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How to Prevent House Fires
No one wants to go through a house fire, but preventing a house fire from occurring is not always easy to do. There are some simple and effective steps you can take to improve safety at your home, reducing the risk that you will have to file a home insurance claim for a fire. Here are some easy ways to improve fire safety at your home right away.
Fire Prevention Tips for the Interior of Your Home
The best way to avoid a destructive fire at your home is to install fire and smoke detectors. Both of these tools work to detect the increased heat and the presence of smoke, which can be the first indication of a fire. You will also need to test these devices at least once a year to ensure they are working.
Look around your home for risks of home fires. For example, you can prevent home fires by ensuring not to use too many electrical cords per outlet. Also, work to remove any type of frayed or damaged cord from your home.
The kitchen is an area that is at a high risk for fires. Keep the stove and the area around it clean and free from any grease buildup. Keep flammable items, such as kitchen towels, away from the cooking surfaces. You may also need to install a vent to pull up fumes from your kitchen.
Be sure to have proper grounding in place for all electrical appliances and tools throughout your home. You’ll want to make sure to control the number and type of charging devices located around your home. Having a UL-rated designation is critical for all types of plugs you use.
If you have a fireplace in your home, only use it after it has been properly cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. This removes much of the carbon debris that builds up around the interior edges, which can catch on fire.
Finally, take a look at your dryer. Make sure there isn’t a buildup of lint material in the dryer vent. This can easily spark a fire.
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Fire Safety Tips for the Home’s Exterior
The exterior of your home needs the same attention to detail. Keep all flammable items, including paint, gas, motor oil, and other fuels in a storage area away from the home, such as a shed, if possible. Make sure all of your yard tools including your lawn mower are properly maintained each year. You’ll also want to check all outlets to make sure they are not damaged.
Any type of fire outdoors, such as in your fire pit, barbeque, or outdoor kitchen need to be properly cared for by an adult. Minimize any risk of these spreading.
Fire Safety for Kids – How to Keep Your Family Safe
To keep your kids safe, teach them basic fire safety rules. This includes how to use matches and lighters. Teach them about how to manage a smoke alarm if it goes off. Fire safety for kids should also focus on what to do if they see a fire, such as calling for help and leaving the area.
Today, kids also need to learn about the dangers of electrical fires. Many of them have devices that need to charge. Teach kids about how to spot problems with their charging cables.
Fire Protection in High-Risk Areas
If you live in an area where there is a risk of wildfires, it is critical to take steps to minimize the likelihood of fires around your home. For example, clear away the brush and other wood from around the exterior of your home. You also may wish to work with your local fire department to create a plan for addressing risks at your home.
In these types of high-risk areas, one of the most important tools for fire protection is a home insurance policy. Make sure your policy includes wildfire risks. In some areas, home insurance policies may exclude this.
Fire and Safety – Will Home Insurance Cover Your Losses If a Fire Occurs?
If a fire occurs, the cause of it becomes the most important determining factor. Your home insurance is there to help cover the losses if the fire is caused by any type of accidental or unavoidable situation. This includes fires brought on by kitchen mistakes, electrical damage, and storms that create lightning. Yet, it is important for you to properly maintain your home to minimize such risks. If poor maintenance and upkeep contributed to your losses, you may not have the coverage you need.
Learning how to prevent house fires is something every family should do. Create a plan for how to handle a fire and what to do after one occurs.
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