House fires are serious business. They cause property damage and injuries, and can sometimes be fatal. Luckily, a little preparedness and awareness can go a long way toward preventing these fires from starting altogether. With this in mind, here are four tips to help to keep your home safe from fires.
1. Install & Test Sprinklers
A sprinkler system protects your home by automatically releasing water if the high heat of a fire is detected. Because they’re always ready and in place, sprinkler systems can manage and stop open flames from spreading before the fire department has even arrived. These systems do need to be tested and maintained, especially in fire-prone areas such as California. Ensure you are regularly testing fire sprinklers California.
2. Replace Old Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are a vital warning system for house fires. It is important that they are installed throughout the home and that they are tested monthly. To properly maintain your smoke alarms beyond simple regularly testing them, replace their batteries when the alarm’s low-battery indicator begins to beep, and replace the entire device if it is over a decade old. Following these simple maintenance steps means you always have an early warning system in place if anything starts going wrong.
3. Review Outlets & Cords
Review the outlets in your home to ensure they are properly grounded and safe. An ungrounded outlet can damage electronics and send sparks flying during electrical surges. Similarly, check that your cords are not damaged or broken in any way. Charging cables for phones, laptops and other devices are especially prone to damage near the base of the cable due to the repeated stress of plugging and unplugging the cable from devices and walls.
4. Be Mindful Of Heat Sources
Place any source of heat or open flames an adequate distance away from anything that is flammable. For example, space heaters need to be at least a few feet away from anything that could catch fire. Candles should also be a safe distance away from flammable materials that may be nearby, such as paper or cloth, including upholstery and curtains.
In addition to leaving space between heat sources and flammable objects, shut off or extinguish any of these heat sources before leaving their presence for an extended period of time. This ensures they don’t ignite while you’re away.
House fires can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Keep yourself and your home safe from the dangers of fire by actively being aware of potential sources of fire and by consistently repairing or replacing problematic electrical equipment. With these facts in mind, you are well on your way to preventing fires in your home before they even begin.
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