PTP Insurance Agents of Naperville, IL, an independent insurance agency

Winter Weather Brings Increased Fire Risk Poorly maintained furnaces and improper use of heating, cooking and lighting equipment cause thousands of fires. To protect against fire, the following steps are recommended: Install smoke detectors and test them monthly. Equip your home with Type ABC fire extinguishers. Have furnaces cleaned and inspected annually. Never use a range or oven to heat your home. Follow manufacturers' instructions for electric space heaters. Keep the heater away from curtains and other flammable material. Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or open flame. To discard ashes, place them outdoors in a covered metal container. Keep fire hydrants clear of snow. Never use treated lumber or creosote-covered wood in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. These materials may produce toxic fumes. The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood-burning stoves continues to grow and auxiliary heating devices are selling quite rapidly, coming out of storage, or being refurbished after years of neglect. Fireplaces are burning not only wood, but also man-made logs. All of these methods of heating may be acceptable. However, they are a major contributing factor in residential fires, most of which can be easily prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter. Kerosene Heaters They were once very popular, but have fallen into disfavor because of the dangers, the smell, and availability of proper fuel. Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an automatic emergency shutoff in case the heater is tipped over. Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning any fuel produces deadly fumes, even when you can't smell them. Use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Make sure the proper grade of kerosene is being used. Never introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type. If you accidentally fill the device with improper fuel, have it checked by a qualified technician before lighting it; often, simply draining a tank will leave enough residue to cause an explosion. Keep kerosene and other flammable liquids in clearly marked, approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas outside the home. Never fill the heater while it is operating, or while it is hot. Avoid overfilling, and be aware that liquid fuel that has been stored outside will expand as it reaches room temperature, possible causing a leak. Refuel only outdoors. Keep children safely away from any space heater, especially when they are wearing loose clothing that could ignite easily. When using a fuel burning appliance in a bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent building up carbon monoxide. Never use one while sleeping. Note: ERIE prohibits space heaters in sleeping areas. Wood Stoves and Fireplaces Be certain the stove or fireplace is installed properly. Woodstoves should have adequate clearance (36") from combustible surfaces, proper ventilation, and proper support. Some are quite heavy and may require strengthening of the underlying floor. Woodstoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and be UL listed. Have the chimney inspected and cleaned annually. This is especially important if it hasn't been used for an extended period of time. Never use flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, or lighter fluid to start a fire. Using them to accelerate a fire is even more hazardous. Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening to prevent sparks and embers from jumping onto flammable surfaces. Burn the stove hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce creosote buildup. Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. Never burn trash (or Christmas wrap). Paper can ignite creosote deposits more readily than wood fires. Never burn charcoal indoors. It gives off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. Keep flammable materials (Christmas stockings) away from the mantle. A spark could easily ignite them. Before you go to sleep, make certain the fireplace is out. Never close the damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to reignite, forcing smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. If synthetic logs are used, follow the manufacturer's directions on the package. Never break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide. Furnaces It's essential to have the furnace inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition. This should be done annually. Be certain all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition. If you have trouble lighting a pilot light, call a qualified professional. Never override the thermocoupling. Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself. Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required. Check the flue pipes and seams. Are they well supported? Free of holes and cracks? Soot along or around seams probably indicate a leak, which will introduce carbon monoxide into the living area. Is the chimney solid? Any cracks or loose bricks? All unused flue openings should be sealed with solid masonry. Keep trash and other combustibles well away from the heating system. Other fire safety tips Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Use a metal container outside and well away form the home (not in the garage). The container should have a tight fitting metal lid that will cut off the oxygen supply to any smoldering embers. Never use a range or oven as a supplementary heating device. It is a source of potentially toxic fumes, it is inefficient, and a serious safety hazard. If you must use an electric heater, be certain that the circuit and any timer you may use carries the necessary rating to carry the amp load. Avoid using electric space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water. Never try to thaw frozen water pipes with a blowtorch or other open flame. The pipe could conduct sufficient heat to ignite the wall structure. A 'heat gun' used for paint removal also gets too hot for this use. Use hot water, towels, or a handheld heating device (a hair dryer) for thawing. If windows are used as emergency exits, practice using them in a non-emergency situation. Be certain all windows can open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended. Have a gathering point established outside the home. Keep fire hydrants clear of ice and snow so it can be located easily by emergency personnel. In heavy snow areas, have a brightly colored marker attached to it so it will be visible above any expected snowfall. Return to Articles Home Page.

People to People Insurance Services Inc. - 1240 Iroquois, Naperville, IL, DuPage County - Serving Chicagoland (630) 355-2355

Naperville Illinois personal and commercial independent insurance agents, PTP Insurance Agency, serves clients throughout the metropolitan Chicagoland area which includes Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County and Will County; including, but not limited to, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Aurora, Batavia, Barrington, Berwyn, Bedford Park, Bloomingdale, Brookfield, Burbank, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elmhurst Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hickory Hills, Hoffman Estates, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Lyons, Mokena, Montgomery, Oak Brook, Oswego, Romeoville, St Charles, Schaumburg, Shorewood, Sycamore, Warrenville,West Chicago, Westmont, Woodridge and Yorkville.