Home Heating Fire Safety Tips

12/9/2016 (Permalink)

Heating with a fireplace

Temperatures are dropping in the tri-city area of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia, but home heater usage is rising –and so are the incidents of house fires! National studies and our professional fire damage restoration experience have shown that heating units are the number one cause of house fires during the winter months. Of course, there is no ideal time for a house fire, but in the holiday season, it seems especially bitter.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we at St. Charles SERVPRO couldn’t agree more. Enjoy a safe holiday season in the warmth of your home with these home heating fire safety tips.

Check The Unit

At the beginning of the winter months, check your space heater, fireplace, or another heating device to make sure it is clean and in good working order. Heating units that have been in storage all year accumulate a thick layer of lint and dust that can block ventilation, potentially causing the unit to overheat and ignite. Older units can also have worn or frayed wiring.

Poorly maintained fireplaces and chimneys are also to blame for many household fires. Broken chimney flues, layers of soot, and flying embers are all causes of fire damage in St. Charles homes. Have a professional clean and inspect your fireplace and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

The “3-Foot” Rule

Keep a 3-foot area around your home heating unit entirely clear. This true for flammable items such as furniture as well as for passers-by. Designate the 3-foot area as “walk-free” all the way around to avoid knocking over the unit or tripping over cords.

Watch Children

The 3-foot Rule should also be a kid-free zone. Do not allow children to sit or play near the heating unit. Also, never leave children unattended while the heating unit is in use.

Check Your Smoke Alarm

Test your smoke alarm at least once a month by pressing the test button and be sure to place them in areas where you use the heating unit. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) also arecommends that you replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

Turn It Off Before Heading To Bed

Although it is tempting to keep household heaters, furnaces, and fireplaces on during the balmy nights, it’s safer to turn them off. The potential for fire damage and the risk of fatalities rises significantly with unattended heating sources.

The joys of chilly nights and holiday family gatherings at home can suddenly be cut short by a house fire. Whether it originates from a heater or another household source, we make your fire damaged home merry and bright again. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week –yes, even Christmas Day –ready to begin the smoke, water, and fire damage restoration in St. Charles and surrounding neighborhoods.

Explore our blog for more tips on how to keep your home smoke, water, mold, and fire damage-free. For additional information about our home and commercial fire damage restoration services, click on the fire damage tab on the menu above or call us at (630) 377-7062.