
Some Safety Tips for Heating Your Home During Winter
With cold weather on the horizon. Right now, would be a an awesome time to share some home heating safety tips with you thanks to the Victoria Fire Department:
Electrical heaters
If you are using a space heater, make sure it is three feet away from anything flammable. This includes clothing, which can catch fire if you stand too close.
Keep your space heater on a level surface so that it does not tip over.
Some space heaters have safety features that can help to prevent fires, but every space heater is different. Check the manual to be sure that you understand the safety features of your space heater.
If you are using a cord to plug in any type of electrical heater, make sure the cord is in good shape. Do not place a cord where someone could trip over it.
Do not keep extension cords plugged in around the clock, since they are unable to shut off in the event of overheating. Instead, use a power strip with an automatic shutoff feature.
Before you buy a new heater, be sure that it has been certified to meet safety standards. UL listing is the gold standard for heaters and many other types of electrical appliances in the U.S. Check for the “UL Listed” label to determine if the product meets this standard.
Fireplaces
Remember that flammable soot residue can build up in your chimney over time. If you want to use your fireplace, you should have your chimney inspected by a company every year prior to using it.
Keep any flammable materials at least three feet away from your fireplace.
Never use gasoline to start a fire in your fireplace.
Never burn charcoal in your fireplace. Use natural wood or artificial logs designed for fireplaces.
Keep your damper open to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
Do Not Use:
You should only heat your home using devices that are designed for heating. Other methods can be dangerous not just because of the fire hazard but because some of them produce toxic fumes. During my career, I have seen firsthand how improperly used devices can turn deadly.
Don’t bring equipment inside that should be kept outside, such as generators and grills. Both of these can produce carbon monoxide.
Gas stove ranges can also produce harmful fumes and create a fire hazard when used improperly.
You might think that an oven would be safe since its function is to produce heat; however, leaving it on solely to produce heat can cause an electrical overload or ignite food residue in or around the oven.
Our community is fortunate to have warming shelters operated by local churches and nonprofits during overnight freezes. If you do not have reliable heating, consider going to a warming shelter. You can also minimize heat loss by closing the doors to rooms you are not using. Both of these are better than endangering yourself or your family through unsafe heating methods.
The Victoria Fire Department provides free smoke alarms to residents, and we will even install them for you. Keep in mind that you will need a separate carbon monoxide detector if you own a device that can produce carbon monoxide.
To request a smoke alarm, call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 361-485-3460 or visit www.victoriatx.gov/fire.
