If you know someone who has ever been a victim of a house fire, you know how devastating they can be. But there are steps that you can take to minimize the chances of a fire occurring in your home. Keep reading for a few key tips for how to prevent a fire in your home. These simple yet effective tips can help you can start checking off the fire safety boxes on your home’s list today.
Monitor Specific Areas
Certain areas in the home are notorious for causing fires. These include your sources of heat as well as rooms in your home that house certain appliances. Make sure you take precautions by inspecting your heating and cooling systems. You should also change your air filters regularly. The same goes for changing and cleaning out the lint collector in your laundry dryer. This may seem like an oddly specific example, but dryers have been known to overheat, and a buildup of lint is extremely flammable. Make sure to keep an eye on these common fire hazards.
Use Caution With Common Hazards
Some more common indoor fire hazards include:
- Fireplaces
- Candles
- Kitchen appliances (including the oven, gas stovetops, and hot plates)
- Electrical outlets
- Extension cords
- Electric blankets
Make sure to take caution when using the items above. Practice proper electrical safety by never plugging too many extension cords into one outlet or extension. Always monitor lit fireplace and candle use, and don’t place any flammable objects in the vicinity. Kitchen fires can spread fast due to some of the ingredients you may be working with, so always practice proper kitchen appliance safety and keep a fire extinguisher in or near your kitchen space.
Inspect Your Smoke Alarms
In the event of a fire, smoke alarms are key to alerting the household and stopping the spread as early as possible. The sooner you know about a house fire, the sooner you can get your family outside to safety and call emergency services. To keep your smoke alarms in good condition, make sure to test them regularly—as often as once a month is optimal. Make battery changes as needed too, as most smoke detectors will have a notification system with a series of beeps or chirps. Otherwise, you will know a unit needs a new battery when your tests sound weak and lose volume.
If even a small fire occurs, it is always best to leave the cleanup to a fire remediation service. If you need a fire recovery service in the Chicagoland area, contact Aloha Restoration Co. for cleanup of fire damage in Wheeling and other local areas.
Follow these tips on how to prevent a fire in your home to keep your family, pets, and belongings safe. You’d be surprised how much of an impact the little things can have, like testing your smoke alarms or cleaning out the lint tray in your dryer. With these, you’ll stay safe and have better peace of mind.
