Keeping Your Home Fireproof!
There are over 350,000 house fires that occur every year. Not only are homes and memories of a home destroyed, but thousands of people are injured every year as a result. Though the majority of house fires are accidental, there are a number of precautions that homeowners can take to practice proper heating and fire safety.
Taking the right precautions starts with knowing the causes of house fires. The most common place for a home fire to start is in the kitchen. Therefore, it’s always important to turn off the stove, oven, and even small kitchen appliances when they are not being used.
But what many people don’t know is that heating systems are the next biggest reason for home fires. Here are a few tips to prevent a heating system from causing a fire.
Tip 1: Switch Out Furnace Filters
It’s easy to forget about changing furnace filters. Most people don’t go into the furnace room on a daily basis, so the filters just sit there month after month without being changed.
However, it is a very important task when it comes to fire safety and maintaining indoor air quality. Changing them regularly can clear out any flammable materials that have been caught in the filter.
How often filters need to be changed depends on the thickness of the filter. Thinner filters, such as 1-inch or 2-inch filters, should be changed every 3 months. Thicker filters don’t need to be changed quite as often.
A 4-inch filter should be changed every 6 months, and a 5-inch filter should be changed once every year. Pro tip: Since this task is easy to forget, add a note to the calendar as a reminder to change the filter again.
Tip 2: Closely Monitor Space Heaters
Many people don’t realize that space heaters are also a major cause of house fires. Over 25,000 house fires every year are caused by space heaters!When buying a space heater, double-check the description details to make sure the unit has an emergency or automatic shut-off in case of a falling accident.
Since space heaters usually aren’t very big, it’s easy to knock them over causing the carpet, curtains, or other objects nearby to catch fire.
To practice proper fire safety, always monitor space heaters when they are being used to make sure they don’t overheat or fall over.
Tip 3: Invest in Home Insurance that Covers Fires
As stated before, the vast majority of home fires are accidents, and accidents happen. Even when homeowners are careful and take proper heating and fire safety measures, they can’t foresee all the causes of a house fire.
These accidents cannot be planned, so it’s always a good idea to have homeowner’s insurance that covers fires. Losing a house can be devastating. With insurance, the cost of damages, as well as the cost to rebuild, can be covered, giving homeowners peace of mind.
About Skovron Mechanical Services LLC.
Skovron Mechanical Services LLC. is a reliable heating, cooling, and refrigeration expert in Manchester, NH. Their experienced technicians offer unparalleled same-day or next-day service, upfront pricing, and a whole-property approach to provide their customers with a hassle-free experience. They also ensure that customers stay safe and comfortable no matter what the time.
