General tips for cold-weather safety in the home
- Have all heating appliances - furnaces, water heaters and wood
stoves - checked and serviced annually by a reliable professional.
- Make sure no flammable materials have been placed near any heating
appliance over the summer, when the appliance was not in use.
- Use space heaters with care and inspect electric heaters for damaged
cords.
- Make sure there is a working smoke detector on every level of the home.
Check the batteries every six months (Daylight Savings Time in April and
October are a good rule of thumb) and replace them annually.
- Develop a home fire escape plan with two exits from every room.
Establish a meeting place in a safe location so all family members can be
accounted for. Call the fire department from a cordless phone, at a
neighbor's home or other safe location. Never re-enter a burning building
for any reason. Practice your home escape plan every six months and
consider practicing it at night when most home fires occur.
- Consider installing carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the
home, near sleeping areas where the audible alarm can be heard. If the
alarm goes off, exit the home and call 911.
- Recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and exit the home
immediately if you suspect the presence of carbon monoxide. Call 911 from a safe location.
Heating Without Getting Burned
Most home heating fires involve portable heaters and space heaters, with
gas and kerosene heaters accounting for the highest fatality risk. But all heating systems, including fireplaces,
can be dangerous if not
used and maintained properly.
Before buying any heating equipment, check with your local fire department
to ensure what you're buying conforms to local building or and fire codes.
When shopping for portable or space heaters, look for automatic shut-off
safety features. All portable heaters should bear the mark of an independent
testing laboratory indicating that the heater has met basic safety standards.
Wood-Burning Stoves
To protect the floor under wood-burning stoves from heat or stray embers,
put down approved protection or a floor protector endorsed by a testing lab.
Install wood-burning stoves at least three feet away from walls
and furniture, unless the stove is rated for lesser clearance. Keep all
combustible materials away from the stove and its chimney connection.
Fireplaces
When you use your fireplace, protect your home from sparks by using a fire
screen made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass. Burn only seasoned wood. DO
NOT burn rubbish or scraps of treated lumber. Add wood carefully; sparks can
escape into the room while the screen is open. Be sure dampers are in working
order, and never leave fires unattended, especially in an area used by
children or pets.
Vents and Chimneys
All fueled heaters must be vented to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide
build-up in your home. Creosote and carbon deposits caused by inefficient
burning in fireplaces and wood stoves can coat chimney flues and pose a fire
hazard. Have your chimney inspected by a professional before each heating
season and have it cleaned if necessary. Unusually high concentrations of
chimney deposits could mean your fireplace or wood stove is not burning
efficiently and should be inspected for defects. If you use a wood stove, have
the flue and chimney connection inspected and cleaned regularly. Consider
installing a spark arrester on top of any chimney that vents a solid-fuel
stove or fireplace.
Space Heaters
Give space heaters space. Keep all combustible materials away from portable
and space heaters. Place all space heaters at least three feet from furniture, walls, curtains or anything else that could catch
fire. Turn off space heaters when you leave home or go to bed.
Liquid Fuel Safety
If your space heater burns liquid fuel such as kerosene, let the heater
cool down before refueling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause fumes to
ignite. Always refuel your heater outdoors in an area away from structures
where a spill won't present a fire hazard. Use only the type of fuel
recommended by the manufacturer. Never use a substitute or a lower-grade fuel.
Never put gasoline in any space heater. Buy a fuel container for the space
heater fuel that allows for safe storage of the fuel, and store the fuel in a
garage or shed, not in the living area of your home.
Natural Gas-Fueled Heaters
Check vents periodically to make sure they aren't blocked. Never install
unvented heaters in bathrooms or sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide can build up
to dangerous levels in small, enclosed spaces.
Electric Heaters
Inspect electric heater cords for cracks or other damage and have an
electrician replace frayed or damaged cords. If cords overheats while the
heater is on, have it inspected and serviced. Purchase electric heaters with a
tip-over safety switch that turns the heater off if it is accidentally tipped
over.
Central Heating Systems
Statistically, central heating systems are less likely to than portable or
space heaters to cause home fires, but neglect can increase the risk to your
safety. Never store combustible materials near a furnace and be sure that
installation and automatic shut-off systems conform to local fire safety codes
and are good working order Have your furnace inspected and serviced if needed,
yearly by a qualified professional. This checkup can prevent the possibility
of carbon monoxide poisoning.
©, Copyright, 2001 Sedgwick County Fire District #1
last update:
11/26/07
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