Home Heating Safety Tips To Prevent Fires

With the colder nights setting in now and temperatures generally dropping, we are turning up thermostat dials, plugging in portable space heaters, lighting fireplaces and wood stoves just to keep warmer.

Here are some tips to follow to keep your home and family safe during these colder months.

Portable Space Heaters

• Make sure your heater has been tested for safety.
• Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn – including furniture, people, pets and curtains.
• There should always be an adult in the room when a space heater is on. Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use. Never use space heaters to dry clothing or blankets.

 Fireplaces and Wood Stoves

• Burn only seasoned hardwood like oak, ash or maple. Do not burn trash, cardboard boxes because these items burn unevenly may contain poisons or cause a home fire.
• Have a trained professional inspect chimneys every year. Creosote logs can be used to help reduce the build-up of creosote  in fireplaces.
•  Check labels to make sure the log has been tested and approved by UL.
• Open flues before fireplaces are used.
• Use sturdy screens or glass doors to keep embers inside fireplaces.
• Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and inside or near sleeping areas.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Precautions:

Carbon Monoxide is known as “the silent killer”. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it.

It is a deadly gas that is produced by fuel-burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters.

Follow these guidelines to help keep your family safer-

• Install at least one CO alarm near sleeping areas.
• Have your central heating system/woodstoves and fireplaces inspected by a professional each year, cleaned or repaired as needed.
• Never use an oven or range to heat your home.
• Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
• Portable electric generators must be used outside only.
•  Never use them indoors, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow  CO  to collect.

Each household should have a well-rehearsed family escape plan

• It is esssential to have this plan of action in place and that it is well-rehearsed so you can make sure everybody is out safely inevent of a fire.
• Have fire extinguishers installed in your home, know where they are located and more importantly know how to use them.