Heating your home safely

December 12, 2018 | SECURA Insurance

No matter how you choose to heat your home during the winter, a heating source can become a fire hazard if it's not properly maintained.

Here are a few reminders to help keep your home warm and safe.

Leave the proper clearance around the stove. Brick, stone, and metal can get hot enough to ignite nearby combustible materials.
Keep curtains, clothing, furniture, paper, and kindling away from the stove.
Check the walls near the stove — they shouldn't feel uncomfortably warm.
Clean the stove regularly. Creosote is a flammable coating that can build up on stovepipes and chimneys and must be removed.
Never start a stove fire with gasoline, kerosene, or starter fluid. These substances could cause an explosion.

Clean out your chimney regularly, especially if you use your fireplace often or burn green wood — this can lead to an increased buildup of creosote.
Have your chimney checked for cracks, loose bricks, or unused flue openings that are improperly sealed.
Avoid large fires of paper or trash, which send dangerous flames and sparks up your chimney. Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from escaping.
Have a professional inspect your gas fireplace, including cleaning the logs and checking the fan and vents.