If you’re a homeowner, house fires are probably one of your worst nightmares. But for roughly 265,000 American households a year, they’re a terrifying reality. From damaging your property to endangering the lives of your loved ones, house fires can be a devastating prospect. Nevertheless, becoming a firefighter is not possible for all of us as it is highly dangerous.
However, by following a few simple safety precautions, you can protect your family and lower the risk of fire breaking out in your home.
Whether your nearest fire restoration service is based at IDC fire and water restoration in Atlanta or a company in Chicago, having them on speed dial is a great way to patch up the damage if the worst should happen. But to make sure you (hopefully) won’t need them, this post will explain four ways you can prevent house fires.
1. Clean Your Household Appliances
The simplest way to prevent a house fire is by cleaning your household appliances. This isn’t just a matter of hygiene–maintaining your oven and dryer is crucial if you want them to work safely. Grease and residue on the walls of your oven will become hot very quickly the next time you turn your appliance on. If the temperature is high enough, the build-up can easily catch alight, causing fire to spread through out your kitchen. Similarly, lint in the drawer of your clothes dryer becomes very hot when the machine is in use. This can start to burn and eventually burst into flames.
2. Keep Your Garden Neat
An overgrown garden may make a nice habitat for your local wildlife, but if you want to reduce your risk of a house fire, it’s not the safest option. Plant matter such as grass, dry leaves, and bushes can cause an existing fire to spread, potentially turning an indoor fire into a neighborhood blaze. By keeping your garden neat and tidy (at least the area immediately surrounding your house), you can help to contain any incidents that occur within your home. If you have gutters, makesure to sweep these regularly to ensure they are clear of leaves and debris. Any sparks or flames that come into contact with these materials can cause the whole lot to ignite.
3. Regularly Check Your Smoke Alarms
Checking your smoke alarms really is a matter of life and death. But according to a survey by Which? in the United Kingdom, 10% of people never check that their smoke alarms are working and only 5% check them as often as they should. If you only give yours a quick check when they start beeping, you might be surprised to learn you should be checking them every week! To test your alarms properly, you should make sure that it’s audible from every room of the house and that it responds to the following:
- An aerosol spray for testing smoke alarms
- A lighter or lit matchheld beneath the sensor
Different types of fire will give off different types of smoke, so it’s important to check that your alarm goes off for both the spray and real flame. Finally, always remember to warn your local fire department before you carry out your test if your alarm is hardwired to the emergency services!
4. Keep Soft Furnishings Clear of Fire Hazards
Is there a curtain near your candle holder or rug beside your fireplace? Soft furnishings can pose a dangerous fire hazard. All it takes is one rogue spark for a serious accident to occur–so always keep items such as curtains, cushions, rugs, and throws away from naked flames. If the worst does happen be sure to consider options like Commercial Disaster and Business Damage Cleanup in West Hartford for help. Protect your property with these four simple steps for preventing fire in your home.