According to the United States Fire Administration, more than one-fifth of residential fires are related to the use of supplemental room heaters – wood- and coal-burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electric heaters – so, before you put logs in the fireplace or plug in the electric heater, take some precautions. And never use an oven or stove to help heat your home.
- Have fuel burning household heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water-heaters, wood & coal stoves, space or portable heaters) and chimneys inspected by professionals every year before cold weather sets in.
- When purchasing new heating equipment select products tested and labeled by an independent laboratory with automatic shut-offs. Have them installed by a qualified technician.
- Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when turning a heating device on or off.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
- When using a fireplace, open flue for adequate ventilation.
- Never burn trash in a fireplace.
- Place ashes outdoors in a covered metal container at least 3 feet from a combustible. Don’t set the container on a wood porch.
- Always use a fireplace screen made of sturdy metal or heat tempered glass.
- Keep portable space heaters at least 3 feet away from a combustible.
- Check the cord on electric space heaters for cracks or fraying.
- Never use an extension cord with portable electric heaters.
- Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave a room or go to bed.
- Kerosene or Propane heaters for the purpose of domestic heating use are illegal in the City of White Plains.
- Install Carbon Monoxide detectors inside your home to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide. They should be installed near heating equipment and in a central location outside each separate sleeping areas.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions regarding testing and replacing of carbon monoxide detectors.
