Safety Of Fireplaces And Wood Stoves
You must stay warmer indoors while the outside temperature drops. Frequently, this entails curling up close to a blazing fireplace, wood stove, or even a space heater. While they are comfortable ways to stay warm, they can also be hazardous. Over 4,000 home fires are caused by wood stoves alone each year. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario can be avoided by using these heat sources responsibly and safely. Make sure you can enjoy a comfortable and secure house throughout the chilly months by following these advice.
Make careful to inspect and clean the chimney and stovepipes frequently if your home contains a fireplace or a wood stove. Regularly is defined as occurring at least once annually prior to the first fire of the season. Chimneys need to be checked and cleaned much more frequently if you have a lot of fires.
Make certain that the screen in your fireplace is sturdy and heavy enough to prevent logs from rolling out of the fire. To keep sparks and embers from escaping, the screen should be large enough to completely enclose the fireplace entrance.
Make sure your wood stove is made solidly out of either hefty cast iron or plate steel if you have one. All weld seams and hinges must be robust and smooth. Before continuing to use your stove, it should be fixed or replaced if it has cracks or other damage.
Always use dry, seasoned firewood when burning in fireplaces and wood stoves. Use of green wood, paper, rubbish, or other fuels is prohibited. These substances don’t burn as predictably, making them harmful fuel. Ensure the fire is fully out before you go to sleep or leave the house. A sturdy metal container should be used to store ashes once they have had time to cool before being removed from the fireplace or stove. To make sure the ashes aren’t hot, wet them with water. Never pour ashes into a trashcan undiluted.
Make sure the space heater has built-in safety features if utilizing an electric one. Modern space heaters ought to include a thermostat control system that turns the heater off instantly if it tips over. Use a wall outlet alone; do not use a power strip or an extension cord when using a space heater. If the heater isn’t being used, unplug it. Additionally, allow a space heater three feet of clearance and only use it as intended because it is not intended to dry garments or other wet objects.
Keep a safe distance away from wood stoves, fireplaces, and space heaters whenever possible. Keep nothing flammable or combustible close to them, don’t stack anything on top of them, or around them. AVOID LETTING CHILDREN PLAY NEAR THEM, ESPECIALLY. Make sure your kids are aware of fire safety and don’t let them have access to matches, lighters, or fuel.
Every room in your home needs to have a working smoke detector with fresh batteries. Additionally, your home needs a fire extinguisher. Never hesitate to dial 911 if the worst happens and a fire gets out of control.
Call 770 Water Damage & Restoration for emergency assistance after dialing 911. We can be on the site quickly to help reduce damage and start the cleaning and Fire Damage Restoration La Conchita process. Because what we do is restore normalcy to your life.
