Your home is likely the largest investment you will ever make. It’s meant to be your safe spot, your sanctuary where you can escape the hustle and bustle of life and truly relax. People take a lot of time and pour a lot of money into decorating their home and filling it with irreplaceable items and memories. So, just imagine if all of that were to be lost in a fire. Or worse yet, you or one of your family members is injured due to a fire in the home. This is why fire prevention in the home is such an important topic.
Here we’ll take a look at some essential tips that will help prevent a fire in your home.
Keep Smoke Alarms in Working Condition
The importance of smoke alarms in the home isn’t anything new, but these alarms can only be effective if they work. Batteries need to be replaced regularly and you should also do a test alert to ensure it’s working properly.
Generally speaking, the smoke alarm should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be changed at least once a year. You can always set a reminder on your phone or your calendar if you have trouble remembering. Another tip is to keep spare batteries on hand so that if the alarm starts making a chirping noise, you can change them right away.
Smoke alarms can also start to collect dust over time, which can be vacuumed or dusted away. There is no need to remove the cover when cleaning it.
It’s also important to replace your smoke alarms about every 10 years. This is the average lifespan of the devices; however, some models will only last five years. Unsure of how old your smoke alarm is? Look inside the unit to find the date of manufacture, which should be visible.
Use Flameless Candles? Enjoy the Ambience without the Risk
Do you enjoy burning candles in the home? Did you know that they are one of the top fire risks? Unless you are in the same room watching the candle at all times, it’s not the safest home décor item. Instead, try using flameless candles. You can get all the same ambience but without any risk. They are battery-operated so you never have to worry about them.
Regularly Clean Out Your Dryer Filter
Another big culprit when it comes to home fires is your dryer. When is the last time you cleaned the dryer filter? Lint, dust, hair and more all build up within the filter, and if it gets too full, it can become a serious fire hazard. The problem is that when the filter is full, it starts to push all that lint into the heating coils. You can imagine how dangerous that could be.
It’s also recommended that you don’t leave the dryer running if you leave the house or when you’re sleeping. You need to be home and ready to jump into action should an emergency occur.
Portable Space Heaters Should Be Handled with Care
Portable space heaters can be a very handy item to have during the cold winter months, but they also pose a fire risk. They require responsible use which means:
- Not putting them too close to items that could burn
- Leaving plenty of space around them
- Keeping pets and small children away from the space heater
- Putting it on a non-flammable surface
- Not leaving it on while you’re sleeping or not home
- Not plugging it into an extension cord
What Happens If Your Home Has a Fire?
Even when using all of these tips and remaining cautious, things can still happen, and a fire can break out. The hope is that it’s discovered quickly, the emergency services can put it out fast and with minimal damage, and of course, that everyone escapes without harm or injury. But even small fires can still result in a fair amount of damage to the home. This is when you’ll need professional fire damage repair and restoration services that understand the breadth of work that is needed in the home.
Repairing and restoring a home after a fire has occurred isn’t just about cosmetic fixes. If it’s not done properly the structural integrity of the home can be at risk, as can your health. You are likely dealing with water, smoke, odor and soot all of which need to be removed.
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