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Heating Your Home Safely

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SECURA Insurance |
Minneapolis MN Family by Home Fireplace

No matter how you choose to heat your home during the winter, a heating source can become a fire hazard if it's not properly maintained.

Here are a few reminders to help keep your home warm and safe. 

Heating with Your Fireplace

  • Clean out your chimney regularly, especially if you use your fireplace often or burn green wood — this can lead to an increased buildup of creosote. 
  • Have your chimney checked for cracks, loose bricks, or unused flue openings that are improperly sealed. 
  • Avoid large fires of paper or trash, which send dangerous flames and sparks up your chimney. Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from escaping. 
  • Have a professional inspect your gas fireplace, including cleaning the logs and checking the fan and vents. 

Using a Space Heater

  • Stand the heater on a level surface, and keep it at least three feet away from any combustible materials. 
  • Plug the heater into an outlet, not an extension cord. 
  • Turn off the space heater when you leave the room and while you sleep. 
  • Don't use a space heater to dry wet clothing or to warm bedding. 
  • Replace, don't patch, damaged or frayed electrical cords. 

Tips for Wood-burning Stoves or Pellet Stoves

  • Leave the proper clearance around the stove. Brick, stone, and metal can get hot enough to ignite nearby combustible materials. 
  • Keep curtains, clothing, furniture, paper, and kindling away from the stove. 
  • Check the walls near the stove — they shouldn't feel uncomfortably warm. 
  • Clean the stove regularly. Creosote is a flammable coating that can build up on stovepipes and chimneys and must be removed. 
  • Never start a stove fire with gasoline, kerosene, or starter fluid. These substances could cause an explosion.

For more heating safety tips, visit the US Fire Administration site.

SECURA Insurance is a service-focused, relationship-driven, mutual, property and casualty insurance company operating through independent agents. For more information, visit Secura Insurance Companies.