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Keep Your Home Warm this Winter

Cypress Tenant Warming Their Toes by the Cozy FireplaceFire Safety Tips You Need to Know

Winter months mean holidays, memories — and, unfortunately, seasonal fire hazards. With more people using fireplaces, candles, and kitchen appliances during the winter months, incidences of residential fires also increase during this time of the year. Winter fire safety knowledge will come in handy to keep your Cypress home and family safe. The following tips can help you avoid the common causes of winter fires and make your winter a season to enjoy.

It feels great to cozy up by the fire during winter nights. But you should be careful when using fireplaces. Make sure these are cleaned often to ensure that the flames don’t stray from where they should be. One of the most important safety tips for using a fireplace is to clean it thoroughly before each use. You can avoid burns and property damage by keeping your fireplace free from ashes, built-up soot, and debris that can become spark-inducing hazards. Keep a clean fireplace and you can enjoy your fire safely every time you light it.

Aside from cleaning your fireplace, make sure the damper is open and working properly before lighting your kindling. Proper ventilation is important to prevent smoke from filling your home. In addition, you should keep children a good distance away from the fire and make sure no fire is unattended. Finally, take extra care when removing ashes and unburned wood from a fireplace. Coals can stay hot under ashes for up to three days, so stir ashes carefully and test for heat before attempting to scoop them out. Annual chimney sweeps are also important to keep creosote deposits from ruining your cozy winter moments.

Along with fireplaces, candles are a possible source of residential fires as well. Open flames should be used cautiously in the home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start an average of 7,610 home structure fires each year. To maintain a low fire risk, you must keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, houseplants, and home decor items. Do not move candles that have melted wax pooling in the center, and never leave a lit candle unattended. This way, you’ll keep your candle-lit evenings safe.

Many of our winter holidays are associated with scrumptious feasts. All that extra cooking also increases the chances of kitchen fires in the winter. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 189,000 cooking fires in the U.S. each year. These fires are usually caused by food or kitchen appliances left unattended.

To ensure that your holidays are kitchen fire-free, be sure someone is present in the kitchen when food is simmering or baking. A timer will also come in handy to remind you to remove food from the stove or oven when you’re done cooking. A lot of cooking fires happen on stovetops, so make sure you keep flammable objects like dish towels and other fabrics far from your stove before you turn any burners on. Wipe up spills or overflowing food right away, and use pots and pans that are in good condition.

Lastly, if your cooking plans include frying, take extra care around hot oil. Do not leave boiling water or oil unattended, and keep a pot lid nearby. If ever the oil starts to flame up, you should cover the pot with the lid, turn off the heat, and allow the stove and pot to cool.

If you follow these safety tips, you can easily avoid most winter fire hazards. Would you like to learn more safety tips for renters? We can help! Call 281-362-5001 to speak with a professional Cypress property manager today.

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