How to Prevent Home Heating Fires

During the winter, you may want to crank up the heat in your house. It’s always nice to return to the comfort and warmth of your home after braving the cold weather. While it’s fine to do so, it’s important to keep in mind that fires can ignite from heating units such as space heaters, malfunctioning furnaces, and more.

Learning about heater safety will help to ensure you stay comfortable while not putting your home at risk of a fire. Heat your house safely this winter by following our home heating fire safety tips.

Keep flammable objects away from your heating unit.

First, you should keep flammable objects far away from your heating unit, water heater and space heaters at all times. Space heaters can cause fires if not used safely.

There should be plenty of space around your heating unit; keeping objects at least three feet away from anything flammable is recommended.

Never leave space heaters or candles unattended.

A sure way to avoid home fires is to never leave space heaters or candles unattended. If you leave the room with a candle or heat source on, it’s easy to forget to blow it out or turn it off before you leave the house. 

Don’t ignore gas smells.

If you smell gas coming from a gas or propane furnace or other appliance, call the fire department and/or gas company’s emergency line immediately. It’s always better to catch a problem right away, before it becomes a bigger, more dangerous issue. 

If there’s a gas smell around your furnace, that could mean there’s a gas leak, which should be taken care of as soon as possible.

Always use a screen with your fireplace.

If you have a fireplace, make sure you always use a screen. While screens can prevent sparks from escaping and igniting fires in your home, they are most effective at keeping flammable objects from getting into your fireplace.

Additionally, as with other heat sources, never leave a fire unattended.

Never use an oven to heat your home.

It’s best to use appliances the way they were intended to be used. Ovens should not to be used to heat your home for a couple of reasons:

1. They won’t heat a space very efficiently.
2. Using an oven as a heat source can expose you to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide if it is a gas oven.
3. Gas flames can produce a lot of water vapor, increasing humidity levels in your home.

Use your heating system properly.

Always use your heating system according to manufacturer instructions, and only use the type of fuel recommended for the unit. No matter what kind of heating unit you have in your home, improper use can create safety hazards that could otherwise be avoided. 

Using the system correctly will also help it perform at its best, keeping your home a comfortable temperature.

Have your HVAC system inspected yearly.

Finally, you should make sure you have your HVAC system inspected yearly to catch any potential issues or hazards that could start a fire. Annual inspections will help your HVAC system last longer, while also ensuring your safety. Get in touch with our HVAC experts to schedule an inspection today.

When you turn up the heat this winter, be sure to follow our tips to prevent fires in your home. Being informed about home heating fire safety will help you protect you and your loved ones from any fire risk. 

Learn more about RSC’s home heating solutions that deliver superior performance and comfort during the winter months.