Safety Precautions For This Heating Season
Winter is upon us and with colder weather comes shorter days and lower temperatures! Many people use alternative heating sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, pellet and wood burning stoves to help keep their homes toasty. Did you know, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment fires account for $1 billion in direct property damage annually. Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce risk heating-related fires:
- Keep flammable items at least three feet away from heating equipment like furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or a portable space heater.
- Have a three foot “kid-free zone” around open fi res and space heaters.
- Be sure that your fireplace has a screen in front of it to help stop sparks from flying into the room.
- Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the metal container a safe distance away from your home.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or when going to bed.
- Test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries annually.
- Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
- Heating equipment and chimneys should be inspected every year by a qualified professional.
Should your property experience smoke or damage, SERVPRO of Milford-Orange-Stratford is here to make it, “Like it never even happened.”