Keep warm and safe this winter

If you’re using extra heating, make sure you’re safe this winter and you’re not increasing the risk of a fire starting in your home.

To use space heaters and heating stoves safely:

• Make sure your heater is in good working condition. All room heaters need maintenance and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater increases the risk of a fire.

• Never use fuel-burning appliances without proper vents to the outside. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal or propane) produces deadly fumes.

• Only use the correct fuel for each heater and never ‘encourage’ a fire with paraffin or petrol Keep petrol or other flammable liquids stored outside your home at all times.

• Make sure the space around your heater – in all directions – is clear for a metre (just over three feet) Surrounding surfaces should not become too hot for your bare hand.) Use a screen around stoves or space heaters, which have open flames. Keep the heater well away from walls and items which could catch fire -  walls and items  such as clothes racks, curtains, beds, or other furniture.

• If you use an electric heater, make sure your house wiring is adequate and don’t overload the circuit or extension leads.

• Never use electric space heaters in bathrooms or touch one when you’re wet.

• When refuelling an oil heater, don’t overfill it. Cold oil will expand as it warms up and may cause burner flooding: this could cause flare-ups. Don’t fill your heater while it is burning.

• Keep young children away from space heaters – their clothes (especially nightclothes) can be sucked in by a draft and catch fire.

• Turn your heater off before going to bed. When using a fuel-burning heater, open the window. Ventilation prevents suffocation that can be caused by heater consuming oxygen.

• Use ONLY ‘CE’; ‘CENELEC’ or BS approved labelled equipment.

Fireplaces

• Do not use flammable liquids to start the fire or use too much paper. Overbuilding a fire can cause the soot in the chimney to catch fire.
• Never burn charcoal in your fireplace as it gives off deadly amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Keep a metal screen in front of your fireplace as flying embers can start fires. Make sure nothing is hanging down from your mantelpiece that could catch a spark and catch fire.
• When you go to bed make sure your  fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace as heat can build up and cause a fire.
• If your fireplace hasn’t been used for some time, have it and the chimney checked before using.
• Follow the directions on the package if you use man-made logs. Never break a man-made log apart to quicken the fire.

Furnace heating

• Have your furnace checked out and cleaned regularly. Make sure  all furnace automatic controls and emergency shutoffs are in good condition.
• Leave furnace maintenance and repairs to experts. Don’t attempt repairs unless you are qualified. Get them to check the wall and ceiling near the furnace and flue. If they are hot,  you may need additional insulation or clearance.
• Check the flue pipes. Are they well supported?  Free of holes and clean?
• Is the chimney solid? No cracks or loose bricks? All unused flue openings should be sealed appropriately
• Keep rubbish and things that can easily burn  away from the heating system.
• Don’t store hot ashes in the home; take them outside immediately.

Kitchen stoves

• Never use a gas range or an oven to heat your kitchen. It could produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide.
• Don’t leave lit oven doors open. Children could burn themselves on the heating elements

Use a smoke detector

• Install a smoke detector on the ceiling outside bedrooms and on the ceiling of every living area in your house. Test them regularly to make sure they are working.
• Draw up a fire escape plan and make sure your family knows what to do – get them to practice it and meet up outside the building to make sure everyone escaped.  Make sure windows open easily if they are the emergency exits.

General safety tips

• Don’t try to thaw frozen pipes with a blowtorch or other open flame – you could start a fire and/or damage the pipes. Use warm water to thaw them.
• Candles and oil/incense burners can be dangerous. Always keep them well away from flammable objects and never leave them burning unattended.
• Don't overload power points, use multi extensions instead.
• Make sure all electrical appliances are in safe working order - replace frayed cords and broken plugs
• When cooking with fat or oil keep the pot lid handy in case it catches fire. Turn the heat off, put the lid on and don’t move the pot until cool. Never throw water on a chip pan fire.
• Turn off your electric blanket before getting into bed and remember to turn the gas heater off.
• If there is a fire, sound the alarm, get out, stay out and call the fire brigade out by calling 999