Recent General Posts

Heating Safety For You and Your Pets

1/21/2022 (Permalink)

There is something about the winter months and curling up with your pet and a good book by the fireplace.  But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.  With a few simple safety tips and precautions, you can prevent most heating fires from happening and keep you and your pets safe.

  • Keep anything flammable that can burn at lease three feet away from heating equipment.
  • Have a three foot “kid-free and pet-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
  • Always remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • It’s a good idea to put the space heater far enough above the ground that pets do not have access to the heater or the cord. This will minimize the likelihood of a curious cat or dog chewing on the cord or becoming tangled in the cord.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  • Make certain the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container.  Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Some other pet-friendly features to look for are front panels and vents that are small enough to prevent curious paws from getting through them.
  • If you have long-haired pets or pets who shed heavily, you may want a heater with a front panel that is like a mesh or grill. This will help prevent pet hair, fur, and other debris from getting into the heater and damaging it, or worse causing a fire9. 
  • Pets are playful and they like to check out new things, so a heater that heats the room while staying cool to the touch can prevent any accidental burns.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Heating Safety For You and Your Pets

1/21/2022 (Permalink)

There is something about the winter months and curling up with your pet and a good book by the fireplace.  But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.  With a few simple safety tips and precautions, you can prevent most heating fires from happening and keep you and your pets safe.

  • Keep anything flammable that can burn at lease three feet away from heating equipment.
  • Have a three foot “kid-free and pet-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
  • Always remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • It’s a good idea to put the space heater far enough above the ground that pets do not have access to the heater or the cord. This will minimize the likelihood of a curious cat or dog chewing on the cord or becoming tangled in the cord.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  • Make certain the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container.  Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Some other pet-friendly features to look for are front panels and vents that are small enough to prevent curious paws from getting through them.
  • If you have long-haired pets or pets who shed heavily, you may want a heater with a front panel that is like a mesh or grill. This will help prevent pet hair, fur, and other debris from getting into the heater and damaging it, or worse causing a fire9. 
  • Pets are playful and they like to check out new things, so a heater that heats the room while staying cool to the touch can prevent any accidental burns.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.