Stay Warm, Stay Safe

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

There is nothing better than the warmth of a fire or space heater during the winter. However, fireplaces and space heaters can be the source of fire damage if the proper safety measures are not followed. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides tips for space heater safety.

• Before you even buy the space heater, make sure it has a seal of a nationally recognized testing laboratory. 
• Keep flammable materials such as curtains, clothes and papers at least three feet away from the heater.
• Never leave the heater on if no one is home or when you are asleep. The consequences could be disastrous for your home.
• Don’t plug your space heater into an extension cord. This reduces the risk of fires.

Wood-burning fireplaces can be beautiful to look at and are a crowd pleaser, but like space heaters, they come with risks. You should follow some of the same precautions, such as keeping flammable materials away from the fire and never having a fire lit unattended.

Here are a few more safety guidelines for wood-burning fires:

• Do not overload the fireplace. This prevents embers from tumbling out.
• Never burn rolled newspaper, garbage, charcoal, plastic or chemically-treated or painted wood.
• Keep small children and pets away from the flames.

In case of fire damage, call SERVPRO of Tuscaloosa. Our team of professionals takes your family and business’ safety seriously, and we know that fires can be a traumatizing experience. We are always here to help.