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Home Heating Safety in your Indian River County Home
12/10/2020 (Permalink)
Space heaters account for 80% of home heating fire deaths annual. Here are a few extra safety tips when using a space heater.
In Florida even our coolest winters are mild in relative comparison to the rest of the country. However, as temperatures begin to drop this month many will be giving their A/C’s a break and switching to heaters. Heaters are one of the leading causes of fires during the winter months. The NFPA recommends the following safety precautions when using heating equipment:
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment such as a portable space heater, fireplace, wood-burning stove or furnace. The three-foot safety zone includes furniture, drapes, electronics—anything that can burn.
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Never plug a space heater into a power strip or “multi-plug.” They should be plugged directly into an outlet.
- Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not place an electrical cord under a rug. Dispose of older, fraying extension cords.
- Always use only the type of fuel specified by the manufacturer for fuel burning 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.
- Do not burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood, or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.
- Test smoke alarms monthly.
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