Every homeowner should know basic fire safety tips, such as installing and maintaining smoke detectors or having a reliable escape plan. There are also things you can do to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. Here are some precautionary measures to help you lower the likelihood of a house fire.

Don’t Crowd Heat Sources

Candles can be great for mood lighting, and a space heater can keep you warm, but they can also be fire hazards if you don’t give them the space they need. Avoid placing candles on shaky or uneven surfaces, and never put them close to something that can easily catch fire from an errant spark. Keep a three-foot radius around your space heater at all times so that it doesn’t ignite anything around it.

Clean Dryer Vents Regularly

You know your lint screen should be cleaned after every load you remove from your dryer. Did you also know, however, that yearly dryer vent cleaning Sarasota can help prevent lint fires? Make this procedure a part of your annual maintenance schedule, supplementing it with repeat cleanings if you notice your dryer turning off before the dry time has ended or taking longer to dry than usual.

Turn Off Appliances After Use

If you have ever turned around after driving away from your home so that you can make sure you turned off your oven, you know how important it is to make sure appliances are off when they are not in use. This is especially true of equipment that has an exposed heating element or becomes hotter with prolonged use. Making sure everything is off before you leave the house or go to bed can safeguard your home against fire.

It is important to know what to do in the event of a fire. It is equally important, however, to know how to keep a fire from occurring.