you never smoke in the bed. Falling asleep with a cigarette is a major danger to your house and to your life. Smoking inside is one of the main causes of fires. This danger can simply be eliminated by smoking only outside. 4, Make sure that you install a fire and smoke detection system at home. Even a simple system that involves smoke detectors that turn the siren on when they detect smoke or starting fire will increase the security of your home. For more secure, you can sign up for the fire system monitoring service. The monitoring company will notify the fire protection department in a case of an emergency. The second inside danger is the water damage: 1, Make sure that your water is off after you are done using the bathroom and kitchen equipment. This will protect you from a possible water flooding danger. You should check your water equipment to ensure that the water in not running before you leave the house. Regularly check your water pipes and other water system equipment to ensure that nothing is broken and there are no cracks in water pipes. If anything needs to be repaired or replaced, this should be done right away. 2, You can install a flood sensor to protect your house from water damage. When a flood sensor detects water, it immediately sounds alarm to notify you. It can be placed in areas of your home or property such as floors, basements, or any other area that is subject to flooding. The third inside danger is gas leakage. You should make sure that a professional regularly checks your gas equipment and gas pipes to make sure that they are in excellent condition. You should also leave any installation of gas equipment to an expert. A gas leak is a life threatening emergency because it can be a cause of a gas poisoning, a fire or even an explosion. In case of a gas leak follow the specific steps provided to you by your local fire department or your gas company. The fourth inside danger is the electrical shortages. You should never do any installation work that can interfere with the electrical wiring in your house. If you damage any of the wiring, this can be a cause of electrical shortage or even a fire. Make sure that you check if there is any electrical wiring in the location where you are planning to do the installation before you actually start your work. For more secure, you can visit www.security2020.com to find various kinds of security products.

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For Total Home Security, Upgrade Your System To Include Important Safety Features

February 26th, 2010

Home security systems can provide around the clock protection for your home in the event of a home invasion or burglary. The most robust home security systems will be flexible and expandable and can include protection from a variety of safety issues in the home including flood, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, and pipe freezes. Upgrading your system to cover all contingencies adds value to your home security system and protects you and your family from every possible emergency that can arise in your home.

In addition to the sensors and motion detectors that can be monitored by the live monitoring station, there are other sensors and detectors that can be added on to the system. A fire is a major threat to a household and detecting one early can prevent extensive damage and loss of life. Adding smoke and heat detectors to your home security system can protect your home in the unlikely event of a fire, and the monitor can spring into action and call the fire department immediately as soon as the smoke and heat sensors detect a fire. This gives you and your family time to evacuate the house and wait for the fire department to come to extinguish the fire quickly.

Some areas in a home are prone to flooding, such as basements that may lie beneath the water table. If left unchecked, flooding can cause extensive damage to the home and pose a risk to the inhabitants. Flooding sensors can detect if water levels rise in a flood prone area of the house and the homeowner can be alerted to it so the source of the flooding can be detected and preventive measures taken to prevent extensive damage from occurring that may result in expensive repair work.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, lethal gas that is odorless and undetectable by the human nose. It is responsible for the deaths of thousands of homeowners who often die in their sleep because carbon monoxide levels in their home have reached lethal levels. Carbon monoxide detectors can help prevent a tragedy from happening. They can detect when carbon monoxide levels reach a dangerous level in the home and alert homeowners to get out of the home until the source of the carbon monoxide can be identified and appropriate measures are taken to insure it is safe to go back inside the home.

Pipe freezes can cause extensive damage to a home’s plumbing system and water supply. When pipes freeze over, they sometimes burst which causes extensive damage and requires extensive and expensive repair work. Freeze sensors that are strategically placed on pipes can detect when a pipe is in danger of freezing over and you will be alerted to the fact before the pipe freezes so you can take action to prevent any damage.

Adding these home safety components to your home security system is an important upgrade for your system and works in tandem with the monitoring system to insure the complete safety and security for your family. Making the investment and selecting a home security system that can be upgraded to include home safety features like the ones describe is a wise choice for a homeowner that wants to be prepared for every possible contingency.

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How to Survive Winter in the Sunshine State: Tips for Weatherproofing your Home

February 26th, 2010

Yes, Virginia, it actually gets cold in Florida!

Before I moved to the Tampa Bay, I had no idea that the weather ever dropped to a point where I, born and raised in snowy cold freezing temperatures of the north, would ever succumb to wearing so much as a sweater in Florida. I saw people passing by in their coats and scarves and I was astounded. There was no snow! How could they be so cold?

I quickly learned that temperatures in Florida do drop in the winter! They can even reach freezing. And suddenly, I actually reach for a sweater – I even layer my clothes! I wonder if my blood has thinned, making me more susceptible to the cooler days or is there actually something to wet cold versus dry cold (as what I am used to)? My grandmother grew up in a humid climate and always told me that it’s as if the moisture goes right into your bones. A little research tells us that humidity conducts heat away from the body during cooler weather (and conversely, conducts heat to the body during warm weather). Interestingly, it has been stated that 53°F is the magical number where humidity will make the temperature seem colder or warmer depending on whether the temperature is higher or lower than this number.

So now that the days are actually starting to remain quite chilly and even wet from winter rain, and I can attest to near freezing temperatures in Zephyrhills, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor and the like, it is time to weatherproof my home – a metaphorical sweater, if you will, for my property!

Starting indoors, the first thing to do is inspect rooms for cracks and leaks. Fill any cracks or open areas (like around your dryer vent) with appropriate filler like caulk or foam. Check all plumbing for leaks. If you come across a leak, fix it immediately. If needed, consult a professional for help. Next, look for exposed pipes and insulate them. Frozen pipes are usually not a concern for residents of the Florida Gulf as temperatures need to be around 20°F for water to freeze in a pipe and threaten severe water damage. Nonetheless, we all pay heating and cooling bills year round and a well insulated pipe will do wonders for your energy bill.

An often overlooked aspect of weatherproofing your home is attic insulation. As with weatherproofing your pipes, a properly insulated attic can shrink a hefty energy bill. Several energy companies will provide free insulation inspections of your home. Also, there are government programs that exist to help you upgrade the insulation in your home: you pay a portion and the majority of the cost is taken care of by the program. Call your local energy provider today and arrange for an insulation inspection.

In addition to inspecting your plumbing system, exposed pipes, attic and walls for cracks, winter is a good time to have your furnace, fireplace and chimney professionally serviced. A well-maintained system will deliver results efficiently and safely. Further to servicing, before using your fireplace this season, inspect the damper to certify that it opens and closes properly. A beautiful log fire is difficult to enjoy if your home is filled with smoke! On that note, make sure your smoke detector has fresh batteries. It is a good idea to change the batteries twice a year and periodically test your smoke detector.

If you have a gas-log fireplace instead of a traditional wood burning fireplace, be aware that gas-burning appliances in your home give off Carbon Monoxide. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly when using your gas-burning fireplace or any other type of gas-burning appliance. To further protect you and your family, install a carbon monoxide detector and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Finally, if the damper in your chimney has been blocked open to accommodate gas log fumes, a way to alleviate heat loss and prevent drafts is by installing glass doors in front of your fireplace. Please note that doors may remain closed when the fireplace is not in use but must remain open during use.

Even though Florida does not fall victim to snow and ice, there are a few things you can do to weatherproof the outside of your home as well. Winter is a great time to have your trees trimmed and dead trees removed by a professional service. Check gutters for dead leaves and clean them out. Clogged gutters possess a substantial threat for water damage to your home as they will redirect water into your house though the walls and ceiling. If you have any wood outside, like a patio or any furniture, apply a protecting sealant to help prevent water damage and rot. Also, prevent heat loss within your home by checking for any holes in the exterior walls that need filling. If you come across any existing water damage, consult with a restoration company immediately.

A wonderful thing about living in Florida is the ability to enjoy foliage most of the year. However, there are some plants that while they thrive in the moist hot weather most of the year, are extremely susceptible to lower temperature. The best thing to do is to move potted plants inside. If they are too large to bring in, move them closer to your home for added protection or cover them. Many of the tropical trees that we grow in places like St. Petersburg and Sarasota, especially the palm trees, cannot tolerate even a frost. Check with your local nursery for expert advice.

A final word of advice: winterize your pool. Most people prefer to hire a professional when it comes to weatherproofing a pool or outdoor hot tub. From balancing alkalinity to ensuring the water simply will not freeze to keeping the area free of debris, the process can be time consuming and somewhat complex. .Whatever your preference, protecting your pool or spa is an important step that should not be overlooked when weatherproofing your home.

With your home completely weatherproofed inside and out, it is now time to settle in and enjoy the coziness of your home. Sit back, enjoy a cup of hot cider and relax by the fire.

For more information on how to protect your home during the winter and prevent water damage, please contact Advanced Restoration, Inc.

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10 Tips to Get Cheaper Home Insurance

February 26th, 2010

It is always nice when you are able to pay less for homeowner insurance and get the same or more cover. Below are 10 handy tips that you can carry out to get cheaper homeowner insurance premiums.

1. Increase your voluntary excess

Your insurance excess is the amount of money you agree to pay on a claim before the insurer pays the rest. For example, if you had a £200 excess and a £500 claim you would pay £200 and the insurance company would pay 300 pounds. If you choose to pay a higher excess, you will pay a lower premium. You can make substantial savings by doing this. When you are comparing policies, try changing the excess amount and see how much you can save.

2. Fit smoke alarms

Fire alarms are reasonably cheap, especially when you compare it to the cost of a home or the loss of a life. Most home fires are caused by cooking or smoking. Never leave your cooking unattended, don’t leave matches or lighters laying around and don’t smoke in bed. Be aware if you have small children that they love to play with all things exciting and new. They may turn the cooker on, light paper or cover lamps. All of these things may cause a fire in your home.

3. Install new locks

If you have just moved into a new home, you don’t know who might still have a key. The cost of changing your locks is far less than having all of your worldly possessions stolen from from your home. Make sure you fit quality locks – preferably five-lever mortise locks.

4. Have security lighting installed

Burglars prefer to work under the cover of darkness and don’t like to be in the spotlight. Use movement sensors with your lighting to surprise unwelcome visitors and keep them at bay. A blast of bright light will also raise attention with yourself or neighbours in the middle of the night.

5. Install time switches on internal lights

Your home is most at risk to burgulary when you are not present. Lights that are switched on at a particular time will give outsiders the impression that you are in the house when you are not. You can stagger the times lights come on and off in different rooms make it look like you are moving about the house.

6. Have an alarm system installed

Check with your insurer if they have a preferred supplier of home alarm systems. By installing a professional alarm system can often cut premiums by over five percent. That is a big saving, and it will give you peace of mind that your home is safe.

7. Don’t leave your keys under the mat

This will be the 1st place a burglar will look. If you need to hide your house keys, put a little thought into somewhere a thief would never think of looking. Also don’t leave your keys on a hook close to the front door where a burglar could hook the keys with a wire through the front letter box.

8. Insulate your external pipes

Pipes can easily freeze in the great British winter. By lagging (wrapping insulation around the pipe) your external pipes will reduce the chance of them freezing. If pipes do freeze you can often get leaks in cracked pipes or burn out pump motors as the water will not travel through the frozen pipe.

9. Regularly check you house and property for subsidence.

Subsidence is usually covered by your buildings insurance. It is important to identify movement as soon as possible to limit damage to you home. Look for cracks in walls and unevenness in walls and floors.

10. Only claim if you have to

The fewer number of claims you make, the higher your no claims discount will be. If a minor issue happens, consider carefully prior to claiming the item on your insurance. If you do submit a claim and loose your no claims discount, is this going to cost you more in the long run?

In order to save money on your insurance you need to compare insurance providers. Ideally you should do this once a year to make sure you are always getting the best price.

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5 Easy Steps For Home Water Conservation

February 25th, 2010

Now, more than ever, the need to conserve water is at its most important. We are experiencing more frequent water shortages, and limits in some towns are actually being enforced to help reduce water usage. The planet is getting warmer and is causing climate changes, thus resulting in hotter, drier summers and winters with less rain. Our population is increasing by the second, making the water crisis that much more difficult to deal with. In an effort to conserve water, every little bit helps and our efforts can make a difference. Here are five ways to conserve water in your home:


1. Water your lawn during the early morning hour. Watering between the hours of 4 and 8 a.m. is optimum because there is less wind and the sun is not as hot, which decreases water evaporation. Be sure to water thoroughly, at about 1 to 2 inches, throughout your lawn to promote good root growth and to reduce the amount of watering per week. Watering your lawn at night was initially a good idea, but it is found that it promotes insect activity and growth of fungal bacteria.


2. Do not use water to clean your driveway and sidewalk of any waste and debris. Doing so is extremely wasteful. Use a broom instead and sweep up all of that dirt and dispose of it properly in a grass and trimmings garbage bin.


3. Take shorter showers. If you are taking 30-minute showers, then you can be using up to 75 gallons if you are using one of the newer low flow showerheads. If, however, you are using an older showerhead, that 30-minute shower uses up to 120 gallons! Start cutting back 5 minutes off of your shower time every few days until you are able to get in and out in just 5 to 10 minutes. Your monthly water bill will cost less, and you can use that extra time on more important things, such as sleep!


4. Use your dishwasher only when you can operate it on a full load. To prevent having to put the dishes through another cycle because of food that did not come off the first time, soak your dishes in water and use a light brush to loosen up the food debris first.


5. Check for leaks regularly in your home. That tiny leak in your basement can turn into a huge disaster if left unfixed. It is not uncommon to hear of a pipe completely rupturing and causing a huge flood.

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Feel safe in your home with gas detection

February 25th, 2010

Our homes are our haven and the place we go to relax, chill out and where we can really feel safe and secure. There are many precautions people take to feel safe in their own home and these vary from basic daily tasks right through to complex systems.

On a day to day basis it is the little things which matter the most. Ensuring the windows are closed before going out and that the door is locked are simple tasks which we do on autopilot.

When it comes to safety in the home, we ensure that cookers and irons are not left unattended. We do not leave broken glass lying around and we ensure we have fully functioning smoke alarms.

One factor that is often missed, yet very serious, is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a gas which is emitted from various appliances around the home. Generally gas fires, hobs or heaters. If fitted correctly, the gas will be released through the correct channels, however a faulty gas appliance can result in carbon monoxide being released into the home and inevitably, into the lungs of the people in the home.

As this gas is not detectable by smell or sight, it is impossible to know if this gas is leaking into your home unless you have a specific gas detection monitor. At Discount Fire Supplies we provide various types of carbon monoxide gas detectors which will instantly detect any leakage of this gas.

The importance of carbon monoxide gas detection is often underestimated by people, with many households still not having these detectors. Carbon monoxide is dangerous and the devastating and often fatal effects can take place extremely quickly.

By ensuring you have a simple gas detection system in place, you and your family can always feel safe and secure, just like a home should be.

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What Causes Odors In Your Home?

February 25th, 2010

The most common cause of home odors is pets. While your dog or cat might smell fine to you, chances are good that they may not smell as great to those who don’t live with them each day. If you’re taking the time to care for the fur on your pets and to clean up after their messes, you’re certainly on the right track. But if you’re still noticing that sometimes your pet lingers long after they leave the room, you might have an odor problem to fix. This is especially important, too, if you have friends or family members with allergies. That scent can be a sign that there is dander and other pet particles floating in the air, ready to set off a sneezing attack.

Another common need for odor removal is smoke from cigarettes and pipes. While the smoke seems to go away from the room, this smoke’s scent will linger in rooms, causing there to be a buildup of ash and other particulates in the air. This can be harmful to those with breathing troubles, as well as harmful to those who are in the rooms on a regular basis. Sometimes the smoke will simply linger, potentially causing problems with secondhand smoke, even after the cigarette has been put out.

A group of materials that can also cause troubles with residential odors are those things you might not even think of – bacteria, molds, and viruses. Though you cannot see these problem-causers, they can make your air quality poor and increase your chances of becoming ill or of having breathing issues. These particles can collect in the air for a number of reasons, and even if you clean constantly, they can linger until they are completely destroyed.

You might not be able to see all of the odors in your home, but they can still cause troubles if you don’t take care of them. No matter the cause of your residential odor troubles, you need to have someone come out to help your home smell clean and fresh again. Not only will you make your home’s odors disappear, but you might also notice that some of your lingering health troubles also dissipate. And when you have a completely clean home, you can continue to be healthy.

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Quit Smoking Through Simple Home Remedies

February 22nd, 2010

Much has been said and written about smoking as a dangerous health problem. Each and every person who smokes is aware of the fact that their habit could hasten them towards death. Smoking is known to be one of the carcinogenic factors, and could lead to a wide variety of cancers including lung cancer and oral cancer. Smoking also causes various breathing and respiratory problems.

But despite knowing all this, people are reluctant to give up smoking. The main attraction of smoking is the tobacco smoke, which is an addictive. In addition, tobacco smoke also contains nicotine, which is deadly poisonous to human beings in its pure form. Tar is another harmful ingredient. This can clog the lungs over time.

Many smokers have intentions to give up smoking, but cannot go about it in the right way. The main reason behind their inability to give up smoking is its addiction. Of course, a person wishing to give up smoking must have a steely determination to do so. But many a time that is not enough. The body may react violently to the sudden giving up of smoking. For this reason, it is necessary to fortify the body also.

In Ayurveda, there are some good techniques in which the body can be trained to cope up with the reduced smoking habits. This article tries to list some of the better Ayurvedic techniques in helping smokers in their quest of giving up smoking.

Dietary Methods to Stop Smoking

By changing your dietary lifestyle, you can make an effort to quit smoking. The following guidelines can be followed:-

- Do not consume more of acidic foods. Increase the quantity of alkaline foods in the diet. This changes the food preferences of the taste buds and helps them to adapt themselves to the de-addiction. Foods such as raisins, beets, lima beans, dandelion, etc. are very good for people who are giving up smoking.

- Have a good amount of vitamin C intake. This increases the hormones that help the body strengthen. Have a glass of orange juice or grapefruit juice twice daily.

