No doubt with winter in full swing, many of us are probably sitting, curled up in front of the heater right now, warming up from the cold temperatures outside. However while keeping yourself warm is essential when the temperature can drop as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping your home fire- safe is also important. There are a number of helpful precautions all of us can make this winter to avoid having to make a claim on our Connecticut homeowners insurance, such as:
Accidents while cooking are a leading cause of residential fires in Connecticut, and therefore it’s very important to practice safety while in the kitchen. Preventing the build-up of grease and oil is recommended, as is wearing the clothes that will not easily catch fire while cooking. Finally, if an oil fire does break out, it’s important not to use water, as it will only cause the oil to spread, causing even more flames. Use a pan or a blanket instead to smother the fire if it’s safe to do so.
Ensuring you have sufficient smoke detectors inside is also important, and it is recommended one be secured on every level and in every garage. Testing of batteries and cleaning out the smoke detectors should be done regularly.
Precautions against non-kitchen related fires include never leaving the heater on when not at home, and never smoking in bed – this latter habit is frequently implicated in fires, and in fire related fatalities. For more information on coverage or for Connecticut homeowners insurance quotes, give one of our consultants a call today.