Thousands of people are killed by house fires each year, and many more are injured.There are some steps you can take to reduce the chance of your home becoming a part of this statistics.
Step 1: Take the time to inspect your home.
You may need to hire someone with experience in home electrical wiring, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning to make sure it is thoroughly inspected.The checks are outlined in the following steps.
Step 2: It's a good idea to check the electrical system in your home.
Avoid getting an electric shock by wearing rubber sandals and holding a wooden stick.It's a good idea to remove jewelry and metallic accessories that could be used to conduct electricity.Look for grounded receptacles.Many modern appliances require a three pronged receptacle, but people will sometimes use an accessory to circumvent this safety feature, or even break a ground prong off an appliance cord.It's best to leave the job of changing existing circuits to a professional electrician.Pests or insects can damage wiring in the attic and crawl spaces.Squirrels and other rodents chew the insulation off of modern nonmetallic cable, which is insulated with a material that insects eat or chew on.There are overload circuit breakers, panel boxes, and fuse boxes.Check for circuits that are "piggy-backed" on the breakers.These are rated for single circuit protection, but sometimes in outdated or undersized panel boxes, people will put two or more wires in the terminal of a single breaker or fuse.There are flickering lights or power fluctuations.These conditions may be caused by outside influences, but if they occur often they could be a bad connection or a short in the circuit.It's a good idea to note which trip or fuse blows frequently.Most of the time this is a sign of an overloading circuit or other wiring problem.Look at the individual breaker connections, especially in outdoor panel boxes, for signs of thermal damage or abraded wire insulation.The ground cable should be checked.Failure of the building grounding system and bonding can cause electrical shock, as well as fire.Look for loose split bolts and other connecting devices.Be careful to look for connections other than copper.When connections are made to copper wires, an electrolytic reaction may occur, causing increased resistance in the connection which will generate excessive heat.If you can apply a compound to the aluminum connections, it will help decrease the risk of oxidation.
Step 3: There is a natural gas/LP gas system in your home.
You should look for loose fitting, leaking valves, faulty pilot lights, and debris near these appliances.The vent stacks on gas water heaters, furnaces, and clothes dryers should be checked.Particularly for any guards which are not properly installed, and for lint or dust in the immediate area around them, check the automatic ignition systems or pilot lights.If you smell gas or suspect a leak, have the gas plumbing inspected by a professional.If you smell gas, do not switch on anything.You can switch off anything that is made of wood or plastic.All the gas goes out if the windows and doors are open.
Step 4: You should check the air conditioning and heating unit in your home.
The air moving equipment in these systems requires periodic maintenance.Hire a credible engineer to fix your electrical products.If you want to have your AC coils cleaned, you should replace your return air filters regularly.It will save you money on your energy bill and prevent the fan motor from being overworked.Don't use extension cords for window air conditioners.Belt drive pulleys, boss bearings, and other equipment are Lubricated.Since the system is off during the summer, it is a good idea to have the resistance coil or furnace burners cleaned and serviced at the beginning of the heating season.When the system is operating, listen to it.Squealing sounds, rumbling noises, or banging and tapping sounds are indicative of loose parts or bearings.If you have a snap-on Amp meter, you can check the draw on the high amperage circuit to your heating coil to make sure they are in the normal operating range.In an electrical circuit, resistance is what causes heat, and ultimately, fires.
Step 5: Don't forget to check your appliances.
Grease can accumulate in your stove and oven.Check stove vent hoods, clean the filter, and make sure that insects or birds don't build a nest in it if it has an exterior vent.The power cords for your appliances should be checked.If defects are found, replace or repair the plugs.Keep the lint trap and outside vent clean.If the dryer is operating poorly, it's a good idea to have the ductwork checked.It is extremely dangerous to collect near the heat coil in a clothes dryer.While using the dryer, stay nearby.There is a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher nearby.If you have to leave the area, turn off the dryer.When you return, you can turn the dryer on, because you are not going to be away long.
Step 6: It's a good idea to be careful with space heaters.
It's a good idea to keep flammable materials at a safe distance from portable heaters.The traffic flow of the room is not where the heaters should be.Extension cords are not recommended for space heating.Check the manufacturer's recommendations before using an extension cord with a small, low wattage heaters.Don't use extension cords.Only solid surfaces can be used for space heating.They shouldn't be placed on tables, chairs or other places where they can tip over.If tipped over, replace old space heaters with ones that will turn off.Do not drape fabric over lamps.Turn the lamp off or buy a lower wattage bulb.
Step 7: Don't use extension cords for air conditioning.
An overheated cord is like an electric heating device.
Step 8: It's a good idea to maintain your fireplace.
