At DynaFire, we’re not only all about Fire & Life Safety, we’re all about giving you the best tips to heat up your love life too.

There are safe ways to heat your home or workplace, and then there are the not-so-safe options. We’re sharing both in this blog. Take it from us, nothing is sure to impress your Valentine more than some hot heating safety tips. Perfect for sharing over candlelight, on a card, or reading alone over a TV dinner if you’re spending the day solo. 

Heating Safety Tips: Space Heaters and Fireplaces

Fireplaces and space heaters provide a great way to warm up when it’s cold outside, but reports from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) show that space heaters are responsible for approximately 80% of home heating fire deaths and one-third of home heating fires each year. Almost half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February, so it’s important to follow these guidelines and protect yourself from an emergency.

Give them some space

Anything that could ignite should be kept a minimum of three feet away from any space heater, fireplace, or wood stove. This includes things like furniture, curtains, blankets or bedding, and more. You should also keep children at least three feet away from heat sources, since they can accidentally burn themselves or introduce flammable objects to your space heater or fire. 

Don’t leave them unattended

Fireplaces and space heaters are best enjoyed while you’re in the same room with them. That means if you’re leaving the room, your home, or going to sleep, the fire should be extinguished and a space heater powered off. 

Space heater electrical safety

Your space heater should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Don’t use extension cords, multiplugs, or power strips to plug it in. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut off so if it should tip over, it turns off.

Fireplace safety

A fireplace should be well-maintained, including having the chimneys inspected and cleaned annually. After you’re done enjoying your fire, wait until the ashes cool and remove them to a metal container for disposal. You should also keep a screen in front of the fireplace to prevent any sparks from flying into the room and burning nearby objects. You should not burn paper, treated wood, or anything besides logs and other products specifically intended for use in a fireplace.

Heating Safety Tips: Dos and Don’ts

When it comes to keeping your home warm safely, here are some things you should do:

• Have a trained and experienced professional install equipment like water heaters and furnaces.
• Install CO detectors and test them regularly. If you notice the strong smell of gas in your home or business, leave the area and contact your gas company or fire department.
• Make sure you have smoke detectors and alarms installed in your home, and that you are checking the batteries and testing them regularly. If you own a commercial property, work with a fire alarm system service provider to keep your systems in good working order.

And here are a few don’ts to remember:

• Don’t use your oven or stove to heat your home.
• Don’t use heating equipment that hasn’t been inspected and approved by a recognized testing laboratory.

DynaFire: For All Your Fire Protection Needs

You can count on the team at DynaFire to help you safely turn up the heat in February and beyond. No matter what commercial Fire & Life Safety service you’re looking for, we’re the first choice. Contact us today to learn more!