Time to Get Ready for Winter Safety

Although we haven’t seen any good “frost on the pumpkin” yet, it has been getting cold at night. Now that we are in the month of November the inevitable will happen soon and we will see our first cold spell. This will bring that physical warning that you are either prepared for or you have a list of projects that need to get done ASAP. With colder weather approaching, it is time to think about fire safety in relation to heating our homes. First, the most important aspect of home fire safety is making sure that every home has a working smoke detector, and that these detectors are checked monthly and batteries are changed semi-annually.

The changing of our clocks this weekend brings the reminder to also change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO2) alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms are easy to install and can save lives. They do not take the place of a smoke detector; however, having one is the next step to a safe environment in the home. Any open flame heater creates carbon monoxide gas, and if your heating devices in the home are not functioning properly, this gas can be deadly. They are becoming more affordable, more effective and if you have a flame operated heating device in your home, indispensable.

Many people use space heaters to supplement their furnace or heat spaces that do not have a good source of heat. Dust and lint may have accumulated in the space heater. Be sure to clean them thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner. Gas space heaters need to have the flame adjusted to a blue color to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build up. Caution children not to stand too close to a space heater to warm up, as their clothing could catch fire. Make sure you give space heaters their space! Be sure that all combustible material is away from the heater, at least 3 inches in all directions. Central heat or forced air heat is the most popular in modern construction.

Monthly you should clean or replace the furnace filter. Boilers are also a very popular form of a heater with radiators located along the baseboards or in floor coils. Some boilers are in the basement and others are located outside. They can burn many types of fuel including, gas, propane and wood. They require the same care as any other type of furnace. Clean the entire furnace area using a vacuum to remove dust and lint. Be sure to remove any brooms, boxes, magazines, newspapers, or any other combustible material stored in the heater closet.

There is nothing that can replace the warm feeling and coziness of a fireplace. Inspect the fireplace and chimney at least once a year. Look for cracks in the firebox, flue, and chimney and check for a build-up of soot and creosote inside the flue. Open the damper enough to allow the smoke and gases to escape up the chimney. Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, or any other flammable liquid. Always keep a good-quality metal fireplace screen in front of the fireplace whenever it is being used to prevent burning logs from rolling out or embers from flying out. Keep a three-foot area in front of and to the sides of the fireplace clear of any combustibles, including, logs, kindling wood, paper, rugs, clothing, or furniture. Never leave a fire unattended.  Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving your home or going to bed. Never burn charcoal in a fireplace. Charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide gas that can fill a room and overcome the occupants. Never cook in a fireplace. Grease from the food can build up inside the flue and catch fire. Never burn more than two or three natural logs at one time. Artificial logs made of compressed sawdust and wax should be handled differently than natural logs because they generate more heat. Burn only one artificial log at a time and do not burn an artificial log with natural logs. Always make sure fireplace ashes are placed in a metal container. Never place hot embers in a combustible container such as a trash can. Allow ashes to cool thoroughly before disposing of them. Another popular heater is the pellet stove, they burn a processed pellet made of wood and are very efficient, producing the smallest amount of ash.

There are many potential problems when we are heating our homes during the cooler months. If you need professional assistance with heating equipment preparation, look in the Yellow Pages under “Heating Contractors” or “Chimney Cleaning.” With a little caution, we can all remain safe and healthy during the fall and winter season.

Until next week, stay safe

Chief Rindfleisch