Take action to maintain a safe home

A cozy hearth is essential to providing comfort during tough New England winters. You can keep your home warm and safe by adhering to as many of the following tips as possible:

• Monitor the accumulation of snow on the downside of a higher-level roof, where blowing snow will pile up. For safe snow removal, ask a roofing contractor for a referral.
• Remove snow from basement stairwells, window wells and all walls to prevent water or moisture from penetrating walls.
• Ventilate attics to maintain temperatures close to the outside, which will minimize the risk of ice dams forming.
• Clear gutters of leaves and debris.
• Make sure attic floors are insulated enough to minimize the amount of heat rising from the house into the attic and keep combustible insulation at least three inches away from recessed lighting fixtures, fan motors or other heat producing devices.
• Put insulation sleeves or wrapping over exposed pipes to delay heat transfer.
• Allow warm air to circulate around pipes by opening cabinet doors.
• Before using your fireplace, clear the area around the fireplace and chimney and make sure the flue is open and free of debris.
• Only burn dry well-seasoned hardwood.
• Put logs on a grate in the rear of the fireplace and use a screen to keep sparks and embers from flying out.
• Do not burn garbage or piles of paper.
• Electric space heaters should be at least three feet from anything that can burn.
• Do not use extension cords with a space heater because they can overheat and cause a fire. Avoid overloading circuits and check cords and outlets frequently for overheating.
• Use space heaters with emergency shutoffs, and avoid placing heaters in rooms where water is present such as a kitchen or bathroom.

Homeowners should use cords of caution when using a wood stove

Many homeowners have installed wood stoves as a primary or secondary source of heat as a way to save on fuel costs during these challenging economic times. If you use a wood stove, then you will want to follow safety guidelines recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Homeowners should:

• Open the stove dampers before starting a fire.
• Keep dry wood and flammable items such as draperies, towels, books and newspapers away from the stove.
• Use clean newspaper or kindling to start a fire, not kerosene, starter fluid or gasoline.
• Empty the ashes from the stove once per week during the heating season.
• Dispose ashes in a metal container with a lid.
• Inspect pipes and connections once a month for creosote and soot buildup.
• Hire a professional to clean the stove vents and chimney once a year.
• Install and maintain a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.
• Place the stove on a fire resistant base.