Fall Safety

FURNACES

• Clean your air vents before starting your heating system for the first time
• Change all air filters every 1-2 months
• Have your furnace inspected by a professional
• Keep the area around your furnace clean and free of dust and debris
• Keep all items at least 3 feet away from the furnace

SPACE HEATERS

• Place the heater on a hard, flat surface
• Never leave a space heater unattended when its running. 
• Plug space heaters directly into an outlet. Using an extension cord with space heaters increases the chance of overheating, fires, and electrical injuries.
• Shut the unit OFF and unplug it when not in use
• Keep children and pets AWAY from space heaters!
• Read the owner's manual that came with your unit

CANDLES

Candles can fill a room with fragrance and add a warm ambiance, but candles cause over 8,500 home fires every year. Following these safety tips can help prevent a devastating fire in your home.

• NEVER leave a burning candle unattended
• Keep children and pets AWAY from burning candles
• Place candles up high on stable furniture where children and pets cannot knock them over
• Make sure candles are fully extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed
• Keep candles away from drafts and open windows
• Keep candles away from curtains, clothing, bedding, holiday decorations, paper, books, flammable liquids, lampshades and other combustibles
• NEVER touch or move a lit candle or while the wax is still liquefied.
• Keep wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times

FIREPLACES

• Get your chimney inspected and cleaned by a certified chimney specialist every fall
• Install a chimney cap to prevent leaves and animals from getting into your chimney
• Open the damper or flue before starting a fire, and keep it open until the fire is out to draw smoke out of the house.
• Clean out ashes from previous fires. Levels of ash at the base of the fireplace should be kept to 1 inch or less
• NEVER leave a fire burning unattended. Make sure the fire is fully extinguished before going to bed. If you leave the room while a fire is burning, take children and pets with you
• Don't place anything potentially flammable within 3 feet of the fireplace. This includes furniture, curtains, books, newspapers, etc.
• Keep glass doors open while the fire is burning
• Use a fireplace screen to keep sparks and debris inside the fireplace, and children and pets AWAY from the fire
• Use dry and well-aged wood. Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney

ALWAYS HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLOSE BY!
In the event of a fire, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY - BEFORE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH IT YOURSELF.
A fire can double in size every 30 seconds, and engulf your entire home within MINUTES

Learn how to keep your Pets safe during the fall!