Is Your Home a Fire Risk? How to Minimize It

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Is fire a risk at your home? Nearly every home has some level of risk when it comes to fire. However, every homeowner has the ability to reduce that risk. To do so, you need to know how to spot concerns. And, you should have some basic steps in mind to keep your home safe. Consider some of the ways you can make your home safer against fires.

Your home insurance may help cover the financial loss if a fire occurs. This is the type of event that is very difficult to overcome otherwise.

Tips for Fire Safety
You can keep your home less of a fire risk by simply being mindful of the risks on an ongoing basis. Your home insurance agent may even offer some tips.

Have your appliances inspected annually. Appliance-related fires can occur due to poor maintenance. Faulty wiring is also a concern.
Ensure only a licensed electrician works on your home when necessary. This helps to ensure you do not have to worry about electrical concerns behind walls.
Have your fireplace inspected at least one time a year if you use it. Never start a fire within knowing it is safe to use. Creosote can build up along the interior walls, creating a very dangerous fire risk.
Keep debris away from your home. Even if you do not live in a local fire risk area, debris around the home can easily catch on fire if lightning strikes. Specifically, keep wood, leaves, and mulch away from the structure.
Keep outdoor fires under control and away from the home. Do not start a fire near your deck. And, if you are going to grill outdoors, be sure there is always someone nearby to monitor the fire.
For fire pits and burn areas, keep these away from the structure. Be sure they have some type of closure around them. Be sure no branches hang into the area. This helps minimize risks, too.
Have attics inspected annually. If you have your heating and cooling system inspected, there is less risk of a spark occurring.

Taking steps to prevent fires at your home is critical. However, even in the best situations, they can happen. This is why you want to be sure your home insurance is up to date. Speak with your agent about your coverage. Do you have enough? Does it cover all types of fire risk? If not, be sure to update it to properly reflect this.