subject: Fireplace Accessories [print this page] Author: SEO Author: SEO
Winter is the home heating season. The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many households to search for alternate sources of home heating. Its important that you have your furnace inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition. Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms, or other areas where they may come in contact with water. Heating is the leading cause of winter fires, whereas cooking is the leading cause over the entire year. Winter fires may be cozy but be ware. They certainly warm you up on these chilly winter evenings. January is the peak month for residential fire deaths and injuries. Winter months put extraordinary strains on firefighter abilities. There are more hazardous risks associated with fire, frozen water supplies, increased risk of injury and dehydration. Use of simple things such as fire baskets can and do help. With snow falling, this is a particularly difficult time for fire fighters. Extinguishing cold weather fires presents unique challenges to firefighters. Snow and ice can impede the response to the fire. Slippery roads and hazardous conditions affect emergency apparatus in the same manner as any other vehicle. Two leading causes of winter fires are neglected chimneys and space heaters. If your heater is one of those cheap ones, throw it away after five or so years. Safety advances every year making a newer model safer and considering the high amperage a heater draws it will tend to "cook" the plug and wire near the plug over time. Best practice is to remember to keep the space heater at least three feet away from anything that's combustible. And if you leave the room without turning them off, and then it tips them over, it will causes a fire. Then that spreads and then before you know it you have a full-blown house fire. Children and pets can cause this to happen. Firefighters also encourage you to change your furnace filters that could prevent a fire. And also check the batteries in your smoke detectors as they help keep fires from getting out of control. Keep young children away from space heaters. Especially when they are wearing nightgowns or other loose clothing that can be easily ignited. It is best to keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out. It also helps prevent unwanted material from going in, and does help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants. A fire in the home hits young ones hardest, so you and your family must use fire guards and other safety fireplace accessories and other safety measures to keep yourself secure.Enjoy the new years festivities.About the Author:
