Check out these fall weather heating safety tips from the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority to help keep your home safe.
• Have your furnace system inspected and serviced by a licensed professional. This includes looking at the exhaust vent that leads to the outside of the house. Insects, birds, and other animals can create blockages that can force carbon monoxide from gas furnaces back into the home.
• Have chimney and wood stove flues inspected for creosote buildup which can limit the escape of smoke and can cause a chimney fire.
• Dispose of fireplace ashes properly by placing them in a tightly sealed metal container. Do not store the container near combustibles such as a deck, house, or fence. Hot coals in ashes can retain their heat for several days after being removed and should never be stored in a paper or plastic bag.
• Move combustibles such as clothing, bedding, and drapes away from baseboard and other electric heaters.
• Plug portable heaters directly into wall outlets. Using extension cords can lead to overheating and fires.
• Remember to having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Change the batteries when you change your clocks to standard time on the first Sunday of November.
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