The fire box should be inspected for cracks, damaged sheet metal and other dangers.Glass fire doors or a wire mesh spark screen can be used to prevent fire from coming out of the fireplace.creosote can build up in the chimney if wood is burned dry.Some woods, like cedar, pop too much when burned, and should not be used in an open fireplace.When there are no sparks or embers in the fire box, remove the ash and unscorched wood.Place ash in a metal and away from buildings.It's a good idea to have your chimney cleaned at least once a year.
Step 9: Keep liquids away from sources of fire.
Keep highly flammable liquids in approved containers and out of the house.Do not storeflammable liquid in a garage or utility room that has a pilot light equipped appliance in use.Keep these items outdoors or in a separate building.
Step 10: If you use an extension cord for long periods of time, be careful.
Damage to these cords can cause a potential for a fire.The holiday decorations are often lit for weeks with these cords, and if you are using them, use a high quality cord with a sufficient rating for the intended purpose.
Step 11: Stay in the kitchen when using the range.
If you are leaving for a short time, turn off the range burners.Is it possible to go to the basement for a can of tomatoes or to answer the phone in another part of the house?All burners should be turned off.You're just leaving for a minute.When you return, you can turn the pot back on.One of the most common causes of house fires is unattended cooking.Keep a lid or cookie sheet close by when cooking with oil.If flames appear, smother the fire with the lid and turn off the stove or fryer.Try not to move the pan.Do not drink water.The super-heated water can cause burns and oil can spread the fire.
Step 12: Don't cook when using drugs or drinking alcohol.
Go to sleep and eat something already prepared.When you are conscious, cook your meal.
Step 13: Tea cloths, tea towels, dish rags should never be left on a burner.
If towels fail onto a flame or hot surface, don't hang them.
Step 14: Don't lie down while smoking.
Smoking can cause you to fall asleep if you are standing up.Are you getting too tired?If you want to go to bed, put the cigarette in the ashtray.If you smoke in bed, it's easy to fall asleep and drop your cigarette on the floor, which can cause a fire.Do you want to clean out the ashtray?Put the ashes in the sink, then scoop them up and put them in a trash can away from the house.
Step 15: When drying laundry by the fire, take care.
If you have to do this, try not to.It's possible to dry clothes outdoors.
Step 16: There are candles, oil lamps, and other open flame illumination.
To keep children and pets from coming in contact with the flame, cover it with a wire cage.It's a good idea to leave the room with naked flames.You can relight the candle or lamp after you're back.
Step 17: Caution should be used with holiday decorations.
When natural Christmas trees become dry, old, damaged, or low quality tree lights cause many fires when combined with an under watered or otherwise dry tree.There is a video of a Christmas tree fire.It's amazing how fast it can destroy a room.
Step 18: After using matches, quickly place in or run under water to extinguish any invisible flame or heat source that could cause a fire in the trash can.
Step 19: It's a good idea to charge devices such as mobile phones.
Plug the chargers when not in use.
Step 20: After use, unplug hair straighteners, curling irons and other similar appliances.
Don't just turn them off or switch the device off.
Step 21: It's a good idea to keep the house doors closed.
If there is a fire, the movement of smoke and heat should be prevented by closing interior doors and exterior doors.The thermal damage is on the opposite side of the door.Close before you fall asleep.
Step 22: Don't put lawn clippings near a building.
Grass clippings can catch on fire.House fires have been started from a pile of lawn clippings, while barn fires start from bales of hay.
Step 23: There is a grill on the deck.
The decks are not safe.Place non-flammable pads under the grill.You can get a fire extinguisher.While cooking, stay with the grill.If you leave, turn off propane.You'll be able to turn on the propane again after all.
Step 24: The train dogs are crated.
When you're not home and not awake, use the crates to prevent puppies from chewing on electrical cords.Pets urinating on electrical objects and starting a fire will be prevented by this.
Step 25: Confine new cats to a safe room, a small room with no places for the cat to hide, and no electrical cords.
The cat is hiding in the safe room.Cats chewing on electrical cords can be prevented by giving them oats or wheat grass.Confine rabbits, chinchillas, and other pets to prevent them from chewing on electrical cords, which can cause burns or electrical fires.They should be released in case of an unforeseen event.
Step 26: Smoke detectors need to be installed and maintained.
Many countries require rental properties to have smoke detectors.If you don't have any, you can either get some or ask your landlord to install some.
Step 27: If you live in an area where lightning is a frequent problem, you might want to consider installing a lightning protection system in your home.
The cost of the upgrade may be offset by the savings from reduced damages to appliances.
Step 28: Have a home sprinkler system installed.
This can be used to put out fires when you are away.
Step 29: Children should not be playing with lighters or matches.
Children should not be allowed to have access to matches or cigarette lighters.If you want to keep matches and lighters locked up, consider getting a box.