Heating Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February.

 When heating your home with a furnace, remember to:

• Have your furnace checked regularly by a professional.
• Keep all materials (newspapers, boxes of decorations, rags, etc.) at least three feet from the furnace and hot water heater.
• Space heaters need space! Keep curtains and other items that could burn away from them.
• Unplug space heaters when you leave the room or before you go to sleep.

When using a fireplace to heat your home, remember to:

• Burn only seasoned, dry wood in your fireplace.
• If you burn wood in your fireplace, have your chimney cleaned by a professional frequently to avoid a build-up of creosote. Creosote can catch on fire inside the chimney.
• Never burn paper, Christmas trees or greenery, or other items in your fireplace.
• Make sure your fireplace and wood burning stoves have glass doors or a tight fitting screen to keep sparks from flying out.