5 Fire Safety Hazards In Your Home

By now, most people know that it's important to burn candles safely, fully extinguish cigarettes, and clean out their dryer vents. Even if you take all of these precautions, there are still many fire hazards in your home that you haven't considered.

The following are five hidden fire dangers that most homeowners miss.

1. Kitchen Clutter
   The kitchen is another common place where home fires start. Ensure that clutter — like kitchen towels, cookbooks, and other flammable materials — are as far away from the stove as possible. Also, keep your oven and stovetop clean to help avoid the possibility of a grease fire. Stay in the kitchen when things are in the oven or on the stovetop so you can take action if there's a problem.
2. Electrical Wiring
   Electrical fires are all too common. However, our home's wiring is something we don't think about unless we're undergoing a home improvement project or we have a problem. You can proactively take care of this by having a licensed electrician take a look at your home's wiring to assess its safety. He or she may recommend updating old wiring or replacing an old circuit breaker with an arc-fault circuit interrupter.
   
   Other electrical hazards include loose outlets, frayed wires, and overloaded circuits. Fix loose outlets and replace frayed wires right away. Avoid using extension cords whenever possible, and try to make sure each item has its own outlet. If this is a problem, have your electrician put some additional outlets in your home. Not only will this make things more convenient, but it will also increase safety.
3. Heating Hazards
   Winter is coming, and for many, that means evenings snuggled up by the fireplace. While this certainly is romantic, it's also a fire hazard. Make sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected before the winter comes, and never go to bed until the fire is extinguished.
   
   Space heaters are another common wintertime danger. If possible, avoid using them, but if you must, make sure they're at least three feet away from anything flammable. This includes curtains, bedding, carpets, and furniture. Always supervise children and pets around space heaters to ensure they aren't injured and that they don't accidentally knock them over.
4. Remodeling Residue
   If you're working on a home improvement project, make sure to clean up regularly. Sawdust floating in the air or accumulating on the floor can create a serious fire hazard. It's extremely flammable and can cause a house fire to ignite and spread quickly.
   
   Keep your home improvement site clean and fireproof by vacuuming the area after the work is done each day. For large projects, consider investing in a special vacuum designed to remove these particles from the air. This will help ensure that your home remains as safe as possible.
5. Outdated Smoke Alarms
   It's always a good idea to check the batteries in your smoke alarms at least twice a year, but that might not be enough. If your smoke alarms are ten or more years old, consider replacing them. Also, check all alarms once a month to make sure they're working correctly. This simple maintenance task could one day mean the difference between life and death.

If any items on this list set off alarm bells, now is the time to take care of them. When it comes to fire prevention, it's always better to be safe than sorry!

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