Winter is here, and with it a host of new fire and life safety considerations.
With winter comes colder weather, requiring more heating for many people. It can also be a time of celebration, often featuring twinkling holiday lights. And, some people celebrate the winter months with cozy fireplace fires or lighting candles.
Fortunately, you can have a safe and comfortable winter when you keep a few fire considerations in mind. In this blog, we’ll explain four checklist items you’ll want to be sure to include as you celebrate the winter season.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your home or office fire safe is to do the required maintenance on your HVAC systems. Maintenance should be done on an HVAC system at least once a year, but ideally twice a year, in the spring and fall.
On your own, you can make sure your home furnace is kept clean and dust free, and be sure to change the filter regularly. The rate at which you should replace your furnace filter will vary based on the type of filter your system uses, but can range from monthly to once a year. If it’s visibly dirty, it should be changed.
Space heaters are one of the biggest fire risks in winter months. Space heaters are responsible for about 1,700 house fires a year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. One of the most common causes of these fires is a space heater being placed too close to something flammable, such as curtains or bedding.
To mitigate the risks, there are some steps you can take if you need to use a space heater:
These steps can ensure that your space heater keeps you warm without becoming a fire and life safety hazard.
Wintertime is a time of celebration for many, between Christmas, Hannukah and other winter holidays. If you choose to decorate with festive lights, make sure to do so safely.
Don’t overload your outlets, and don’t connect more than three strands of lights together. And, only use lights during the holiday season – many aren’t intended for use year-round – and turn them off when you go to sleep at night.
A final fire risk in wintertime comes from fire themselves – specifically, the use of fireplaces and candles.
Fireplace safety is essential. Before you ever light a fire, the chimney needs to be inspected to ensure it’s not blocked and is working correctly. Make sure the damper or flue is open before lighting the fire, and never leave the fire unattended while lit. Keep children, pets and flammable objects at least three feet away from the fireplace.
With candles, many of the same general safety rules apply. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable, and always extinguish them before leaving a room or going to bed. Make sure any lit candles are in stable holders out of reach of children and pets. Better yet – use battery-operated candles, rather than open flames, to be as safe as possible.
Fire safety can be overwhelming – but with CertaSite, it doesn’t have to be. Schedule a consultation with us to discover how we can help you with all your fire and life safety needs, and explore our blog for even more fire and life safety tips.