Your Guide to Preventing Household Fires

An accidental fire comes with frightening unpredictability and has the power to decimate a house in mere minutes. It spreads uncontrollably in seconds and puts lives at major risk.
A closed environment, such as a home, is full of objects and materials that can combust in a matter of seconds. Now, we all know about the most common causes of household fires, such as cooking-related fires or an electrical short circuit. But, what about dust and glass – did you know that they could also wreak havoc in your home? Here’s a look at some uncommon causes of house fires and how we can try to prevent them:

Nobody enjoys dusting. It’s one of the most cumbersome chores, but it is definitely necessary. Collected dust, commonly called dust bunnies, can catch fire very easily. A single spark from a nearby electrical outlet could lead to your entire house burning in a matter of minutes. Remember, a dust-free house is safer than a dusty one.

Most kitchens have rows upon rows of glass jars filled to the brim with aromatic spices and pulses of all kinds. Unfortunately, if these bottles are exposed to direct sunlight for a few hours every day, they could end up setting your kitchen on fire. This is because the sun’s rays could become concentrated while passing through the glass and cause combustion. If you have any glassware at home, keep it away from your windows, doors and direct sunlight.

If you’ve recently found a great old record player or jukebox for your home, well done! But, before you plug it in and hit play, make sure you inspect all the wires that come with your vintage equipment. Old wires have a nasty habit of fraying and causing fires when plugged in. If needed, get all the wires redone before you enjoy your new piece of tech.

Have you recently used an insect repelling spray in your kitchen? If yes, you should avoid lighting up your gas and cooking for a while. Aerosols contain something known as propellants which are typically highly flammable. Once you spray the repellent, the chemicals linger for quite a while and could catch fire the next time you turn your gas on. Ideally, it’s best to avoid using any kind of aerosol in your kitchen to avoid a potential fire.

Once you know how household fires are caused, you can do your best to prevent them. While this list is in no way exhaustive, it will definitely help you get started on the journey towards making your home fire-proof. Of course, a great way in which you can safeguard your home is by purchasing a comprehensive Home Insurance policy. This could help mitigate the financial losses associated with an accidental fire.

In case of a total loss, your insurance policy could reimburse you for the current market value of your home. In other cases, an insurance policy is likely to cover most of the damage with a few exclusions. To get your house the protection it needs, make sure you read the insurance policy related documents carefully before purchasing such apolicy.