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Keeping Warm - Keeping Safe
As winter hits, so do the higher costs of heating your home. Statistics show that home fires during winter months go up due to an increased use of alternative heating sources, seasonal displays and candles. The agents and associates of Nationwide Insurance want to make sure you take the appropriate steps to protect what matters to you most – your loved ones and your property. According to the latest figures from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fireplaces, space heaters and chimneys were involved in 68 percent of the home heating fires reported to the nation’s fire departments. That’s why Nationwide would like to offer these safety tips for a safer operation of alternative heating sources.
Tips
General
- Don’t leave children or pets unattended near any heating source.
- Create an evacuation plan for your home and make sure everyone in your home knows what to do in case of a fire
Fireplaces and woodstoves
- Have chimneys professionally inspected at least once a year
- Burn only wood, not cardboard or trash
- Use a fireplace screen big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace
- Be sure to check with your local fire department and check local codes before installing a wood burning stove
Space Heaters
- Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible
- Use only heaters with the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) safety listing
- Avoid using extension cords with space heaters. If you must use one, be sure the cord is marked “12-guage” or “14-guage”
- Before you buy a kerosene heater, check with your local fire department to ensure that it is legal
- Use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer
- Be sure portable heating devices are turned off whenever you leave the room.
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