During the winter, people see a spike in their home heating bills. However, in an effort to stay warm, some people may inadvertently cause damage to their homes–there is an increase in home fires between December and March, and two of the leading causes are heating fires and electrical failure/malfunction.
Make sure you take the necessary precautions to prevent winter home risks:
Heating Fires
Do you know that heating fires are the second leading cause (behind cooking equipment) of home fires? During December, January, and February, 49% of all home heating fire deaths occur, and this is attributed to people using more electric heating devices such as blankets and space heaters. One way to avoid a heating fire is to keep flammable material away from space heaters, which are involved in 40% of home heating fires.
Electrical Failure
A major cause of home fires during winter months is electric failure or malfunction. This is why it’s important to consider the following tips:
Only use one heat-producing appliance plugged into an outlet at a time
Don’t plug major appliances into extension cords
Don’t exceed recommended wattage usage in lamps or light fixtures.
Portable Generators
Generators are a great way to maintain power during winter snowstorms. However, improper generator installation creates serious risks for users. Before you do anything else, make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions before running your generator. Some other helpful tips for safe generator use:
Never use a generator inside an enclosed area. Engines emit carbon monoxide.
Never operate your generator near combustible materials.
Always use a carbon monoxide detector in the area that your generator is operating.
Licensed Electricians
Hiring a licensed electrician to perform all of your electrical work will ensure that everything is installed properly. An estimated 51,000 home electrical fires occur each year, so it’s vital to make sure a professional has done the job correctly.
Air Group’s licensed electricians can handle all of your electrical needs, from lighting fixture installation to generator installation. Call Air Group today at 800-545-1020 for all your electrical needs. Air Group’s licensed electricians will do the job right the first time.