Preventing Fires in the Winter

11/16/2020 (Permalink)

Prevent Fire Damage This Winter

Heat Your Home Safely 

The winter season is here and with it comes shorter days and lower temperatures. In middle Tennessee, winter brings a change in the weather. In an effort to keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves. 

Did You Know?

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

• 50% of all residential heating-related fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.
• Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths.
• Heating equipment fires cause an estimated $1 billion in direct property damage annually.

Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of a heating-related fire.

• Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or a portable space heater. Have a three foot "kid free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. 
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

If your property does suffer fire damage or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of Sumner County at 615-822-0200 to help make it "Like it never even happened."