Fire Safety in your Living Areas
Friday April 12 2024Regularly check the following items to ensure there is no fire hazard:
Air Conditioners and Fans
- Have old or heavily used appliances, like air conditioners and fans, checked regularly by a qualified tradesperson.
- Keep appliances clean and free of dust by vacuuming filters regularly
Heaters
- Do not hang clothes, towels or blankets on the heater to dry them out or warm them up.
- Always turn off your heater before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Keep everything at least two metres away from heaters as a build up of radiant heat can cause a fire.
- Choose a portable heater with an automatic safety switch that turns off if the heater is knocked over.
- Before the weather gets cold each year, have your heater checked by a licensed electrician that it is safe to use.
- Position portable heaters away from areas of heavy traffic.
- Keep portable electric heaters away from wet areas to avoid the possibility of electric shock.
Fireplaces
- Have the flue installed professionally and insulated from roofing timbers and wall panelling.
- Have the chimney checked and cleaned every year to prevent a build up of flammable materials and ensure it functions correctly.
- Use a screen with a fireguard on any open fire to protect from burn injuries and flying sparks or embers.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Extinguish a fire completely before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Dispose of all fireplace ashes safely. Handle the ashes with metal scoops and metal buckets and soak in water.
- Do not use flammable liquids to start an open fire.
Lights and Lamps
- Always use the correct bulb size, type, and wattage in lamps, according to manufacturer’s specifications. The incorrect bulb type can overload the internal wiring of the lamp and cause a fire.
If you need a friendly Appliance Repairer from ABC Electrical to assist with any Electrical issues you may have …..