This Winter Keep Your Home Safe When Using Alternative Heating Sources

As summer ends, it will be time to think about what you will do for heating during the winter months and how you should go about it

. With the rising costs of heating oil going up every year, many people are looking for alternative ways to heat their homes. House fires become more of a risk when you start to look at alternative heating sources. This article will cover several ways you can prevent damage to your home when heating it alternatively.

Buying an electric fireplace or electric heater is one of the first things people do. If not properly taken care of, electric fireplaces and space heaters can pose a very real fire risk. The first thing you should know about these units is that you should never leave these running when your not home. If you're not home, even though the units are usually safe, it can be dangerous still to leave it on. Putting any objects near the devices while they are running is something you should not do as well. Keeping objects that are flammable 3 feet or more away from the unit is highly advised. Finally, you should not plug this unit into a power strip.

Another option that many people choose to do is get themselves a fireplace or a wood fire stove. Heating your home by doing this is good, but you should know the risks involved. If you feel like you can install the stove yourself, it is important to realize that it is better to let a professional do it for you. This way you will be absolutely sure that it is installed properly and this little fact itself will help reduce the risk of fires.

Making sure that your wood stove and chimney inspected and cleaned often are important once the unit is installed. Chimney fires are most often caused by creosote that builds up in the stove and chimney. Another thing you must remember is to place some type of metal or glass barrier in front of the wood stove or fireplace. This helps because it prevents sparks from landing on carpeting or other flammable materials close by. Following the same idea as electric heaters, you should not keep your wood stove or fireplace burning if you're not there to watch it.

On a final note you should make sure you have a smoke detector in every room of your house. If there is a fire, it is a great way to protect your family and yourself as best you can, even though it is not required by law. A fire extinguisher should also be ready to use on each floor of your home. While the tips above should help eliminate chances of a fire, accidents still happen and it is better to be prepared.

by: Kathy Jenkins

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