Holiday Safety Tips For Home Heating

It is easy to think that a home fire would never happen to your family, but there are more potential risks around your home than you may think – especially during the winter months. Fires grow so quickly that it can take just seconds for a spark to fill a room with toxic smoke. A recent study showed that within three seconds of ignition, a dry scotch pine is completely ablaze; within 40 seconds, a flashover occurs that engulfs the entire room and releases dense, deadly, toxic smoke.

First, be prepared. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. You should test your alarms every week and make sure that you can hear them from behind closed doors. Involve children in the testing so that they know what the alarm sounds like and what they should do if it goes off. You should also change the batteries at least twice a year. An easy way to remember to change the batteries is to do it every time you change the clock for daylight savings time.

Be sure your family has a fire escape plan in place. Make a quick drawing of the floorplan of your home and identify at least two exits from every room. Go over the plan with your kids and identify a meeting place outside of the house such as the mailbox or neighbor’s driveway. Be sure to hold a fire drill and practice getting out of the house with your children at least twice a year. Families with infants or very young children should plan how to get those children out. Older children can be taught to stay low in case of fire, feel doors before opening them and never return to a house once they have gotten out.

It’s no surprise that home heating fires peak during the winter months. With increased fireplace use, chimney fires are a greater risk, as are fires caused by errant sparks. Take a minute for safety today and call to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. 

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends cleaning once a year to reduce the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning due to creosote build-up or obstructions in the chimney. Also, always use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from getting out of the fireplace. Never burn wrapping paper in the fireplace as it can cause an intense burst of heat that can lead to a fire. 

In addition to fireplaces causing unintentional fires, space heaters are involved in a large number of home fires. In fact, space heaters are responsible for the majority of fatal home heating fires. The most common cause of a space heater fire is leaving it too close to something that can burn such as a blanket or curtains. Space heaters should be positioned at least three feet away from objects and placed on a firm surface to prevent tipping. Never leave a space heater unattended and always shut them off before going to bed. Objects such as coats and mittens should never be placed on a space heater to dry.

Looking for a fast and fair company to work with for your indoor living comfort and installing or repairing HVAC systems give Aaron’s Mechanical Services a call and let us help you! Call 623-388-4436

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Aaron’s Mechanical Service
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