Fall Fire Safety Tips You Can Use In Your Home!

10/5/2021 (Permalink)

For professional fire damage repair and smoke remediation, call SERVPRO of Pickens County (864) 855- 3993.

Fall Fire Safety Tips You Can Use In Your Home! 

As the leaves change colors and the weather begins to cool down, you can start preparing for the fall and winter seasons ahead. You can't wait to start decorating your home and are excited to welcome your family and friends into your home for the upcoming holidays. Before you begin your holiday decoration and preparations, have you stopped to think about the fire safety risks that arise during the fall season? Below are a few fire safety tips to keep in mind during the fall: 

• Change Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries and Test the Alarms.  We all have a love/hate relationship with Daylight Savings Time. However, this is a great time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detector. By changing the batteries during Daylight Savings Time, you can ensure the alarms will not fail when you turn the heat on in your home. Make sure you test each smoke alarm when you change the batteries to check the smoke alarm is still working appropriately. If your smoke alarms are older than ten years, replace the entire unit. If you have fire extinguishers in your home, check that they are in working order when you change your clocks each season.
• Check and Service Your Heating Devices Before Turning On Your Heat:
• Your HVAC system needs to be inspected, clean, and serviced by a certified HVAC contractor. It is also a good idea to check and replace your furnace filters with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.             
• If you are using space heaters, allow at least three feet of space around the heater. I know it is tempting to place a towel, blanket, or article of clothing on a heater to warm it up on a chilly fall day but do not place fabrics or other flammable materials on space heaters. Always turn your heaters off before you go to bed. 
• If your home has a fireplace, have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. Utilize the three feet rule and keep flammable objects away from the fireplace. If you can, install a mesh metal screen around your fireplace. 
• Halloween safety – We know you can't wait to decorate your home and begin costumes preparations for Halloween. Remember to keep decorations away from open flames and other heat sources, and use battery-operated lights instead of candles in jack-o-lanterns. 
• Outdoor fire risks – As the leaves begin to fall, you may notice them and other debris building up around your home. Remember to cut back trees, rake leaves, and remove other flammable debris. When storing your lawnmower and other gas-powered tools for the fall and winter months, empty them of their fuel first. Keep your roof, gutters, and downspouts free of debris as well. 
• Create a fire escape plan.  The first step in being prepared is to have a plan. Did you know if a fire starts in your home, you have just two minutes to escape? It is vital you create a fire escape plan and practice it regularly. Create at least two designated escape routes for each area of your home. Pick a meeting spot outside that is a safe distance away from your home. Also, practice escaping your home staying low to avoid breathing in smoke. If you live in a multi-level home, practice getting out through windows using emergency ladders. 

Follow these tips, and fire will not be able to ruin your fall! For professional fire damage repair and smoke remediation, call SERVPRO of Pickens County (864) 855- 3993. We will make it "Like it never even happened."