One way to prevent fires is by learning how to safely handle the most flammable items in your home. Use the tips below to start practicing better fire safety today.
1. Your clothes dryer
You probably already know that there is a risk of fire associated with the lint trap on your clothes dryer. If too much lint builds up, it can find its way into the exhaust system, causing the dryer to overheat. This can result in a fire. One important step to take is to clean your dryer vent every time you put in a new load. You should also verify that the exhaust vents are not blocked. Never run the dryer while you are asleep. Otherwise, you may not be able to spot the signs of a fire until it is too late.
2. Your kitchen stove
You probably already keep flammable items off of the top of your stove. As an extra precaution, however, you should move items like these to another part of your kitchen rather than keeping them directly next to your cooktop.
3. Vintage Or Antique Electronics
Many homeowners have vintage or antique electronic items around their homes that are still functioning after all these years. From antique fans and lamps to other electronic devices, items like these often are unsafe to use. The wires inside the device may have become damaged over the years. This increases the risk of fire. That doesn’t mean that you have to stop using these items. You should, however, have them rewired by a professional. If you decide to keep the items in your home, unplugged them and label the wire to keep other people from plugging them in.
4. Candles
Candles are common in homes and are rarely viewed as a safety risk. As it turns out, however, they frequently lead to residential fires since they can be tipped over by pets or children. Always use a candleholder when burning a candle. Place the candle in an area far away from any flammable items like draperies or furniture. Choose a location that is inaccessible to pets or children to keep them from accidentally getting tipped over.
5. Space heaters
Space heaters do an excellent job of providing supplemental heat during the winter months. However, they can pose a significant fire danger. Verify that any space heaters are positioned a minimum of 3 feet away from any flammable items. This includes draperies, bedding, furniture, and plush toys. Only use them when they are really needed.
After learning more about these common dangers, you should be able to do a much better job of preventing fires in your home.
