Every home should have all the essential features required to achieve a safer environment. You can do that in many ways by replacing the locks on your doors and windows with sturdier ones, setting up an anti-theft system if you live in a neighborhood that’s prone to robbery, etc. There’s also one crucial feature that every home should have— and that is fire protection.
Some people overlook the fire safety aspect in their house because they think it is already made up of fireproof construction materials. They should keep in mind that those materials don’t last too long and can still catch fire when the fire worsens. But if you want to achieve quality fire protection, you need to follow what fire protection experts would usually recommend.
1. Test Your Smoke Alarms Frequently
One of the most well-known fire protection systems in any modern house is smoke alarms. They protect homeowners in the event of a fire. Usually, contractors install smoke alarms in specific areas like living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and other fire-prone areas.
There are instances when smoke alarms would falsely detect a fire, and it would mostly happen in kitchens, especially when you’re cooking. That is one reason to have them tested frequently to know if they will still work efficiently. Any person will find it annoying when their smoke alarms suddenly go off unnecessarily.
2. Inspect Potential Fire Hazards
The next step to achieving efficient home fire protection is looking for areas prone to fire hazards. One part of the house that usually catches fire most of the time is the kitchen. Some would leave their stove on for hours, and that can potentially cause a fire. Even leaving food inside the oven for hours can make it burst into flames.
You need to check all of those fire-prone areas in and around your home at all times because you may never know when a fire could occur. It could happen when you’re at home or worse when you’re out of the house. It would be best to contact home inspection services because they can look for fire hazards around the house efficiently. Once they finish the inspections, they can provide you with a complete detailed report about the fire hazards they found in your home.
You can use the report to figure out how you can eliminate the fire hazards and create a fire-free home. Never ignore any signs that could cause a fire at home if you do not want to lose your home, injure your family, or waste thousands of dollars for repairing it once firefighters extinguish it.
3. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
As mentioned earlier, the kitchen is the most prone area for house fires. Several heating sources, including microwaves, ovens, stoves, and toasters, could potentially malfunction and cause a fire.
When it comes to cleaning the appliances, you should focus on cleaning the stove properly as the oil and grease left on it after cooking may exacerbate a fire.
4. Never Leave Heating Sources Unattended
When using any heating source inside your home, never leave them running for a long time without someone watching it. It is why most house fires start, so you need to have someone look after it all the time. Even leaving them for a few minutes is dangerous because it only takes a tiny spark to ignite an entire house.
5. Maintain or Replace Cords
Most appliances in your home will have cords connected to a wall socket. You need to inspect all these cords frequently, especially if you leave them exposed out in the open. There is a big chance that people could step on it, causing the cord to expose its wires.
The exposed wires could contact a flammable object or surface, which can start a fire. If you notice damage to any electrical cord, do not wait any moment to replace it with a newer, more durable one. You might need to hire a technician to have the damaged cords replaced properly.
6. Keep Flammable Products Out of Reach
Most residential properties will have a shed in their backyard that’s not connected to their house because it’s where they store most of their flammable products. While you can keep them in the garage or cellar, you should store them in a place that’s not near your home. Storing them in a shed will leave your home unharmed and minimize property damage.
If your property doesn’t have enough space for a shed to keep your flammable products, ensure that you store them in a room or area that doesn’t get too hot. You should avoid placing them near electrical wires and heating sources to avoid causing an accidental house fire.
7. Use Candles With Care
Some homeowners like to fill their home with scented candles because it brings in positive energy. If it’s your first time using scented candles, ensure you place them in areas that won’t catch fire. Some areas that you should avoid placing candles are near windows with curtains, beds, appliances, and other highly flammable things.
It would be best to put the candles in a glass container to keep the fire in and prevent it from touching any flammable surface. And whenever you leave the house, don’t forget to put out the candles to avoid any mishaps.
Takeaway
You can keep your house safe from potential fire hazards when you follow the tips mentioned above. You can also add extra security measures keeping in mind the potential threats that might cause a fire in your house by installing security roof hatches.
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