If you have ever witnessed a commercial or a residential home go up in flames, then you probably know the kind of destruction fire can cause to your structure. It is a devastating experience and one you would never forget. If perhaps you have lost property to fire, you are pretty aware of the cost as well as the cost involved.
Your house doesn’t have to be caught up in a terrible bushfire to be burnt to the ground! On most occasions, a fire starts as a result of some electrical fault in your home such as old wiring, overloaded circuit, faulty electrical heater among others. It could also start through an accident in your kitchen, or children playing with fire sources such as ignitors and matches.
However, regardless of the cause of the fire, the outcome will always be the same. And unless it is contained before it spreads, it can potentially result in extensive and costly damage. This is why you want to fireproof your entire home to enhance your safety and reduce the level of damage to your property in the event of a fire outbreak. So, today in this post, we are going to provide you with five practical tips on how to fireproof your home.
1. Double-check your electrical installation:
Arguably, the most common cause of fire breakout in homes is usually an electrical fault. Electrical short circuits not only put your life at risk but can also lead to significant property damages. As a result, you should make an effort to contact your local electrician to come and inspect your electrical connection as well as electrical appliances. Any loose plugs, sparkling switches, charred electrical cables should be repaired or replaced accordingly. What’s more, the electrical professional should examine all underground wiring systems to ensure they are in the perfect state.
2. Install smoke detectors and fire alarms:
Smoke detectors and fire alarms play a vital role in ensuring any fire outbreak is effectively put out before it can spread further. If your home is old and doesn’t feature smoke alarms and fire alarms, a great way to fireproof it is through the installation of fire alarms and smoke detectors.
3. Have fire extinguishers at your disposal:
You should have fire extinguishers appropriately installed in areas within your home that are prone to fires. This implies that you’ll need one in the kitchen, close to a fireplace, and perhaps outdoors close to where you cook. What’s more, you should have at least one in your garage or where you occasionally store flammables. Most experts recommend that you should have a fire extinguisher in every room within your house.
4. Fireproof your furniture:
This is another important step you would want to take to protect your home against the threats of fire.
Use fire retardant sprays to offer fire protection. Fire retardant products function by slowing down the effects of a fire, keeping your indoor furniture from catching the flames.
5. Call an electrician to check for overloaded electrical connection:
If you have realized that your light bulbs usually blow up quite frequently, then the chances are high that you are dealing with overloaded circuits. To avoid the risk of fire, act fast and call an electrician immediately. What’s more, you should never use higher wattage bulbs than what your lighting fixtures already designate. Ask our local electrician about installing firestop pads on all your electrical switches to help reduce any instance of fire.
6. Make an effort to protect your yard:
You should ensure that all highly combustible materials are at least 35-ft from your home surroundings. Common highly flammable materials may include dried vegetation, pine needles, and dry wood. During the dry season, make sure all shrubs in your home are properly pruned. Rake up all the tree bark as well as pine needles to enhance the safety of your home.
7. Use the appropriate materials during any major home renovation:
If you are considering renovating your home, make sure you only use fireproof materials. Use fire-rated doors if possible, install double-paned windows among other recommendations.
These are some of the few tips that can potentially help protect your home against fire outbreaks. They are not only practical and highly effective but are easy to implement as well.
