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Heating
Appliances
Kerosene
Heaters
Portable
Space Heaters
Wood
Stoves and Fireplaces
Furnace
and Hot Water Heating
Other
fire safety tips
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Heating equipment is the
second leading cause of home fires in the United States.
More
than 1/3 of U.S. home fires occur during the winter (Dec,
Jan, & Feb.) Most heating equipment fires start as a result of misuse or
improper maintenance.
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The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have
caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of
home heating. The use of wood-burning stoves is growing and
space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage.
Fireplaces are burning wood and man-made logs. |
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All of these
methods of heating may be acceptable. They are, however, a major
contributing factor in residential fires. Many of these fires can be
prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a
fire-safe home this winter. |
Kerosene
Heaters
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Be sure
your heater is in good working condition. Inspect
exhaust parts for carbon build-up. Be sure the
heater has an emergency shut off in case the heater is
tipped over. |
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Never
use fuel-burning appliances without proper room venting.
Burning fuel (kerosene, coal or propane, for example)
produces deadly fumes. |
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Use
ONLY
the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer.
NEVER
introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type
fuel. NEVER
USE GASOLINE,
it will cause an explosion. |
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Keep
kerosene, or other flammable liquids sorted in approved
metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas,
outside of the house. |
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NEVER
fill the heater while it is operating or hot.
Allow the heater time to cool
before refueling
Always turn the portable heater
off before refueling.
When
refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling.
Use caution with cold fuel for it may expand in the tank
as it warms up. |
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Refueling
should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). |
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Keep
young children safely away from space heaters -
especially when they are wearing nightgowns or other
loose clothing that can be easily ignited. |
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Keep anything that can burn at
least 3 feet away from heater |
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When
using a fuel-burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure
there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of
carbon
monoxide. |
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Portable/Space Heaters
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Maintain a 36"
clearance around all heating devices.
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Never
leave children or pets unsupervised around portable
heaters.
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Never
place clothes close to or on a portable heater to dry.
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Always check to see that
electrical wires are in good condition and not frayed.
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Purchase portable heaters that
have been listed by a nationally recognized testing
laboratory.
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Follow manufacturer's
instructions for installation, maintenance and use
Woodstoves and Fireplaces
Woodstoves
and fireplaces are becoming a very common heat source in
homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize their fire
hazard.
To
use them safely:
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Be
sure the stove or fireplace is installed properly.
Woodstoves should have adequate clearance (36") from
combustible surfaces, and proper floor support and
protection. |
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Burn only wood (dry,
well seasoned hardwood) |
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Woodstoves
should be of good quality, solid construction and design,
and should be UL listed. |
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Have
the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary,
especially if it has not been used for some time. |
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Do
not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire. |
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Keep
a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening
to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted
material from going in, and help prevent the possibility
of burns to occupants. |
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The
stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes
to reduce the amount of creosote buildup. |
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Don't
use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in
fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the
chimney by overbuilding the fire. |
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Never
burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off
lethal amounts of
carbon
monoxide. |
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Keep
flammable materials away from your mantel. A spark from
the fireplace could easily ignite these materials. |
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Before
you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER
close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A
closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will
force toxic
carbon
monoxide into the house. |
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If
synthetic logs are use, follow the directions on the
package. NEVER
break a synthetic log apart
to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time.
They often burn unevenly, releasing higher amounts of
carbon monoxide. |
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Do not
burn newspaper, wrapping paper, or dried greenery. |
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NEVER
use flammable liquids for any reason in a fireplace. |
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Keep anything that can
burn at least 3 feet away from fireplace. |
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Furnace
and Hot Water Heating
It's important that you have your furnace inspected to insure that it
is in good working condition.
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Be
sure all controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working
condition.
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Leave repairs to qualified specialists.
Do
not attempt repairs yourself
unless you are qualified.
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Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace
or water heater and
along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or
discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may
be required.
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Check the flue pipes and pipe seams. Are they well
supported? Free of holes, and cracks? Soot along or
around seams may be an indicator of a leak.
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Is the chimney solid? No cracks or loose bricks? All
unused flue openings should be sealed with solid
masonry.
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Keep trash and other combustibles away from the
heating system.
Other
fire safety tips
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Never
discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in
a metal container outside and well away from the house.
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Never
use a range or an oven as a supplementary heating devise.
Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of
potentially toxic fumes.
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If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload
the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the
necessary rating to carry the amp load.
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Avoid using electric space heaters in bathrooms, or
other areas where they may come in contact with water.
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Frozen water pipes?
Never
try to thaw them with a blow torch or other open flame,
(Otherwise the pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the
wall structure inside the wall space). Use hot water or a
UL labeled device such as a hand-held dryer for thawing.
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