Warning signs and preventative measures to prevent a house fire

12/22/2016 (Permalink)

This past year we have done a few fire restoration jobs relating to everyday items, that most people know can be a fire hazard, but are overlooked. Some items were an electric blanket, electrical outlet, kitchen stove, dryer, portable electric heater, and an extension cord. As a homeowner there are warning signs and preventative measures you can take to help prevent a fire like this in your home. For example, a couple ways to prevent your dryer from causing a fire is to clean out the lint in the lint filter to help prevents the dryer from overheating, also make sure to check your exhaust for any obstructions. For extension cords make sure to check them thoroughly for cuts or kinks in the cord, these can make sparks if the positive and the negative cords touch. Another area to check on cords is the end of the cord that plugs into the outlet. If the cord is extremely warm to the touch, then you should replace that end immediately or replace the cord all together. Any item that has an outlet cord is an easy place to check regularly. If this cord ever gets hot to the touch it should be replaced. Another tip is anything that has a fan, whether it is exhaust or intake, make sure the fan can breathe. Clean any dust or debris that may be covering the area. Some items that may have these fans would be a stove, portable boxed heaters, dehumidifiers, computers and computer towers. These are just a few tips to help you prevent a disaster from happening in your home. As a side note make sure to do your yearly maintenance cleaning on your boiler and chimney in order to prevent chimney fires and puff backs in your home. We hope these tips are a help for all of you in the future for preventing fires in your home.