A home fire occurs every 86 seconds in the US and in 2014, there was an increase in home fires resulting in $11.6 billion in property damage. Here are some fall home maintenance tips that can help you prevent any risk of fire in your home and protect your family.
Test your Fire Detectors
Testing your fire detectors to make sure they work and taking the time to refresh the batteries can make the difference between saving the life of a family member or death. Take the time to check all of the detectors in your home. If you feel that specific rooms that do not have a fire detector need one, now is a good time to add them.
Clean your Dryer Vent
Most people do not realize that cleaning out your dryer vent, either yourself or professionally, can prevent a fire. A build up of lint mixed with high heat from a dryer can be highly flammable. This fire quickly build into a serious fire causing massive damage to your home.
Check the Expiration on your Fire Extinguisher
If you do not have fire extinguishers, now is a good time to invest in them. If you do have fire extinguishers, check to make sure these extinguishers are still valid. An expired fire extinguisher is no good, now is a good time to pick up new ones. Your fire extinguishers may be multi use types. Multi use fire extinguisher can be refilled by specific organizations. You can find these organization online. When disposing of fire extinguishers, be sure to check with your waste management company on proper disposal.
Clean your Chimneys
This task is generally left for the professionals. Using your wood burning stoves and fireplaces, causes a buildup of cresote inside the chimney. Cresote is the residue left from smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, tar fog and assorted minerals that are generated when using your fireplaces or wood burning stoves. Cresote is highly flammable and can cause blockage in your chimney which could result in explosions, fire or smoke within your home.
These simple tasks can make the difference between a healthy and safe home, versus one that could hurt your family. For additional maintenance tips, visit HomeZada’s Home Maintenance Library to help you take the best care of your home.
