How to Prevent Fires in Your Home
According to the American Red Cross, an average of seven people die from a home fire every day – most of them are children or the elderly. Home fires also result in 36 injuries each day. Plus, they cause more than $7 billion in property damage every year.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can be proactive to protect both your family and property from a home fire.
Pay Attention in the Kitchen
When you’re cooking in the kitchen, it’s easy to get distracted. But leaving your cooking equipment unattended is a major cause of fires in the home. Paying attention is all you need to do to prevent a fire from starting in the kitchen. That attention also includes keeping children away from the stove and oven and keeping rags, towels, and litter from packaging material away from them as well.
Be Mindful of Outdoor Grills
The same rule as indoor cooking applies when grilling outside. A spark from a grill can easily ignite a wooden deck or the exterior of a house. That’s why it’s best to make sure to place grills, cookers and fryers at least three feet from the house and shrubbery.
Give Space Heaters Ample Room
The heat that space heaters generate can easily ignite combustible materials – including bedclothes, drapes and upholstered furniture. That’s why you should make sure they are placed at least three feet away from anything that could catch fire. And don’t forget to turn your heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.
Don’t Smoke in Bed
Because most beds and blankets are made of materials that are combustible, falling asleep with a lit cigarette is extremely dangerous. The risk spikes when you add the use of alcohol, drugs and prescription medications. If you do smoke, make sure you always fully extinguish your cigarettes in a fireproof ashtray, which is kept far away from any material that’s combustible.
At General Heating & Air Conditioning, we want you to be safe and comfortable in your home. When you’re in need of heating or air conditioning repair in Monrovia and the surrounding areas, choose the best. Contact us today!