9 Ways to Prevent House Fires

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than 350,000 residential fires in the United States every year. These fires are responsible for more than 10,000 injuries, 2,500 deaths, and $7 BILLION in property damage.

On the bright side, most house fires are avoidable. Follow these nine simple tips from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home safe and prevent fires:

1. Keep an eye on what you fry. Cooking equipment is responsible for nearly half of all house fires. The best thing you can do to avoid these is never let your food cook unattended, especially on the stove top.

2. Never leave candles burning unattended. While they may smell delectable, it is important to remember that candles are an open flame, and therefore a fire hazard. Keep them away from all flammable materials, and never leave them burning in an empty room.

3. Have your home’s electrical system inspected. Electrical fires usually involve some type of failure or malfunction in the electrical system. A professional electrician knows how to spot faulty equipment, and can repair it before it becomes a problem.

4. Hire a professional chimney sweep. If your home uses a fireplace, it is important to have it professionally cleaned in order to remove the buildup of flammable creosote.

5. Don’t smoke in the home. This is a no-brainer. If you must smoke, do so outside and make sure your butts are completely out before disposing of them.

6. Maintain a three-foot safety zone with all heating equipment. Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from your furnace, radiator, stove, grill, fireplace, space heater, and other types of heating equipment.

7. Never use electronics with damaged wires. Plugging in an electronic device with a frayed, exposed, or damaged wire is asking for trouble.

8. Clear your dryer’s lint screen before each load. Clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 fires per year, many of which are caused by a dirty lint screen.

9. Have your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned each year. In addition to the filter screen, lint can accumulate in your dryer’s exhaust vent – the windy, metal tube attached to the back of your appliance. Have this vent professionally cleaned once per year to remove this buildup of flammable lint.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, give us a call at (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.