Winter Home Heating Safety Tips

As the weather chills and you heat your home, stay cozy and safe.

• Have your furnace cleaned and checked. A professional inspection will help prevent fires and carbon monoxide leaks. A furnace running at top efficiency will save you money as well.
• Hire a professional to clean your wood-burning fireplace, wood-stove and chimney. Creosote, a by product of burning wood, can build up and catch fire. Also, many chimney problems, such as cracks and faults, can't be seen from the outside.
• Inspect your gas fireplace. Call a professional to clean the fan, clear any blocked vents and make needed adjustments.
• Check electric blankets. Hold the blanket up to the light to see if embedded wires are touching. If they are, it's time for a new electric blanket. You'll also want to replace it if it is more than 10 years old or has a damaged cord, wires or temperature control. if it's worn, torn or singed, buy a new one.
• Use space heaters as a short-term heating solution. Buy heaters with protective guards around the heating element and an automatic shutoff feature. Use them on a stable surface, at least three feet from combustible items.
• Store safety tools near your outdoor fire pit or chiminea. You need a mesh screen, fire extinguisher, insulated gloves and heavy meal ash bucket with tight fitting lid. Place portable hearths on stable, fireproof surfaces, such as concrete, away from combustibles. Keep your first fire small so you can get a feel for how hot and how long it burns. Refrain from using your fire pit or chiminea in dry weather.

Did you know that space heaters sparked 26 percent of home heating fires in 2003, but caused 73 percent of fire related casualties?

Chimneys caused 40 percent of home heating fires in 2003. Failure to clean the chimney accounted for almost 60 percent of those fires*

*Source: National Fire Prevention Association

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Written By: Alecia A. Barnes -Proud to be a Realtor® in the State Of Oregon - Serving Albany, Brownsville, Corvallis, Eugene/Springfield, Halsey, Lebanon, Sweet Home, and the surrounding areas. If you are thinking of moving to Oregon, or are looking to list or buy property, give me a call, I'd love to help!