6 Ways to Fireproof Your Home

Home Fire ProofingHouse fires are devastating events that you never want to happen to your home. They leave significant damage and can result in fatalities. Most house fires can occur due to external factors such as wildfires.

However, there is also proof that simple household chores such as cooking can cause a fire. The most common causes of house fires were due to a result of cooking accidents, heating, or just plain carelessness.

Although there's no sure way to prevent accidental fires, if there's a way to reduce the chances of fires from happening in the first place and reduce the damage it leaves behind, you should consider it. In this article, we'll discuss six ways to fireproof your home.

Install Alarms

Sometimes, fires can happen at the most unpredictable times. You could be tucked in bed at night, and a fire could happen. When something like this occurs, you would need something to detect a fire early to prevent it from becoming fatal.

An excellent way to detect fires early is with smoke alarms. Most of the time, smoke from a fire can be hazardous because they spread faster and wider than the fire itself. Inhaling smoke can also cause adverse effects for those in the home. Not to mention, it will prevent you from navigating around your home.

A smoke alarm is a great way to fireproof your home because it will give you a warning in advance, give you time to escape, and allow firefighters to diffuse the fire. When paired with a sprinkler system, it can be a great way to extinguish fires immediately.

Most real estate properties have smoke alarms and sprinkler systems installed, so this shouldn't be a problem for you unless you live in an old house.

Have a Fire Extinguisher Ready

Although when a fire happens, the first thing you should do is escape, there are times when you can extinguish a fire before it gets worse.

Since research proves that most house fires happen in certain places, such as kitchens or basements, you should have enough fire extinguishers readily available for use in those areas. Keep in mind to have a fire extinguisher on every floor and place it in a location where it's easy to reach.

Buy Non-Flammable Items

Stick to non-flammable items next time you're shopping. This should be an easy task since most modern household goods today are crafted to be non-flammable and safe. For example, mattresses made in the 90s up until today are much more flame resistant than their older counterparts.

So, if you're looking to do a bit of household shopping, keep in mind when the objects were made. If they're outdated and a bit old, it might be time to upgrade them.

Use Fire-Resistant Paint

A sure way to fireproof your home is to coat your walls with fire-resistant paint. Despite its benefits, fireproof paint is a cheap and simple way to make your home a safer environment.

The paint acts as a glaze and provides an extra surface between the f

  • ire and materials in your home. Fireproof paints also offer a couple of hours of fire protection which gives you and your loved ones time to escape or extinguish the fire.

Inspect Your Electric Panel

Some house fires happen due to electrical fires. This is extremely dangerous because they can spread quickly. Not to mention, you cannot extinguish these types of fires with water. Using water to extinguish electrical fires will cause them to spread even faster.

Before electrical fires happen, you should get your home's wiring inspected early on to see any problems or faulty wiring issues. This would require you to get your electric panel checked and possibly upgraded if needed.

Store Flammable Materials Properly

Flammable materials can contribute to house fires if left unattended or stored incorrectly. For example, oily rags should be stored in an airtight container away from the heat and placed in a cool and dry place. You should also store chemicals and flammable liquids in airtight containers in a dry and cool place.

Also, make sure to dispose of your trash properly. You should not store garbage in humid and closed areas such as basements since trash acts as an ideal source of fuel for a fire.

Wrapping Up

Fires are scary and can destroy a home in mere seconds. They can strike anytime and can cause severe damage. Although it's impossible to prevent a fire from happening completely, there are several steps you can take to create a safe environment in your home.

Installing smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, having fire extinguishers around your home, opting for non-flammable items, coating surfaces with fireproof paint, maintaining your electric panel, and storing flammable materials properly might just be enough to fireproof your home.

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