Heating Options Raise Wintertime Fire Dangers

02/01/2010

When it comes to fire safety and avoiding unwanted calls to one's home insurance company, the winter months can be especially dangerous because of the various methods people use to heat their house when money is tight.

A recent announcement from a major insurance company says that a cold winter and difficult economy have Americans putting themselves at a higher risk for house fires caused by flawed and improperly maintained heating products.

The company cited survey results which found that 29 percent of people do not turn off their space heater when they go to bed, while 41 percent fail to have their chimneys inspected on a yearly basis. In fact, 25 percent acknowledge that they fail to have their chimneys inspected even every four years.

Last year, some leading causes of home insurance claims were said to include fires caused by wood-burning fireplaces, overloaded extension cords and fuel-burning space heaters.

When it comes to fire safety, it's important for people to never leave a space heater unattended and to keep it at least three feet away from any flammable materials, including drapes and bed sheets. Chimney inspection is also very important for wood stove users because of the flammable soot that can build up in them.

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