There are ways to prevent a fire from devastating your home and jeopardizing your safety.
A fire is every homeowner’s nightmare. A house fire occurs once every 87 seconds, and it only takes a couple of minutes for the blaze to turn deadly. Whether it’s an electric space heater, a burning candle, or a fireplace fire, the risk of a fire breaking out comes with using any heating device. Luckily, there are ways to prevent a fire from devastating your home and jeopardizing your safety. Here are some tips for preventing house fires.
Test Smoke Alarms Regularly
The easiest way to avoid a house fire is by checking your smoke alarms regularly. Find the button on the side of the alarm to test it. If it doesn’t trigger or only lets out a small beep, then you need to change the batteries immediately. If a fire breaks out and your alarms are not functioning, tragedy can quickly occur as no one is alerted to evacuate the home.
Inspect Your Heating Equipment
Space heaters and other heating equipment can be hazardous if you don’t take proper precautions. Be sure to have your furnace inspected by a professional to ensure it is in good condition. Also, you should remember to turn portable heaters off when not in the room or going to bed, never use the oven to heat your home, and have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned every year by a qualified professional.
Never Leave the Stove Unattended
Unattended stoves are the number one cause of house fires in the winter. Therefore, you need to stay alert when cooking food to prevent house fires. Walking away from a lit stove is never a good idea, no matter the reason. If you must leave the kitchen, shut off the stove and remove pans from the heat.
Check Your Electrical Cords
Electricity makes our lives easier, but only if it is used correctly. If you are remodeling your home, it’s important to have the electrical work inspected by a professional. After that, keep an eye out for exposed wires and frayed cords. Also, if you have frequent problems with your circuit breakers, get a tingling feeling when you touch an appliance, have discolored or warm wall outlets, or sparks from an outlet, call an electrician immediately.
Safely Store Flammable Items
Flammable products should always be kept far away from heat sources. You should designate a cool, dark cupboard or storage space for things like hairspray, cleaning products, and garden supplies. Also, gasoline, kerosene, and propane should be kept outside in the original containers and away from the grill or other heat sources.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.