Fire Prevention Tips

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

05 Feb 2009 02:49 PM

Fires in the home can be devastating! Learn some quick tips on how to prevent fires in your home. How many of these tips are you practicing right now in your home?

Never use flammable liquids inside your home. This would include kerosene, gasoline, etc. Keep these liquids outside of your home or garage. They should be stored in approved containers far away from any potential source of ignition, from your furnace to your water heater to your car.

Clean the clutter from your home. In the event of a fire, clutter can fuel the fire making flames spread quickly throughout your home. Examples of flammable clutter include papers, rags, trash, piled clothing, junk mail and newspapers. You especially want to keep these types of items away from the attic, the basement, the garage or under the stairs.

Don't overload electrical circuits. If you are using multiple attachment plugs and devices, then it is time to install more electrical outlets. In the case of high wattage appliances, never use more than one of these at a time on a single circuit. It is a good idea to shut off the window air conditioner and unplug it if you are going to plug in the iron, for example.

If your home still uses fuses, make sure to keep the proper fuses on hand. Never substitute anything else for the fuse, such as a copper penny or wire. Never instal a higher amp fuse than what is correct for the circuit. If your electrical system is more than 20 years old, consider having it inspected and possibly upgraded by a licensed electrician.

Be careful of careless smoking. It is a major cause of fires in the home. Don't smoke in bed, or in a chair late at night when you might fall asleep. In fact, it is a good idea to ban smoking in the home altogether. Also, if anyone does smoke in your home or if you entertain where there is smoking, you want to take the extra precaution of checking couch cushions, waste baskets, and all around your home before you go to bed or leave your home.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

Related Articles:

Don't Try This at Home: Melting Snow with a Blowtorch

Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

Candle Safety

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger