Tips for Staying Cozy the Safe Way | SERVPRO of Sumter

1/16/2024 (Permalink)

Fire safety is a top priority for us at SERVPRO of Sumter this winter. Keep your home safe with these helpful tips!

The winter season is well underway for the Sumter community! While we are grateful to avoid the harshest parts of winter like heavy snow and subzero conditions, we are still vulnerable to freezing temperatures and ice storms from time to time.

Because of that, we are all prone to spend much more time indoors and near our fireplaces or space heaters while we wait for the seasons to change. Unfortunately, the number of house fires increases during the winter season just because of this!

Our SERVPRO of Sumter team explains more about how to stay safe while also staying warm this winter below, so read on to learn a few helpful tips.

Fireplace Prep for the Season

An occasional crackling fire in your hearth can provide some great ambiance and warmth, but indoor fires can be really dangerous if your space isn’t properly maintained. You should be cleaning out leftover ash before starting each new fire, and every season should include a thorough scrubbing of your chimney walls to remove creosote buildup.

Minimize or eliminate flammable materials from your mantle and around your fireplace, and check your smoke detectors every month to make sure they are working properly. If you have an electric or gas fireplace, check on the connections often to make sure you aren’t experiencing any gas leaks or faulty wiring issues.

Space Heater Tips

While we may not need the excess warmth that fireplaces bring all of the time, a simple space heater may be the key to warm up cold feet or to bring a burst of warmth to a chilly room. However, they can also be dangerous in their own right. In fact, 1,700 house fires are started every single year from space heater accidents or mishaps.

The key to avoiding space heater fires is to set up your appliance on a hard, nonflammable surface. Since they can be easily tipped over, choose a location that doesn’t experience much foot traffic and be sure the cord is lying flat on the ground.

Create a three-foot barrier around your heater to help keep out kids and pets, and make sure it is far away from hanging curtains or other flammable possessions. Never plug a space heater into an outlet extender or extension cord, and be sure someone is responsible for turning off the heater before your household goes to bed.

Additional Safety Measures

It is important to remember that safety is always your No.1 priority when it comes to fire or heat in your household. That’s why it is necessary to do your research before investing in a space heater or fireplace supplies.

Be sure the company you use is reputable and has passed all of their necessary safety certifications, and read reviews (even the bad ones, if there are any)! Consider the heaters that have additional safety measures like emergency shutoff switches that turn off the heater after a certain period of time.

Finally, you should do a visual inspection of the heater you are choosing. It should be sturdy, well-made and have a long cord so you can easily set it up in the center of a room.

Have a safe and enjoyable winter season! If you suffer from any sort of fire damage this winter, call SERVPRO of Sumter for a fast recovery. We will remove soot, smoke and debris with precision and rebuild your home with confidence.

A quick fire damage restoration is just a phone call away. Call SERVPRO® for immediate assistance.