If you’re like most people, you know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and that’s true with fire safety and a whole host of other things. Check out these seven winter fire safety tips that can help you avoid disaster (and prevent the need for fire and smoke damage remediation services).
7 Winter Fire Safety Tips to Prevent Disaster
Check out these seven winter fire safety tips:
- Don’t use your oven to heat your home
- Keep anything flammable at least three feet from heaters
- Keep your fireplace screen in great shape
- Maintain a three-foot “safety zone” around your fireplace
- Test all your smoke alarms once per month
- Turn your portable heaters off when you leave the room and when you go to bed
- Use the right kind of fuel for fuel-burning space heaters
Here’s a closer look at each.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #1: Don’t use your oven to heat your home
First things first: Using an oven to heat your home is inefficient – it’ll cost you far more to heat your house that way than it would to use the built-in heating system. But on top of that, it’s a carbon monoxide hazard.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #2: Keep anything flammable at least three feet from heaters
Space heaters are known to be dangerous – and most even have warnings printed all over them (or as attachments to the cords). Keep anything that could catch fire at least three feet away to prevent the risk of a house fire.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #3: Keep your fireplace screen in great shape
Your fireplace screen is there to keep sparks from flying into your home, so it should be in great shape when you use it. Check it periodically, and make sure you’re using it properly while you have a fire going.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #4: Maintain a three-foot “safety zone” around your fireplace
Keep kids, pets and flammable items at least three feet away from your fireplace at all times. This helps minimize the risk of fire and accidental burns.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #5: Test all your smoke alarms once per month
If the batteries are low in your smoke detector, it should chirp at you – and that’s a sure-fire sign you should swap them out for a fresh set. However, it pays to check your smoke detectors every month, just to make sure they’re working properly. Smoke detectors have a small test button on them; all you have to do is press it to verify that the alarm is working.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #6: Turn your portable heaters off when you leave the room and when you go to bed
Never leave portable heaters on when you’re not in the room, or when you can’t keep an eye on them (such as when you go to bed). One small spark could burn down your entire house, and it’s just not worth the risk.
Winter Fire Safety Tip #7: Use the right kind of fuel for fuel-burning space heaters
Natural gas is one of the most common fuels for fuel-burning space heaters, but not all of them use it. You should only use the appropriate type of fuel in these heaters, because doing otherwise could put you at risk for a fire.
Do You Need a Disaster Remediation Expert in Washtenaw County or Jackson County?
If your home has already been damaged, we can help. Check out our services and call 734-352-9183 for your free disaster remediation quote today. We offer:
