Preparing for Fire and Water Risks During Winter

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

With the winter coming in full force, it’s a good idea to start thinking about how you can lower the chance of events that often cause water or fire damage during the cold seasons. While pipes freezing, as we have mentioned in another blog post, is one of the leading causes of water damage in cold weather, there are other hazards that can lead to other catastrophes.

            According to the National Fire Protection Association, the second most common cause of home fire deaths is from heating equipment, just behind cooking fires (https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Heating-equipment). Space heaters are especially risky, because they can often ignite flammable objects in their vicinity. Being mindful of the things around your space heater can prevent disaster; keep them away from flammable objects and make sure to turn them off before you go to bed. Also, dirty equipment can sometimes lead to fires. Make sure to regularly maintain chimneys and other heating systems in order to maintain a safe environment.

            Often catching people unaware, icicles and snow can often fill up gutters and other areas of water flow and then freeze, making an ice dam. This can cause water to build up and damage the infrastructure of your home. Maintaining and cleaning gutters before they freeze can often help prevent this.

            If you have any questions or concerns about house maintenance, fire, or water damage, please give us a call at SERVPRO of Northbrook / Wheeling / Glencoe, (847) 498-8889.