Fire hazards can lurk throughout your house, not just in the most obvious places. Dismissing the laundry room as one place where fires can’t start is also inadvisable.
Protecting your home and family from a fire isn’t as hard as it sounds. The most important thing to do is to exercise some common sense. For instance, don’t leave a dishcloth on top of a gas stove, even if the stove isn’t on. Also, using a potholder as a burner cover isn’t the brightest idea, either. What other residential fire hazards are there that you might not expect? Come and find out.
Blocking the Stove
Cooking can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. That’s because many residential fires start in the kitchen. These fires tend to be caused by cooking mishaps, or leaving the kitchen while the burners are still on. Whether your stove is powered by gas or electricity, it’s never a good idea to block your stove. That’s a huge fire hazard right there. Don’t keep recipe sheets or paper towels too close to any heating element.
Not Cleaning the Dryer
Fire hazards can lurk throughout your house, not just in the most obvious places. Dismissing the laundry room as one place where fires can’t start is also inadvisable. One of the most dangerous and unexpected fire hazards in any home is the lint trap inside your dryer. For your peace of mind, be sure to clean out the lint trap in between loads of laundry, even if you are doing several loads back to back. Be sure to remove any lint that collects inside the drum of the dryer or around the sides and edges on the floor. If these bits of fluff get too close to the heating element that dries your laundry, you could have a fire safety problem on your hands.
Sawdust
No one expects their hobbies to produce fire hazards. But if you’re fond of woodworking, then you need to ask yourself one question: Do you keep a workshop in your basement or in your garage? Then you need to keep it clean. All of that sawdust is a convenient fuel source if one of your tools should malfunction and start spitting out sparks. If you’re renovating your home or installing new hardwood floors, you might also create large amounts of sawdust.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience in designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.