Fire Prevention Steps Every Homeowner Should Practice In The Kitchen
A little sizzle in the kitchen is never a bad thing, but when a flame accompanies the sizzle – this becomes a potentially dangerous situation. A fire in the kitchen is a mishap that is avoidable with the right safety precautions on your part. Are you prepared? Learn how to protect your home and family:
Keep Pans Clean
Always keep your pots and pans clean. Grease buildup is a common issue and placing a pan with oil on its bottom on the stove could easily ignite a fire, and a scary thing about grease fires is that they spread rather quickly. For a deeper clean, it is typically best to hand wash cookware. If you can't live without the dishwasher, stay safe by wiping down the bottom of the pan with a soap and water mixture first to remove some of the grease buildup.
Set a Timer
When the family is home, getting distracted while cooking is easy. From finishing laundry to helping your children with homework, to catching up on missed shows, it is easy to lose track of time. Especially when it comes to using the broiler, if the food stays in the oven for too long it could catch fire. Setting a timer is a smart idea because it serves as a built-in reminder that your food is ready to come out.
Test the Alarm
Make it a habit to regularly test the fire alarm. Benefiting from the safety benefits of a fire alarm requires it be in proper working order. Experts suggest that homeowners test their alarms at least once every month and replace their batteries twice a year, at a minimum. Prioritize for replacement any unit that is not functioning correctly. You can even hire a professional for assistance.
Avoid Loose Sleeves
You may not think about fashion in the kitchen, but fire safety gives you a good reason to. One should avoid wearing shirts that have very loose sleeves, such as bell sleeve. Loose sleeves hang and can easily come in contact with the cooktop and burn. Garments made from artificial materials may even catch fire. While wearing tight clothes is not a requirement for cooking, wearing clothes that don't have extra over hang is best for safety.
Homeowners have the responsibility of protecting their home. By practicing fire safety in the kitchen, and everywhere else in your home, one can have greater confidence that they are closer to fulfilling this requirement.
Contact a company like American Service Company for more information and assistance.