What do you know about preventing home fires? If the answer is not much, this post will give you some tips and information to help save your family from a tragic event. People often think they will never have a problem because their home has been fine for years or because they’ve never had a fire before at all. However, there are many ways your house could catch on fire without warning and these 8 things should be checked regularly to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Outlets And Appliances
It’s a good idea to check your outlets, both indoors and outside. If you find scorch marks or overheated wires, then the outlet may need replacement. You also want to make sure that cords aren’t frayed or cracked because these can ignite fires. Appliances should be inspected regularly for safety as well. If they’re old, worn-out parts could start an electrical fire which is very hard to put out once started. Make sure nothing needs replacing before using them again.
Attics And Basements
Don’t forget about checking in places above ground like attics and basements too. Overheating equipment inside walls has been known to cause major problems with houses, so it’s important to look for this and fix it before a fire starts.
Furniture
These days, furniture is made with many chemicals that can ignite if they come into contact with other flammable materials like fabric or paper. So make sure you don’t have any in your home. The same thing goes for newspapers. Even though everyone loves reading them, newspapers should not be stored anywhere near the house because one stray spark could cause an inferno. If you must keep newspapers around (for example, if you’re doing some DIY projects), then store them in watertight containers until further use.
Gas Appliances
You should check your gas appliances regularly. These are the most common causes of home fires, so make sure they are clean and working properly, like the gas pressure regulator, to prevent a fire from starting. Ensure that all flues are clear of obstructions as well. Also, be aware of any appliance or room that has an unusual amount of buildup or debris on it. This could indicate a problem with ventilation in the house, which could lead to dangerous conditions for everyone living there.
Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Finally, last but certainly not least on the list of things to check regularly are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These are vital for protecting your family from a fire, so testing them at least once a month is important. Also, suppose they’re old or seem defective in any way. In that case, you should consider replacing them ASAP because even the slightest problems can cause significant damage if left unchecked.
Other Things
There are other smaller things that may help prevent fires too. Like having working sprinklers installed inside of your house and making sure all flammable materials (like clothing) are kept away from heaters whenever possible. It also never hurts to have an escape plan ready just in case something happens while you’re sleeping or out during the day when everyone else isn’t home. There is no way to completely prevent fires, but taking these precautions will definitely help decrease the chances that something terrible happens.
