Keeping House Fires at Bay

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

A sure sign of fire hazard season in Virginia Beach is dropping temperatures and shorter days. While we are all tempted to use our electric blankets and space heaters to stay toasty (it is important to remember to use extra caution when using these items) specifically do not plug them into extension cords or power strips.  Space heaters in particular generate a lot of energy with the ability for the heating elements to reach up to 600 degrees so they should only be plugged directly into a wall outlet. When hooked up to a power strip or extension cord the outlet can overheat and potentially catch fire.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing 300 deaths.

When buying and installing a small space heater, follow these guidelines:

• Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater carries the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label.
• Choose a thermostatically controlled heater, because they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room.
• Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Most heaters come with a general sizing table.
• Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.
• Plug directly into the wall outlet

As always during this time of need, make SERVPRO of Virginia Beach your first call to help you and your local insurance agent assess any damages. We will work for you to restore your property and your life to make it "Like it never even happened."