Heating Your Home

11/5/2018 (Permalink)

Wood burning fireplace.

With the nights getting colder, winter is fast approaching. Heating your home increases the chances of a fire starting. With the fireplaces and space heaters the number one and two way to start a fire in the winter. Here is some information about fireplaces and space heaters to prevent fires from starting. 

Fireplaces
Winter is a notorious time for house fires and it is vital to have working fire alarms around the house to alert everyone, but one of the main culprits is faulty fireplaces. The best way to prevent a disaster is having a professional properly inspect it. If your flue or chimney are blocked by debris or contain cracks or leaks, inadequate venting can occur, and toxic fumes may seep into your home. An inspection lets you know that everything is in safe working order. Always make sure your fireplace is out and cooled before going to bed.

Space Heaters
In an effort to help cut energy costs or to accommodate roommates many people use space heaters. Space heaters are an excellent way to warm up cold rooms or provide extra heat. Space heaters can also be hazardous if not used properly. Never leave a space heater unattended especially when children and pets are around, and don’t place it near drapes, shades or bedding. If your heater is more than a few years old, replace it with a new model that has more current safety features such as tip-over protection. This way it shuts off automatically if it happens to fall over.

SERVPRO Burlington/Mt. Holly wants everyone to take the right steps to prevent house fires from happening.