Eliminating heating hazards in your Three Rivers, Michigan home

2/14/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Cass and St. Joseph Counties today at (269) 273-8777 for more tips about how you can keep your home safe!

No matter where you live, winter brings a change in the weather.  In an effort to keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use alternative heat sources such as fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is responsible for an estimated $893 million in property damage annually.  50% of these heating-related fires alone are reported during the months of December, January, and February.  Below are ways to help reduce the risk of a heating-related fire:

• Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container.  Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

If you or somebody you know experiences a heating-related fire, call SERVPRO of Cass and St. Joseph Counties at 269-273-8777.  We make fire damage “Like it never even happened.”