Winter Heating Hazards

11/26/2018 (Permalink)

Fireworks cause nearly 20,000 home fires each year. ?Source: NFPA.org.

Winter is the same anywhere you go, lower temperatures and shorter days. Often times we use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves to make our homes cozy. Did you know that heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths?

Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of a heating-related fire:

• Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or a portable space heater. Have a three foot "kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
  
  
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  
  

• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  
  

• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  
  

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  
  

• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
  
  

• Test smoke alarms monthly.