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16 Most Common Household Fire Hazards

According to the National Fire Protection Association house fires affect thousands of people annually causing injury and even death. Here is a list of the usual fire hazards and how to prevent them.

One of the top causes of house fires is faulty wiring

By the way, faulty wiring isn’t just hidden behind walls. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to expose hazards every day in your home or workplace. Fortunately, we have some tips.

  • Review electrical cords in your home for fraying and replace as needed.
  • Uncover electrical cords that are pinched by or covered by things such as rugs.
  • Don’t overload circuits. You may want to consult a professional If you are questioning the stability of your electrical system.
  • Surge protector or power strips—know the difference. Surge protectors and power strips are both made for plugging in multiple electronic devices, however surge protectors  are for protecting valuable electronics such as televisions and computers whereas only the surge protector can provide protection of these devices from an electrical power surge.

Cooking is also a major cause of most house fires.

Because, we are distracted. Who doesn’t get distracted while cooking?! We all do. However, kids, pets, and phone calls aside, we have some good precautions to keep everyone safe from fire damage.

  • Pans and pots should never be left unattended over an open flame on the stove.
  • Fire extinguishers should be within reach and readily available should a fire start.
  • When a stove or oven is powered on, built up food or grease can ignite causing smoke and fire damage.

Household dryers for laundry can pose as fire hazards

You’re busy, we get it. But, just for just less than a minute each, you can deploy these tactics before your next load.

  • Improperly installed dryer vents can become clogged and overheat causing fire. Vents should be cleaned regularly.
  • Romove lint from the dryer filter immediately after each load.
  • Remember to clean around and behind the dryer as lint can collect and create a fire hazard

Household space heaters or alternate heating methods can cause fire damage.

  • Older space heaters should be avoided due to inadequate safety features. Newly purchased space heaters should be UL Listed and include safety shut off features.
  • Placement of your space heater is important to avoid the dangers of fire. Placing heaters near flammable objects such as curtains, sofas, and fabric items can cause them to ignite.
  • If you are planning on installing a pellet or wood stove, be certain that the stove complies with the laws of your municipality and state.

Chimney soot can ignite and cause fire and smoke damage

  • The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) can provide information on a certified chimney sweep. Always consider a professional for this job and have your chimney inspected annually.
  • Do not burn damp or green wood that has not been seasoned.
  • Burning wrapping paper, cardboard, or leaves in the fireplace can spark chimney fires.

Need help with fire or smoke damage due to fire, contact Advance Restoration today.

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3 Simple Ways to Ensure Your Fireplace is Safe

pet by fireplace

A fireplace is one of the leading causes of house fire in the cold weather months. Avoid the pitfalls of fire and smoke damage with these five steps.

Before you light your first fire of the season, follow these tips to be sure your fireplace and chimney are in good shape.

#1 Check the Firebox

Be on the lookout for gaps, cracks, and signs of wear on the lining of the firebox. Seeing the steel sheath beneath the lining is a clear sign that your lining is impaired. A corroded lining can cause excessive heat to build up inside causing fire and smoke damage.

#2 Smoke Stains on Fireplace

Smoke leaves its mark. If you see smoke stains on the ceiling it could mean smoke is making its way through cracks or gaps betwixt the hearth and firebox.   Hearths in older homes commonly pull away from the firebox during settling. When this occurs, sparks can fall into the crevasse and up goes the smoke. Unfortunately, if this is happening, you will need a professional to fix it.

If you notice smoke stains on the outside of the hearth above the fireplace itself, it may be the flue damper. In this case, the damper can be hand-operated to help control the airflow into the fireplace. Oftentimes the damper mechanism can become caked with soot and crud that keeps it from working properly. If this is the situation, smoke can plume out of the fireplace causing smoke damage and odors that permeate the home and its contents. Call a professional or handyman to repair the damper mechanism before using the fireplace.

#3 Inspect the Fireplace Chimney

Okay, you may not want to get up on the roof to look down the chimney. However, you should not simply disregard it. Inspecting the chimney is one of the most important things you can do before lighting a fire in your fireplace. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends an annual inspection by a qualified professional. Simply guessing that your chimney is in working order is what helps to account for an average of 22,300 chimney fires annually, according to the CSIA. 

Use these tips to avoid fire disasters and you will enjoy a safe and cozy cold weather season. If, by chance, you experience smoke and fire damage, call the experts at Advance Restoration for cleanup and restoration help. 866-465-2409.

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Restoration Services Designated “Essential Business” during Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus

Advance Restoration is designated as an “essential business” during the Coronavirus pandemic as deemed by Homeland Security and CISA.

Currently, as of the date of this article, there is no CDC or EPA approved cleaning or disinfecting agent(s) guaranteed to kill the Covid-19 pathogen. Since we are a designated essential business, we are continuing service to customers in extreme emergency situations for water, fire and mold damage while using precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of our field staff according to government guidelines.

Here is what we are doing:

  • Following the CDC guidelines for employers to manage the spread of coronavirus in the workplace and in the businesses and residences we provide services for.
  • As always, following the IICRC standards for the cleaning and restoration industry.
  • Providing work for emergency services only, prioritizing highest need for customer health and safety first.
  • Emergency work we perform includes fire damage, water damage, wind damage, and mold remediation. We do not treat Covid-19 at this time.
  • Applying and cleaning surface touchpoints contaminated by toxins, mold or water using approved sanitizing agents.
  • Ensuring our cleaning and sanitization experts are healthy and properly outfitted with hazmat biohazard suiting, booties, and N95 masks before entering any commercial building or residence.

If you have an emergency for fire damage, water damage, storm damage or other residential or commercial disaster—we’re there when you need us. Our staff will be masked up and ready to solve your property restoration issues quickly and efficiently with as little disruption as possible.

Please don’t hesitate to call Advance Restoration at 866-505-3166 for help with your disaster emergency. One of our representatives are standing by to take your call immediately 24/7.

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.