Spring cleaning provides an excellent opportunity to check on your existing equipment and to help eliminate possible threats and fuel to a potential fire.
This spring while you are dusting the cupboards, getting rid of old clothes, and wiping down the windows, you should take a few extra steps to think about fire safety in your home.
Check your smoke alarms
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, having a properly functioning smoke alarm in your home drops your risk of dying in a house fire by 50 percent.
Many homeowners grow irritated by the beep from a low battery, but you cannot overlook the quick and simple process of changing that battery once every year.
Clean out the clothes dryer
Most clothes dryers recommend cleaning out the lint trap after each load, but you should regularly scrape out the lint in the dryer itself. The NFPA reports that 17,000 home clothes dryer fires occur each year.
Check the venting from outside the house too, as an improper connection or clogged ducts can be hazardous.
Keep grills clean and away from the house
Warmer weather makes us naturally want to spend more time outdoors. And nothing says spring or summer like hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.
Before you turn on the grill, check all connections from the propane tank for any potential leaks. Charcoal grills require only charcoal starter fluid and not any other flammable liquids.
While you can take steps to prevent common causes of house fires this spring cleaning, one of the most important ways to avoid becoming a statistic is the implementation of a family fire escape plan.
For more information on fire prevention, contact a fire safety expert at Brigade Fire Systems on Safety Drive in Belmont, Michigan.