8 Things to Do Today to Protect Your Seattle Home from Fire

With the cooler temperatures, it is time to kick on the furnaces and pull out the space heaters. For those who have fireplaces or woodstoves, you have probably already used them to heat your home. Home fires are very common in the winter months because of all the heating devices we use. The folks at Greenwood Hardware want you to be safe this winter! You can help make your home a little safer by doing the following:

• Were you diligent in getting the chimney cleaned before your first fireplace fire? Hire a service or take care of sweeping the chimney yourself. It should be inspected for any damage or weak areas that will become pliant with the heat from the fire. Chimney fires are a leading cause of house fires during the winter.
• Ensure you have a screen in good condition in front of the fireplace to keep logs from rolling out or sparks from shooting out and landing on the carpet or furniture.
• Inspect your space heater before you ever plug it in. Make sure the cord is in good condition with no exposed wires. If you see any signs of damage, either have the cord fixed by a professional or invest in a new space heater.
• Space heaters need to be used appropriately to prevent fire. They should be placed at least 3-feet away from walls, furniture and curtains. Make sure the cord is either taped down or run along the wall to avoid somebody tripping over it and knocking it to the ground.
• Install smoke detectors in each room of the house. At a bare minimum, you need a smoke detector on each floor. Test your smoke detectors on a monthly basis.
• Consider having hard-wired smoke detectors installed by an electrician. The detectors are wired directly into your home’s main electric and are all interconnected. When one alarm is sounded, they will all go off.
• Draw up an escape plan and post it for your family. Practice your fire escape plan at least once a month.
• Invest in window ladders that can be used in an emergency. The ladders are compact and rolled out in the event somebody needs to escape a second-floor window.

Be safe this winter and make sure your home is ready! You can find batteries and smoke detectors at your local Greenwood Hardware to help make your home a little safer for your family. Come on in, or contact us today.