Heating Your Home Safely

12/3/2019 (Permalink)

If you experience a fire due to heating equipment, know that SERVPRO of Franklin County is "Here to Help' restore your home 24/7.

Now that winter is here brining shorter days and lower temperatures, you will be using your heat sources more often. To keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use fireplaces, space heaters, and wood burning stoves.

Did you know, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment fires cause an estimated $1 billion in direct property damage annually. Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of a heating-related fire.

• Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or a portable space heater. Have a three foot “kid-free zone” around open fi res and space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.  Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel  burning space heaters.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

If your property does suffer fire damage, contact SERVPRO of Franklin County. Please refer to our Fire Damage Tips - Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property. 

We will help make it “Like it never even happened.”