Prevent fires in your home this October. There are many common causes of house fires, and the second most common cause of house fires right after cooking mishaps is heating. October is a month dedicated to fire prevention and safety awareness. The NFPA works to spread fire safety awareness to honor those who died or were harmed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This fire killed hundreds of people, left thousands homeless, and burned thousands of structures. This is an example of a time when a fire got out of control and why it is so important to prevent fires in your home.
Use Your Heater Properly
It is important to use your heater properly to prevent fires in your home. Whether you are using your home’s central furnace or a small space heater, it is important to take the necessary precautions to prevent fires in your home. When you turn your heater on there is always a small risk, they get very hot and they use a lot of energy to generate heat for your home.
Take extra precautions to make sure your heater is clean and has a clear area with no flammable materials near it. Make sure your heater is clean and free of flammable particles of dust. Make sure the area around your heater is clear. One of the main things a heater needs in order to not pose a danger to you is space.
Each year before you turn on your heater for the first time in the season, inspect it to make sure there are no signs of damage. Frayed cords and other problems that will be easy to spot are great things to look out for. You can avoid fire danger by looking for these signs.
Take Extra Precautions
There are extra precautions you can take to prevent fires in your home. One of the top tips to prevent fires is to make sure your heater has the safety seal of a qualified testing laboratory. These heaters will have essential features such as overheating protection and automatic shut-off.
The biggest safety precaution you should take is to create a just-in-case escape plan for you and your family. The NFPA’s fire prevention message this year is, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” Fire spreads very quickly. In fact, after your fire alarm or smoke detector goes off, you only have about 2 minutes to get out of your home safely.
Create a plan with your family to use the fastest way to exit your home in the event of a fire. Make sure that everyone is aware of the plan and walk through each step of the plan with the family. In the event of a real emergency, you will only have a few minutes.
Fire very quickly becomes out of control. You have to make a plan before the moment comes to use the evacuation plan. Though these tips significantly help reduce the risk of fire in your home, they won’t eliminate the possibility of fire danger altogether.
Call Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating
The season to turn your heater on is rapidly approaching. Call us at +1-972-895-7498 for a tune-up on your heater. We provide cleaning and seasonal maintenance to help you and your family stay safe from fires. Prevent fires in your home with Ellis Air Conditioning And Heating this fall and winter. Contact us anytime you need heating maintenance. We have been helping people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 45 years and are proud to continue to offer our HVAC service.