Appliance Fire Safety Tips
Appliance
Fire Safety Tips
Household appliances
make our lives easier every day. However, every machine that operates on
electricity or gas presents safety risks and should be used according to the
manufacturer’s instructions. Below are essential appliance fire safety tips to
help you prevent disasters in your home:
General Appliance Fire Safety Tips
- Keep appliances at a
safe distance from wet areas, especially in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, or
basement.
- Keep potentially
flammable items, such as furniture, clothes, or curtains, away from heaters or
appliances that produce heat.
- If an appliance or
lamp sputters, produces a spark, or gives you a shock when running, have it
repaired as soon as possible.
- Never force an
appliance with a three-prong plug into a two-prong outlet or extension cord.
- Never run cords under
carpets or rugs, as this can damage the wires and cause a fire.
- Check the wires of
appliances regularly. Replace or repair frayed, damaged cables.
- DO NOT plug too many
plugs into a power outlet; plug only one wattage appliance into an outlet at a
time.
- Unplug all small
electrical appliances, such as irons, toasters, hairdryers, and shavers when
not in use.
- Install smoke alarms on
every level of your home. Test the alarms once a month and replace batteries
each year.
Clothes Dryer
- Properly ground
clothes dryers and keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can
burn.
- Always use a lint
filter when operating a dryer. Clean the lint from the screen before or
after each use.
- Vent dryers directly
outside using rigid or flexible metal venting materials. Make sure the air
exhaust vent pipe is not restricted.
- Clean out the lint
from the vent pipe once a year or more often if clothes are taking longer than
normal to dry.
Electric or Gas Ranges
- Remove grease or
other debris from the burner, stovetop, or oven. Never leave combustible items
near ovens.
- Always supervise the
range when cooking and turn it off when you have to leave the kitchen.
- Roll up your sleeves,
tie back long hair, and wear non-slip when cooking.
- Before using the
range, make sure it doesn’t smell of gas inside the oven or near it.
Dishwasher
- Always supervise the
dishwasher when operating it. Don’t use the dishwasher when going to bed or
before leaving the house.
- Avoid using extension
cords as a permanent solution to power the dishwasher. Plug your dishwasher
into a grounded wall socket.
- Check the plastic
components that release the detergent on the interior of the door. If damaged,
these components can cause water to leak over the machine’s internal wires,
resulting in a fire.
Electric Heater
- Keep heaters at least
3 feet away from flammable materials like paper, trash bins, furniture, drapes
or carpet.
- Place heaters on a
stable, horizontal surface (preferably on the floor) where it can’t be knocked
over easily.
Microwave Oven
- Never use aluminum
foil or metal in a microwave oven, as metal can start a fire. Use only
microwave-safe food containers or dishes.
- Microwaves are not
designed for drying or sterilizing baby bottles, clothes, or blankets.
- Clean the microwave,
including the outer edge, from food debris, grease or stains regularly.
Apartment Fire Safety Tips
- Be
familiar with the fire protection system in your building. Each protection system depends on where and
when the complex was built. Apartment complexes with a sprinkler system provide
an additional way to extinguish fires at the right time. Moreover, most
apartment buildings also have fire alarm pull stations for
alerting other residents that there is a fire.
- Make
sure to equip your apartment with smoke detectors. For increased safety, interconnect the
alarms so that all alarms will sound if one is activated. The property owners
may be responsible for the smoke alarms, but you should ensure your safety.
Test the alarms once a month and check that they are not older than ten
years. Remember: it is illegal to remove, damage, or disable a smoke alarm.
- All
apartment complexes should have fire extinguishers. Learn where the fire extinguishers are, how to
access them, how to use them, and when to use them. Never attempt to put out a
fire with a fire extinguisher if that puts your life in danger or if you don’t
know how to use one.
- Cooking is the number
one cause of fires in homes. Never leave food unattended on the stove.
- Never store flammable
substances, such as propane tanks or gas cans, in your apartment.
- Supervise space
heaters and place them at least three feet away from flammable materials.
- Check electrical cords
for appliances and replace those that are frayed or cracked.
- Keep matches and
lighters out of the reach and sight of children.
- Don’t smoke in the
bedroom or leave lit cigarettes unattended.
- Keep hallways clear
— put away shoes, floor mats, and other items that can potentially trip and/or
injure family members.
Escape Planning
- Everyone in the family
should be familiar with the building’s evacuation plan. Participate when your
building drills take place.
- Learn the best escape
routes — know how many levels the complex has, the nearest exits, and the
location of staircases.
- Practice escaping
through these routes. Stay low when moving to avoid breathing in smoke.
- If the escape routes
are blocked by fire or smoke, practice sealing yourself in for safety. Close
the door and stay by the window; use a flashlight or a light-colored cloth to
signal firefighters.
- If you have small
pets, purchase a carrier to be able to take them with you. If you have a dog,
keep a leash at the ready.
Remember fire safety when using appliances and
call the pros at Purofirst for fire restoration services
It is important to
practice appliance fire safety to reduce the chances of a fire in your home.
These tips can help save the lives of you and your loved ones, as well as
prevent damage to your property. If you experience a house fire, call Purofirst
for professional fire restoration services.