Smoke damage is, in most cases, permanent.  While there are things you can do to fix your home after a fire or to replace damage from smoke and heat, the best way to deal with smoke and fire damage is to prevent it in the first place.  During the winter, most home fires come from damaged gas pipes, dry trees, and unwatched fireplaces but the most common cause of home fires is the portable space heater.

Home Fire Safety

If you’re going to buy a real tree for Christmas, don’t start early.  Buy the tree close to Christmas and don’t keep it for longer than two weeks.  Make sure that you keep it watered to keep the tree green and wet.  Dry Christmas Trees are a fire hazard, and draping incandescent string lights on them can lead to heating issues and a possible fire.  Always keep your tree far from any flame or heat source.  Use LED Christmas lights if you can.

Never leave a fireplace fire unmonitored either.  Cheery, warm, and perfect for marshmallows or simply a family gathering, the fireplace is enchanting.  But an unchecked fire can burn too hot or leave embers that pop out.  Keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case and make sure that anything flammable is more than three feet away from the fireplace.

You should do a similar thing for your central heating system.  The basement or the area around your furnace may have been a great place to store stuff during the summer, but now that colder weather has arrived you want to clear that area out.  Boxes of old tax returns or anything flammable should be at least three feet away from your furnace.  That furnace is going to get hot, and nearby boxes are prime target for starting a blaze.  Check any floor vents you may have in your home as well.  Keep flammable items away and keep furniture from blocking vents.

If your home is heated with a gas furnace, have the system inspected for leaks or damage.  An annual maintenance for your heating system is a good way to detect flaws that could lead to fires and smoke.

Finally, always monitor any portable space heaters in your home.  They may be cheaper than your central heating system, but they are still dangerous if unwatched.  Newer space heaters are safer, but a pet or child can easily knock them over.  Always keep the front of your space heater clear for at least three feet.  Flammable materials such as clothing, curtains, or bedding should always be cleared away when using a space heater.

Update Smoke Alarms

The last preventative measure is an early warning system.  Your best chance to save your home and protect your family is with an early warning from a smoke or fire alarm.  Place at least one smoke alarm on the ceiling.  For added safety, make sure you place them:

• On every floor of your house
• In major hallways
• In rooms with a heat source (furnace room, fireplace, etc)
• In every bedroom

Consider using interconnected fire alarms, that way when one triggers, every alarm will sound.

Don’t forget to follow RestoPros on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ for new Updates, News, and Discounts