When winter arrives and the temperatures start to fall, keeping your family warm is important. But it’s also the time of year when home fires happen most often, especially in December, January, and February.
Space heaters are a major cause of home heating fires, accounting for more than two out of every five. Heating equipment is also the top cause of injuries and deaths from home fires. If you and your family are spending time around a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater this winter, it’s important to stay safe while you stay warm.
Keeping your home warm matters, but safety comes first. Here are some simple tips to help you avoid home fires this winter.
Safe placement of heat sources
Make sure to keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, and space heaters. This easy step can help prevent fires in your home.
Proper use of fireplaces and stoves
Don’t burn paper in your fireplace or stove. Always use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to keep sparks and embers from getting out.
Extinguishing fires safely
Before you go to bed or leave the house, make sure any fire is completely out. This helps prevent any flare-ups when you’re not around.
Safe operation of portable heaters
Always turn off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep. For extra safety, plug them right into the wall, not into extension cords or power strips.
Handling ashes
Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, and keep it outside on a surface that isn’t wood, at least three feet from your house.
Installing and testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Make sure you have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor of your home and outside each bedroom. Test them every month and change the batteries at least once a year to keep them working right.
Developing a family fire escape plan
Work with your family to make a fire escape plan and practice it together. Make sure everyone knows two ways out of every room and where to meet outside if there’s ever an emergency.
Regular maintenance and professional installation
Have a professional check your fireplace and chimney for creosote and animal nests. Make sure any space-heating equipment or stoves are installed by a qualified expert. It’s also a good idea to have all your heating equipment cleaned and inspected every year.
We hope these tips will help to keep your home safe from preventable fires caused by heating sources like fireplaces and furnaces. If you need help reviewing your property insurance, don’t forget that you can contact your independent agent anytime to discuss your options. And if you’re not yet insured with Mapfre, you can always get a fast, free online quote to see how much you could save today.
