As the weather gets colder, the load on heating appliances increases. Stove heating has always caused and continues to cause many problems for the population, especially in rural areas, where almost every house has a stove – an object of increased fire hazard.
As the weather gets colder, the load on heating appliances increases. Stove heating has always caused and continues to cause many problems for the population, especially in rural areas, where almost every house has a stove – an object of increased fire hazard. And with the onset of the autumn-winter period, the problem only intensifies.
Before the start of the heating season, each stove and chimney must be cleaned and repaired, as well as wall flue channels within the premises. Chimney pipes in the attic, in particular, should be whitewashed with lime or clay mortar so that cracks appearing as black marks from the smoke passing through them can be noticed against the white background. A metal (pre-stove) sheet measuring at least 50 by 70 cm must be nailed to the wooden floor in front of the firebox. To prevent overheating of the stove, it is recommended to heat it two to three times a day for no more than one and a half hours. Stove heating must be stopped 3 hours before going to bed. Ash, slag, and coal should be removed to specially designated areas. It is not permitted to establish such collection points closer than 15 meters from combustible structures.
Take care of the safety of elderly parents. Stove fires often occur in houses where elderly people live. The reasons for this are not only violations of fire safety rules and carelessness due to poor eyesight and memory. Due to their age, elderly homeowners cannot whitewash the stove, climb under the ceiling to seal cracks in the chimney, or clean it. Only their children, who do not always find time to visit and help, can take care of them. If your parents live in the village, take care of their safety: help them put their stove in order and install autonomous fire detectors in the living rooms. Remember how your parents once protected you from all sorts of troubles and misfortunes. Now they themselves need help and rely first and foremost on the assistance of their adult children.
As sub-zero temperatures set in, the number of electric heaters connected to the grid increases, consequently raising the load on electrical wiring. It is common knowledge that the electrical wiring in many residential buildings, especially older ones, is far from ideal, which can lead to fires. Do not overload the network by simultaneously switching on multiple electrical appliances. Due to overloading, insulation loses its elasticity and quickly deteriorates, leading to short circuits and, subsequently, fires. Under no circumstances is it permissible to use non-factory (homemade) protective devices, so-called "jumpers," in electricity meters instead of automatic fuses.
Due to the drop in air temperature, many citizens try to create comfort in their homes using electric heaters. However, not everyone considers that any electric heating equipment is a potentially dangerous source of ignition and fire. Annually, faulty, homemade, and unattended electric heaters cause fires that destroy years of accumulated property in minutes, and sometimes people perish in such fires. To avoid disaster, always follow the rules: do not leave the heater unattended, place it away from furniture and curtains. Periodically clean the appliance of dust, and do not dry clothes on it. Do not use homemade devices or attempt to repair faulty ones yourself – entrust the task to specialists. Monitor plugs and sockets for overheating – this is the first sign of appliance malfunction or network overload.
Observe fire safety rules – do not risk yourself or your property!