Did you know wood stoves cause more than 4,000 house fires every year according to the United States Fire Administration? Even a small fire can hurt people and pets and destroy homes and cherished personal belongings. It’s easy to make sure your wood stove is ready for the winter. Before you light your fire, make sure you’re safe.
Personal Safety
Stoves create heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide, so be sure to take the following precautions:
• Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors regularly. Replace them when they expire. • Evacuate the home or other building if there’s any doubt that you cannot control a fire. • Keep children away from hot surfaces. • Make sure a working fire extinguisher is near any active fire.
Installation
Flammable material needs to be an appropriate distance from the stove. Dangerous gases need to be properly vented.
• Building codes may be different in your area. Talk to a local building inspector to learn the requirements for installing a wood stove. • Don’t install heat reclaimers to the stove or ducts. Reclaimers can affect ventilation draft and increase dangerous gas or creosote buildup. • Manufacturer installation and clearance requirements must be followed. • Never modify a wood stove, its controls, or any ventilation duct. • Solid fuel stoves should be installed by a licensed contractor. • Solid fuel-burning devices should not be used in shops or where gasoline may be present in vehicles or containers. • Stoves that are not listed with Underwriter Laboratories must at least follow National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes for clearance requirements.
Reach out to Your Friends In The Insurance Business with all your home insurance coverage questions. Thanks to our friends at Hastings Insurance for sharing the Safety Bulletin featured in today's blog.
For all your insurance needs, visit us at https://www.ieuter.com
Ieuter Insurance Group - 414 Townsend St Midland MI 48640
(989) 487-1758
Social accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/ieuterinsurancegroup/
https://twitter.com/ieuterinsurance
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ieuter-insurance-group/ https://www.instagram.com/ieuterinsurance/
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash