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6 | LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2022 | HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR SPECTRUM CABLE BILL Garage Fire Prevention Tips Solera Bulk Cable By David Gilford Everyone in Solera receives a DVR and cable service from Spectrum for no charge. The fee is paid through our HOA monthly fees. However, if you want cable in an extra room, such as a bedroom or den, you must rent a cable box from Spectrum, which costs as much as $11.99 per month, per box. There is a simple way to avoid the monthly fee. If you have internet service in your home, you can purchase a device such as a Roku stick or Amazon Fire Stick, and return your cable boxes to Spectrum. The Roku and Fire devices cost $19.99 to about $49.99, depending on features. Both devices include easy to use, voice activated, remote controls. After just a few months, you will have paid for your investment, and are saving real money every month. The Firestick and Roku devices are available from Best Buy and Amazon. Why do many garages pose a fire hazard? • Water heaters and boilers are usually stored in garages, and they can create sparks that may ignite fumes or fluids. Car batteries, too, will spark under certain conditions. • Oil and gasoline can drip from cars. These fluids may collect unnoticed and eventually ignite, given the proper conditions. • Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, motor oil and paint are commonly stored in garages. Some other examples are brake fluid, varnish, paint thinner and lighter fluid. The following tips can help prevent garage fires and their spread: • The floor should be clear of clutter. Loose papers, matches, oily rags, and other potentially flammable items are extremely dangerous if they are strewn about the garage floor. • Use light bulbs with the proper wattage, and do not overload electrical outlets. • Tape down all cords and wires so they are not twisted or accidentally yanked. • Be aware that, if you install a pet door in the door leading from the house to the garage, flames can more easily spread into the living area. • Make sure that the door leading from the garage to the living area is well sealed and remains closed when not in use. • Store your flammable liquids in clearly labeled, self-closing containers, and only small amounts. Keep them away from heaters, appliances, pilot lights and other sources of heat or flame. • Never store propane tanks indoors. If they catch fire, they can explode. Propane tanks are sturdy enough to be stored outdoors. • Make sure, if you have a golf-cart, that the battery is properly maintained, water levels are optimal in order to keep leaded plates submerged, the battery is not overcharged, and it is not corroded. The corrosion may produce air gaps, which may cause sparks and thus the sparks may reach the battery terminal, and this will cause the battery to explode. This happens when air is in friction with the wires and the energy that flows along with them causes sparks. • Never leave space heaters unattended or near any combustible materials. In summary, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent garage fires from spreading to the rest of the house, or to keep them from starting in the first place. After you acquire your new Roku or Fire Stick, follow these steps. 1. Get an online account with Spectrum, with an ID and Password. 2. Connect your new Roku or Fire Stick to an HDMI port on your television. 3. Follow the instructions included with your device to connect to your Wi-Fi network. 4. Download the Spectrum App onto your Roku or Fire device. You will now be able to watch cable TV on your television by signing in to the Spectrum app. 5. You can now create a free account on HBOMax using your new device. You can also add other pay services such as Disney+ and Netflix, if you wish. 6. There are many free streaming apps available that you can use, also. We purchased two Roku 4K sticks for $29.99 each at Best Buy, and saved enough to pay for them in just over two months. The following is from your Solera CERT Cadre with information extracted from an article by International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) Solera CERT Cadre

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