"Baby It's Cold Inside"

With temperatures plummeting here in Georgia this week, a safe warm home to come home to is on everyone's mind. But if your first comment as you walk in the door is, "Baby, it's cold inside!", you may decide to add a space heater or use your fireplace to toast your cold toes. But here are a few tips from the National Fire Protection Association on using auxillary home heating equipment.

First, have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturers instructions. Make sure the equipment has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer and make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Then, maintain the equipment by having it cleaned and inspected annually.

If you are using an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Chose extension cords that are the same size or larger than the appliance electrical cord. Avoid using electric space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they might come in contact with water.

Since the leading factor contributing to home heating fires is heating equipment left too close to things that can burn, remember to keep flammable items at least three feet away from furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, or portable heaters. Home heating fires most often occur in the evening with a peak between 6 and 11 p.m. But fatal home fires more likely occur between midnight and 10 a.m. So, before you pile on the covers, be sure to turn off portable heaters. Be warm, but above all, be safe. Baby, it's cold outside!

- Kathy Reets, Co-Founder and Owner