How To Safely Heat Your Home This Winter

As soon as winter arrives, homeowners switch their heating systems on, sometimes after a long time.

While nothing feels as good as on a chilly night when you are comfy in your warm home or curled up in front of a cozy fireplace, you should be aware that heating mishaps are one of the most significant reasons for causing home fires. 

Therefore, it is necessary to take all crucial measures to heat your home safely this winter and follow some basic and simple home heating tips mentioned in this article. 

General Home-Heating Safety Tips

• Keep your heating equipment at least 3-4 feet away from burning things like the furnace, fireplace, or portable heater. 
• Keep your kids away from open heating equipment like fireplaces by creating a 3-foot kid-free zone.
• Using an oven for home-heating purposes is strictly prohibited.
• A single heating appliance should be plugged into the electric socket to avoid fluctuation and other emergencies.
• Before sleeping, or leaving the room, do not forget to turn your portable heaters off.
• For heaters that work by fuel-burning process, always ensure that you use the correct fuel mentioned in the manufacturing manual.
• Regularly test all the smoke alarms in your home, at least once a month.
• To avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure that you have installed CO alarms in your home.
• If you smell gas from your heating equipment, do not light it up. Instead, call a professional fire company immediately to avoid any heating mishaps.
• Do not leave burning candles unattended.
• Get your heating systems and chimneys inspected by a professional at least once every year.
• Place your portable generators away from doors or windows, and keep them as far as possible from your living space.
• Ensure your fireplace is protected by the sturdy screen top to prevent fire sparks from flying inside the room.

The Main Unsafe Heating Scenarios That Are Seen In Homes By Technicians

Fire is one of the most prominent risks associated with home heating. Here are a few main scenarios of home heating that most technicians find unsafe.

Space Heaters

Space heaters are convenient but the riskiest of all home-heating appliances. They need adequate installation space and should not be left unattended or open in an empty room.

Dirty Chimneys

Dirty chimneys should be cleaned properly, as creosote build-up can cause instant fire due to its flammability.

Clutter

Heating appliances need enough space to disperse air around the room and through the home.

So, if the room is cluttered with too much furniture, it can cause the heater to overheat.

Also, if the heater’s exhaust fan is blocked, it can roast other items to the ignition point.

Negligence

As mentioned earlier, heating appliances should not be left unattended or turned on in an empty room for too long.

CO Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and lethal gas, a by-product of fuel combustion.

Hence, it should be exhausted out of the house through chimneys and other openings to avoid heating emergencies.