Fire prevention key to keeping house safe and warm
We recently told you how to protect yourself against the dangers of carbon monoxide. This week we'll tell you how to prevent fires while staying warm.
No matter what method of heating you use, you should take steps to avoid fire. Have your furnace inspected by a heating contractor once a year. Between inspections have it serviced immediately if you notice loose parts, rust or leakage. Keep the area around your furnace free of dust and lint, because they can catch fire.
If your home is heated by oil and your oil tank is old, have it professionally checked for pinholes, which may leak. If your house is heated by gas, and you smell gas, there is a risk of fire and explosion. Open the windows immediately, leave the house, and call the gas company's emergency number or the fire department. If your house is heated by electricity, don't let anything that might catch fire touch the heating units.
Never use kerosene, butane or propane heaters indoors. If you must use space heaters indoors, use only electrical space heaters. Don't put the heater near furniture or draperies or anything that might catch fire. Newer electrical heaters have a switch designed to turn the heater off automatically if it falls over. Even so, it is best not leave an electrical heater unattended.
If you have a fireplace or woodburning stove, have it and the chimney inspected and cleaned, before you use your fireplace for the first time. You should have both cleaned once per year thereafter.
In addition to cleaning the fireplace and chimney flues, the chimney sweep should check that your chimney has a liner. Chimney liners reduce the build-up of flammable creosote, which can cause a chimney fire. They also prevent small holes in the chimney mortar from leading to fire in the walls.
The chimney sweep should also check that you chimney is tall enough that sparks will not blow onto the roof or back through open windows. Installing a spark screen or arrested around the chimney cap will also help.
If your home smells of wood smoke, it means that toxic chemicals and allergens are not going up your chimney and you should have your chimney inspected immediately. You should also check the wall in front of the chimney from time to time. If it is very hot, have your chimney inspected immediately. It's an indication that a fire could start in your wall.
Burning the wrong kind of wood can also create a fire hazard. If you burn green or wet wood or softwoods, you can get a buildup of creosote, which can cause a chimney fire. If you burn only treated logs, you can up with a buildup of paraffin, which is also flammable. It is a fire hazard to use lighter fluid or gasoline to get your fire started. Instead use newspaper and small pieces of kindling.
When using your fireplace (or wood stove with the door open), protect against sparks and embers by using a screen or specially installed glass doors. You should also have at least 18 inches of protective tile, brick or cement between the stove or fireplace and wooden floors or carpets. Keep tongs, a poker, a shovel and heat-proof gloves beside your fireplace or stove to use to return hot embers that have fallen out.
Make sure a responsible person is always in the room when a fire is burning in a fireplace. Don't leave the house or go to bed while there are still flames or burning embers. Finally, keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.
Margaret Kerr and JoAnn Kurtz
Real Estate News 02/06/98
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