House fires are a lot more common in the winter months, and the reason is clear: heating equipment comes along with a risk of fire. Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to prevent home heating fires during the winter, from using safer heating options like central heat instead of a fireplace to keeping flammable materials away from your heater. Reducing your fire risk is not only worth the potential cost, but it is also relatively easy to do.
One of the most important things you can do to prevent home heating fires is having your heating & air conditioning system assessed by a professional regularly. While some causes of home heating fires are easy to detect and prevent, others require a skilled technician to spot.
Main Causes of Home Heating Fires
The first thing to ask yourself about your fire risk at home is whether you are using the safest heating method possible. Some heating methods, such as kerosene heaters and fireplaces carry with them obvious risks. Space heaters too, however, can cause home heating fires as well. The safest option for heating your home is a central furnace or air system, but even if you are unable to install central air there is a lot you can do to prevent home heating fires.
One major cause of home heating fires is the improper maintenance of heating equipment. From furnace electrical problems like frayed wires to insufficient duct cleaning, there are a lot of ways in which not maintaining your HVAC system properly can lead to a fire. One underappreciated fire risk is electrical circuits. While you may think an electric option like a space heater or even central air makes fire risks irrelevant, overloading the electrical circuits in your home or creating a fire through contact heat are both major causes of home heating fires.
How to Prevent Fires & Stay Safe
With almost all home heating arrangements, you will want to be careful about keeping flammable materials away from heating implements. Such materials include: paint, gasoline, clothes, wood scraps, paper, and anything else that is likely to burn quickly and easily. You should also take care when plugging in heating implements. Only plug in one at a time, rather than doubling up on space heaters, and turn off heaters when you are not at home. For those using open fireplaces to heat a residence, you should make sure to get regular chimney cleanings and it is also a good idea to place a diffusion screen over your fireplace to prevent stray sparks.
Finally, a regular HVAC cleaning and maintenance check goes a long way toward preventing home heating fires. A regular HVAC inspection is especially important for catching potential electrical issues, as well as patching leaks in hoses or ductwork. Plus, clogged ducts and dirty air filters can cause a fire risk of their own. So even if there are no major problems with your HVAC system, a regular check-up can go a long way towards preventing home heating fires.
Learn More About Preventing Home Heating Fires
To schedule an inspection today, or learn more about home heating fire prevention, get in touch with the heating & air conditioning professionals at Galmiche & Sons today.
