Heating equipment, especially portable and space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves, require careful use and proper maintenance. We offer the following tips to help families prevent fire and burn related injuries during the winter months.
Portable Space Heaters
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Purchase electric space heaters that bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL, CSA, etc.
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Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn - including furniture, people, pets and window treatments.
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Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.
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Supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use.
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Use kerosene heaters only where permitted by law.
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Use the recommended grade kerosene and never use an alternative fuel. Kerosene heaters must be fueled outside.
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Never use space heaters to dry clothing or blankets.
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
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Burn only seasoned hardwood - not trash, cardboard boxes, or Christmas trees because these items burn unevenly, may contain toxins, and increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.
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Have a professional chimney sweep inspect chimneys annually for cracks, blockages and leaks and have them cleaned and repaired as needed.
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Keep all persons, pets and flammable objects, including kindling, bedding, clothing, at least three feet away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
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Open flues before fireplaces are used.
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Use sturdy screens or doors to keep embers inside fireplaces.
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Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and inside or near sleeping areas.
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Keep young children away from working wood stoves and heaters to avoid contact burn injuries.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Precautions
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Install at least one CO alarm near sleeping areas.
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Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up your home’s central heating system and repair leaks or other problems; fireplaces and woodstoves should also be inspected each year and cleaned or repaired as needed.
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Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
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Never use an oven or range to heat your home.
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Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage.
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Portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them indoors, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow CO to collect.
Power Outage Precautions: Lighting Sources and Perishable Food
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Stock up on batteries, flashlights, portable radios, canned foods, manual can openers, bottled water and blankets.
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Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid a possible fire hazard.
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Run water at a trickle to help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting if outside temperatures are below freezing for an extended period of time and your home has no heat.
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Store perishable food outside in the snow or in an unheated outside building if power goes out. |
Aubuchon Hardware