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7 old house fire safety tips

By: Shannon Lee , Contributing Writer
In: Home Improvement Tips

When the weather gets cold, you inevitably start hearing news about house fires. Fire can be devastating. Even a small one can upend day-to-day lives, lead to hassles with the insurance company, and mean a lot of time spent with frustrating clean-up and repair.

The National Fire Protection Association found that most fires are caused by cooking that gets out of hand. But the second most common cause is materials in the home that catch fire. This often occurs when a heat source, such as a space heater or the embers from a fireplace, comes into contact with fabrics, which then ignite. And once a fire begins, it can move so rapidly that even the best efforts to put it out might fail.

When it comes to old houses, the danger is even worse. Old houses are made of very old wood, and anyone who enjoys a fireplace will tell you that the older the wood, the better the burn. Once the flames invade the walls of an old house, they move with frightening speed.

Fire protection in any home is absolutely necessary, but even more careful precautions should be taken if your house is older. Here's how to help ensure the safety of your house and everyone in it.

  1. Smoke detectors. This is the first and foremost line of defense; it allows you to get out of the house at the first strong whiff of smoke. The NFPA found that three out of five deaths in house fires occurred in homes that did not have working smoke detectors. To be absolutely sure of your coverage from smoke detectors, go beyond the federal recommendations and put a smoke detector in every room. Stay on the even safer side by opting for those that detect both smoke and carbon monoxide.
  2. Fire extinguishers. Keep small fires from getting out of control with fire extinguishers that are easily accessible. That doesn't mean buying a big one and putting it in the basement! Choose several fire extinguishers that are light enough for even kids to handle. Make sure they have simple pull mechanisms that don't require much strength. Look for fire extinguishers that work for various parts of the house; for instance, an extinguisher in the kitchen should be able to handle grease fires. Keep them where they are easily accessible -- the fire extinguisher in my kitchen is within a few feet of the stove.
  3. Sprinkler systems. The NFPA found that the risk of death from fire dropped a whopping 83 percent when there was a working sprinkler system installed. Consider them your own personal fire department; they start spraying water on the fire long before the real fire department can get there. You might suffer some water damage, but that's a small price to pay to keep your house standing and your family alive.
  4. Alarm systems. If you have an alarm system in your home, make sure to get fire coverage as well. That means that when the smoke detectors go off, they are attached to your alarm system, and remote monitoring stations know about the problem instantly. This saves you precious time as you get your family out of the house, knowing that the alarm monitors have already sent out the call for help.
  5. Install arc-fault interrupters. These ingenious little gadgets detect the electrical arcing that occurs when an old wire buried deep in your wall begins to fail. Speak with an electrician about where to best install the interrupters and how your particular ones work.
  6. Maintain it all. Finally, test everything on a regular basis. Smoke detectors should be tested every month, their batteries replaced every six months, and old smoke detectors replaced every ten years. Opt to purchase an extra fire extinguisher so your family can take it to the backyard and practice using it. Have your sprinkler systems tested by an expert every year, and do the usual alarm system testing as recommended by your alarm monitoring service.
  7. Have a plan. What if the worst happens and those smoke detectors go off? Have a plan to get out fast. Make sure those on upper stories have a fire ladder that can get them safely to the ground. Designate a meeting place for all family members. Practice your safety plan at least once every six months.

Does all of this sound like overkill? It's not! Fire safety is absolutely imperative year-round for every home. Your old house deserves to have the care required to keep it safe and sturdy, but more importantly, your family deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are protected in an emergency.

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