You need to be safe about how you use heat sources and winterize your custom home to minimize your risk.
A house fire can occur at any point in the year, but the vast majority of them occur in the winter. This is because more appliances and heating sources present a fire risk in use during the winter. But fear of a house fire doesn’t mean you should forego using any of these heating sources. You just need to be safe about how you use them and winterize your custom house to minimize your risk.
Chimney
If you’ve had fireplaces before, then already know that it is a potential source for a house fire and you need to take precautions. Those precautions extend to the chimney. When you have a fire in your fireplace, the smoke and soot escape through the chimney and leave behind a layer of a nasty residue called creosote on the chimney walls. This residue is highly flammable, which is why you need to have your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year as part of your winterizing process.
Furnace
Another part of your winterization process should include having your furnace inspected. In most areas, the furnace in a home sits unused for at least half of the year, and during that time mechanical issues can worsen so that when the time comes to turn it on you have a big issue. Get your furnace inspected and tuned up to save on energy costs and to identify any significant problems or issues that could lead to a fire. Fire is not the only danger that a tune-up can save you from: this is also a good time to make sure there are no carbon monoxide leaks.
Smoke Detectors
Speaking of carbon monoxide (CO), smoke and CO detectors are an important safety tool to have in the house during any time of the year. If you don’t have smoke and CO detectors up in your custom home yet, now is the time to get them. If you have any detectors that are more than ten years old, those should be replaced as well. Once you have the detectors in place, they should be checked once and month and the batteries should be changed once a year. This season, while you’re taking care of other winterizing tasks, is a good time to make sure the batteries are fresh.
Electrical Appliances
Finally, another crucial winterizing task is to check your electrical appliances. Ensure that none of the wires and cords are loose or frayed. If you have power stripes, make sure that they aren’t overloaded – and never plug space heaters into extension cords, they should only be plugged directly into the wall.
Custom Homes From Cedar Square Homes
Cedar Square Homes provides a variety of services to our customers, including custom home building to match your needs. We are trusted throughout Maryland for our excellent service and affordable home remodeling prices. Some of the areas we serve throughout the state include Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, Crofton, Severna Park, and Pasadena. Wherever you live, you won’t regret contacting us online or giving us a call at 410-987-9771. To see more examples of our work and stay up to date on our promotions, follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.