Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Winter sneaks up on us and so does the danger of home fires from heating systems.
First we close the windows at night; extra blankets are brought out; sweaters and heavy coats removed from moth balled protection; cords of wood are stacked. As the days shorten and the weather cools, we start spending more time tucked into what should be a safe home. With this combination of heating sources and more activity in the home comes an increase in fire danger. Nearly half of all home heating fires occur between December and February, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize that’s when we actually use our home heating.
A second, less obvious cause for a potential increase in winter fires is the rising cost of home heating fuels and utilities. People turn to portable space heaters to keep warm, lowering thermostats or turning off central heat to the home. That’s where we’ll start.
Space Heaters
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Double check that your electric space heater carries a UL safety listing. Other safety features include a thermostat control and an automatic switch off if the heater falls over. Unplug the heater when not in use.
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Place any portable space heater at least three feet from combustible materials like draperies, upholstered furniture or bedding. Be wary with small children and pets near the heater. Read and follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions on use and maintenance. Turn portable heaters off when you leave the home.
- Never fill a kerosene heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel. Both can easily flare-up. Use only clear K-1 kerosene. Fill the heater outdoors and store the kerosene container a safe distance from combustibles. Use kerosene heaters only in well ventilated rooms, never in a small, closed space.
Wood Stoves
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Wood stoves are not fireplaces and the guidelines for their use differs in significant ways. If you’re purchasing and installing a wood burning stove, look for plate steel or cast iron construction. Check for cracks; inspect the hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams.
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Stoves follow the same three-foot from combustible materials rule as any other heater. In addition, wood stoves must have the proper floor support and sit on a non-combustible surface or on a code-specified or listed floor protector. Installation of the vent is best done by a professional in order to meet the proper clearances and insulation.
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Have the chimney inspected annually. Creosote can build up in the vent pipe and catch fire. Check with local requirements on the size of screen required at the opening. This mesh screen prevents sparks or lit embers from landing on the roof.
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Burn only seasoned wood. Do not use green wood, artificial logs or trash. Artificial logs are made of sawdust and wax. The intense heat build up in wood burning stoves can melt the log causing it to flare or leak burning liquid.
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Clean the ashes between use. This isn’t really a fire safety issue; it simply allows for better air circulation in the stove. The ashes should be deposited in a tightly sealed metal container that is stored outdoors. Once the container is filled up, be careful how the ashes are disposed of. Some rural dumps have a separate spot for disposal because of the danger of still hot embers.
- Wood stove doors should be kept closed when in use. The stove’s blower pulls the heat and blows it out of a vent at the top. Operating the stove with the door open is not only dangerous (logs can roll out, sparks can fly) but inefficient. If you want to look at a crackling fire, get a fireplace.
Fireplace
- Follow the same annual cleaning, ash disposal, fuel guidelines as wood burning stoves. You can use artificial logs, but only one at a time.
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Use a sturdy fireplace screen to prevent logs from rolling out or sparks hitting combustible materials.
- Do not leave a fireplace unattended and make sure the fire is extinguished before you retire for the night.
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