How To Heat Your Home And Stay Fire Safe

As it’s getting colder we’re all starting to spend more time inside; wanting to heat our homes. In the current climate, we’re all trying to find cheaper ways to do this, however, safety should always be your priority. Did you know that the number of fires greatly increases in winter? This blog will give you some tips to help you stay fire-safe over the chilly months.

Portable Heaters

Portable heaters are an effective and cost-effective way to heat your home, they’re popularity is definitely on the increase this year. However, these devices tend to overheat and this can lead to fires. As a rule of thumb, your heater needs to be turned off when you go to sleep or change rooms; you should not leave it unattended. These devices should also be plugged directly into the wall, instead of an extension cord and you should keep any materials such as clothing or bedding a least 3 feet away from the heater. When looking for one, try to buy one that automatically shuts off, then if it was to fall over, it would shut off.

Fireplaces

A good old-fashioned fireplace can be one of the most effective ways to heat your home, but these open flames are also notoriously known as one of the most dangerous. It would be a good idea to put a screen, perhaps one made out of metal or glass around the fireplace, this will stop sparks from coming out and beginning a fire. It’s important to remember the simple things too; you should avoid burning paper and always ensure the fire is completely out before you leave your home, or go to bed. Furthermore, aim to store these ashes in a metal container and keep it well away from your home, ideally, this should be outside.

Something else you should consider with a fireplace is that it can produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘invisible killer’ since it has no smell or colour and is highly poisonous, most carbon monoxide poisonings happen accidentally. Therefore your chimney must be swept when necessary, not only will this ensure it is clean and there is nothing stuck inside of it, but it’ll also let you know if it is damaged. Along with this, aim for the room with the fireplace in to be well-ventilated, you should also have both carbon monoxide and fire alarms, these should be tested regularly to ensure it is working properly.

How can we help?

Here at Fire Stoppers, our expert engineers can install and maintain alarm systems, no matter your property or its needs. In fact, we’re third-party checked in fire alarm maintenance by BAFE, the independent registration body for Third Party Certificated fire safety service providers across the UK. Click here to find out more.

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