HOUSTON — A snap of cold weather is headed to the Houston area as early as Sunday, which means you're probably about to crank up those heating devices.
Keeping your home warm is essential during cold snaps because it not only prevents you from freezing but also prevents pipes from bursting, but as you find ways to get cozy, there are some things you should remember.
“Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Vanessa Valdez, Regional Communications Manager, Texas Gulf Coast Region, Red Cross.
Heating safety tips
Tips provided by the National Weather Service and American Red Cross
- Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Always keep a screen around an open flame and never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended.
- Never use gasoline to start your fireplace.
- Never burn charcoal indoors.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected
Space heater safety tips
Space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
If you plan on using a space heater, the American Red Cross suggests:
- Never leaving it unattended
- Plugging space heater power cords directly into outlets
- Keeping children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away