Beware of Fire Hazards in Your Home
Fall is the perfect time to pull out those scented candles, throw some wood in the fireplace, or even turn on a space heater when it gets cold at night. As enjoyable as these amenities are in a home, they are all potential agents to cause a fire. In fact, the NFPA reports that over 9,000 fires in a 4-year span were caused by candles. If you have a fireplace with a chimney, make sure that any debris or creosote buildup is cleaned out, so that the rising heat doesn’t risk catching your house on fire. Finally, if you use a space heater in your home or apartment, make sure no combustible items are even remotely close to it. Although space heaters may not seem lethal, they have accounted for thousands of fires and hundreds of deaths from house fires.
In the unfortunate event that your house does experience a fire, ServiceMaster by Rice’s certified technicians can help you with fire clean up, fire repair, and smoke removal from your home.
Check Safety Equipment and Keep Good Safety Habits
At ServiceMaster By Rice, we like to remind people that any time the seasons change, it’s a good idea to take a look at your home’s safety equipment. Are there batteries in your smoke alarms? Are your fire extinguishers charged? Does your family have an emergency plan?
Fire Prevention Week in October
Building off the theme of fires, make sure that your safety equipment to prevent a fire is working. October 8th-14th of this year is National Fire Prevention Week. Here are some things to consider to make your home more fireproof:
- Make sure there are batteries in your smoke alarms and be sure to test them.
- Check that your fire extinguisher is not expired and is still able to function.
- Check your water heater and gas stove to make sure their pilot lights work.
Part of National Fire Prevention Week is that it’s a good time for families and businesses to revisit their escape plans in the event of a fire. Having more than one plan can help you prepare for a fire that starts anywhere in a structure. Having good safety habits will help prevent you from having to deal with a fire. Tips such as cleaning filters in your laundry dryer and not warming your kitchen with an open oven door will help drastically.
Tornado Shelter
Although we have been having some amazing weather here recently, tornado season is still occurring in the Midwest. In 2016, there were still 11 confirmed tornadoes that took place between September-November. Make sure that you have a place to take shelter in your home in the chance that a tornado comes through your town. In the unfortunate circumstance that one does, ServiceMaster By Rice can help you with all your disaster cleanup and disaster restoration services throughout the state of Iowa.
ServiceMaster By Rice Services
Autumn is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable times of the year in Iowa. Fantastic weather, football season, and changing leaves makes for a great time. However, the change in humidity causes the air to become much drier which in turns leads to more favorable conditions for a fire to happen. If your home needs carpet cleaning, mold removal, water damage cleanup, or anything between, contact ServiceMaster By Rice today! We value our customers and vow to give you our best service possible.
