Heating Safety Tips for Staying Safe & Warm this Winter
It is well known that heating equipment is one of the biggest culprits of home fire fatalities. The winter months of December, January, and February* are when around half of these home heating fires are reported. And with winter quickly approaching, it is important to know what you can do to avoid becoming a statistic. Follow these heating safety tips to stay safe and warm this winter.
Reasons for Home Fires in the Winter
Firstly, it’s important to know the usual causes of home fires and other dangers in the winter, and why they are so common. These causes are:
- Candles & Christmas decorations
- Generators & electrical
- Heating appliances
Candles & Christmas Decorations
11% of all candle fires take place in December and January. Another interesting fact is that Christmas Day has the highest occurrence of candle fires. Holiday lights pose another risk of electrical fires, especially if they are not wired correctly or are worn out.
Generators & Electrical
Many people use portable generators as a backup in case of a power outage. Although it is smart to have a plan B in case of a gnarly winter storm, using generators incorrectly can be very dangerous. Along with the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, improper use of portable generators can lead to house fires.
Additionally, around half of all house fires are caused by electrical equipment.
Heating Appliances
If you’re wondering about that other half, wonder no more. Heating appliances like space heaters are another one of the biggest culprits of home fires.
Winter Heating Safety Tips & HVAC Safety Tips
The general safety tips to stay safe and warm this winter are as follows:
- Know the protocol if you smell gas in your home
- Keep flammable items away from any heating appliance
- Make sure children stay away from flames and heaters
- Only heat your home with the correct appliances
- Don’t overcrowd your electrical outlets
- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Don’t leave a candle unattended
- Know the safety protocol for portable generators
General Safety Tips
If you smell gas in your home or coming from your gas appliances, such as your furnace, stove, etc., do not light the appliance(s). Evacuate the home right away and call the local gas company and fire department.
Keep anything that can burn – especially, but not limited to, paper products, cardboard, gasoline, paint or paint thinners, wood scraps, old rags, and sawdust – at least 3 feet away from furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, wood furnaces, hot water heaters, or portable space heaters.
Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open flame and heating appliances. This ensures your children stay safe.
Never use your oven to heat your home. Leaving a gas oven open releases carbon monoxide into your home, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, it’s not very efficient.
Only connect a single heating device to a single electrical outlet at any given time. Overloading your electrical outlet increases the risk of shocks and fires.
Install smoke alarms & carbon monoxide detectors and test them monthly.
Never leave candles burning unattended. You never know what can come into contact with the flame.
It is recommended to place portable generators away from any windows, and to keep them a good distance away from the home. This is because these generators release carbon monoxide, which you want to keep away from your home.
What about Heating Equipment?
The best heating safety tips are as follows:
- Don’t DIY installations.
- Follow manufacturer instructions.
- Don’t skip your annual maintenance check for your heating equipment and chimneys.
- Don’t leave space heaters on unattended.
- Use the correct type of fuel for each appliance.
- Take advantage of fireplace screens.
- Know how to deal with ashes from wood burning appliances.
Heating Equipment & Fireplace Safety Tips
It is important to have a knowledgeable expert put in stationary heating devices, water heaters, or central heating systems that comply with the regulations of the area and instructions given by the manufacturer. A faulty job of installing equipment can seriously heighten the risk of dangers like fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, or electrical shocks.
Heating equipment & fireplaces must be vented outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Wood burning stoves and furnaces must be installed following the manufacturer’s instructions. We strongly recommend you have professional do the installation.
Once a year have a qualified professional inspect your heating equipment and clean & inspect your chimneys**. This helps to prevent problems before they happen. It’s important that both your heating equipment and their ventilation systems are working optimally before winter begins. Make sure to call a professional before the weather starts getting colder to ensure you’re ready.
Never leave a portable heater unattended, always turn it off when going to sleep or leaving a room. There is a risk of electrical fire if you leave space heaters going for too long, so it’s a good habit to only use them sparingly and to keep an eye on them while they are running.
When utilizing fuel-powered space heaters, it is essential to ensure the type of fuel used is appropriate for the specific machine.
Additionally, a sturdy fire guard should be placed in front of the appliance to prevent sparks from entering the area. Flying embers can cause objects in the room to catch fire, and it can happen quickly. A screen blocks those sparks and decreases that risk.
Ashes from fireplaces, wood stoves, and wood burning furnaces should be cool before storing them in a metal container which should be kept outside, a safe distance away from your home.
Stay Safe by Maintaining Your Heating Appliances
One of the best ways to stay safe this winter is by regularly maintaining your heating appliances. This ensures that you catch potential problems before they happen. Maintenance helps prevent your appliances from malfunctioning and leading to a chilly, uncomfortable, or even dangerous home. Live Free Heating Cooling Electric offers free estimates (terms apply) on our services. Contact us today to start on your way to a safe and healthy home!
* Source: nfpa.org ** Depending on how much use your chimney gets, you’ll need to clean your chimney more than once a season. Please refer to a chimney professional for specific guidance regarding your own chimney.