Be Aware of Cold Weather Hazards in the Home
The onset of colder weather means that more people are using their furnaces and fireplaces to stay warm. The colder temperatures also should remind homeowners to be wary of frozen pipes which could burst and possibly cause a home flood.
With temperatures dropping to zero or below, homeowners should have fireplaces installed by professionals and chimneys checked for cracks and creosote build up which can cause fires. If you do happen to have a chimney fire and the chimney is sound, your house should be safe. But when the chimney is cracked fire will most likely escape and make its way into the walls or attic.
It is a good idea to insulate pipes with pipe insulation or newspapers and plastic. Once the insulation is on the pipes allow faucets to drip a bit during very cold weather to prevent freezing. You can also pour two cups of antifreeze into drains and in the toilet tank to prevent freeze ups.
If you are planning on burning wood in your fireplace be sure that you use wood that is completely dry. Be certain that your fireplace screen is solid and in good shape and do not neglect to close the screen completely when there is a fire burning. Do not leave your home when there is a fire burning in the fireplace and make sure you have a complete set of fireplace tools on hand that will help you control any fire that is getting out of control.
If you do not know how to turn off the water valves in your home find someone who can show you. This way if a pipe bursts and starts flooding your home, you can turn off the water at its source to minimize the water damage. In the case that you plan on using a portable heater inside your home, be sure that it is a heater than was designed for inside use. Keep combustible materials such as drapes, furniture and carpeting at least three feet away from a running portable heater. Never put clothing on top of a portable heater under any circumstances.
Finally, be sure that all of the smoke detectors in your home are in good working order and that they all contain fresh batteries. It is also a good idea to buy a carbon monoxide alarm and have it installed in a central location. This type of alarm will sound when carbon monoxide is detected which is an odorless and colorless toxic gas that kills. Taking the time before the cold, hard winter sets in to get your home ready for winter is worth the effort as there are thousands of home fires in the US each year as well as many floods caused by frozen pipes that have burst.