- Sweet foods also help a bit to reduce the urge for smoking. Honey must be liberally used in the diet in different forms.

- Keep your food well supplemented with sources of proteins, amino acids and all the different kinds of vitamins.

- Have a glassful of water with a teaspoon of baking soda in it with every meal. This not only helps to digest the meal properly, but it also helps to reduce the urge for smoking after the meal.

Home Remedies to Quit Smoking

- Whenever you feel the urge of smoking, eat something salty, or lick a little salt with the tip of your tongue. Your craving will go away. If you do this every time you feel like smoking, you will be totally cured of the addiction.

- Grate some radish, strain it and extract its juice. Mix some honey in it. Have this juice twice a day. This is a good remedy for raising the body’s tenacity against smoking.

- Licorice sticks have a placebo effect on smokers. Smokers like to have something in their mouths. So, some experts suggest them to chomp on licorice sticks. These are safe substitutes for the cigarettes. Putting some chocolates in the mouth also help to reduce the urge of smoking. But excessive chocolates are dangerous to health in other respects.

- Chew on sugarcane stubs as a substitute for cigarettes. Sugarcane stubs are very harmless, and their sweet taste helps to reduce the urge for smoking.

- Aromatic oils and fragrances are very good for smokers. A massage with aromatherapy oils can really go a long way in curbing the smokers’ urges.

- When there is nothing around, experts also suggest a certain breathing therapy to stop the craving for cigarettes. When you have an urge, sit down in a calm place. Take ten slow and deep breaths. By doing so, you are stimulating your respiratory system. This will slowly help your urge for smoking to subside.

- Foreign herbs such as valerian, chamomile, hops, skullcap, lobelia and peppermint are also very beneficial in suppressing the urge for smoking.

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Home Insurance Claims Likely to Rise With Smoking Ban

February 21st, 2010

Insurance companies are bracing themselves for a possible rise in home insurance claims, following the July 1st smoking ban. With people banned from smoking in public places, insurance companies are predicting an increase in the numbers of people smoking in the home, thereby increasing the risk of home fires and insurance claims.

According to recent research by the financial services provider, Abbey, 425,000 fires are started in homes each year by smoking materials, causing damages worth an average of £25,500. In addition, a Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announcement in January of this year revealed that smoking was the biggest cause of fire-related deaths in the home. Nearly a third of all households have a smoker living in them, with an average of 132 deaths and 1,600 injuries a year caused by accidental home fires related to smoking materials. A Direct Line Home Insurance survey also suggests that following the ban, an additional 16 million cigarettes may now be smoked indoors every week, resulting in a possible increase from 60 to 100 smoking-related house fires per week. For smokers, it makes uncomfortable reading, but it may also have implications for your home insurance.

Depending on where you live, you may already have some concerns over your future home insurance premiums, especially if you have been affected by the recent flooding across the UK. If claims are also to rise due to smoking-related home fires, you may be worried that the cost of your home insurance will soar. Thankfully, however, home insurance premiums are currently very favourable, with the index of average quoted premiums on home contents insurance falling by 3.22% year on year. Buildings insurance cover (as a homeowner, you will need both building and contents insurance), is also competitively priced with average premiums falling by 0.20% year on year.

What you do need to ensure, however, is that you are adequately covered for these potentially increased risks. Especially if you smoke or live with a smoker, you need to ensure that your existing policy covers you in the event of fire; indeed, the same goes if you live in a flood-risk area. Understanding the risks you are exposed to and regularly checking your insurance policy, will give you security and peace of mind. It may also be worth taking this opportunity to research available home insurance offerings – with such good deals currently in the marketplace, there has never been a better time to find the right policy for your individual needs.

If you or others are going to be smoking in your home, you may also want to take on board some sensible precautionary tips. The following DCLG guidance, for example, could prevent a fire in your home:

* Take extra care when you’re tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol.

* Never smoke in bed – if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.

* Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended – they can easily overbalance as they burn down.

* Buy child-resistant lighters and matchboxes – every year children die by starting fires with matches and lighters. Keep these where children can’t reach them.

* Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn. Make sure your cigarette is not still burning when you are finished – put it out, right out.

* Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish – and don’t let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray.

* Fit and maintain a smoke alarm – when a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999. You can get a basic smoke alarm for the same price as a packet of cigarettes. Better still are smoke alarms with long-life batteries or are mains-powered.

And, of course, if you’re a smoker suffering the consequences of the smoking ban, perhaps now is the time to bite the bullet and give up. After all, it may not only save you a home-insurance claim, but will also have a rather pleasant impact on the price of your life insurance and, of course, your quality of life in general.

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