Heating Safety

2/20/2018 (Permalink)

Space heaters can add warmth during the cold months, but can be a fire risk if not used with precaution.

As the snow falls outside, we cannot help but think about home heating safety. Did you know that half of home heating fires are reported in December, January and February?  Home heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires.  With a few precautions, you can stay warm while preventing most heating fires from even happening.

Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are a wonderful way to heat your home during the winter months. As well as there is a comfort in the light smell of wood smoke on a cold winter day.  Install wood burning stoves following manufacturer’s instructions, or have a professional do the installation.  Any fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.  All fuel-burning equipment should also be vented to the outside to prevent CO poisoning.  This means also keeping chimneys clear/clean to allow for proper ventilation. Installing a CO detector is also a good idea.

Portable heaters are another common option used when the temperature drops.  Just remember to keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from the heating equipment. Try to keep this three-foot space a kid-free zone, as well.  This will help prevent burns to fingers, keep children from accidentally knocking over the heating equipment, or leaving a toy or blanket ON the heater.  Also, remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.

In addition to having Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home, it is important to have operational Smoke Detectors in various locations throughout your home.  Smoke Alarms have been credited with saving many lives in the event of fire.  Check the batteries at least twice a year – a good way to remember is to change the batteries when we turn our clocks for Daylight Savings.

Following a few simple precautions when the temperatures drop can save your family from a home fire.  But, if disaster strikes, do not hesitate to call upon your Fire Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO.