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We all love to keep warm through winter and aim to do so as cheaply and efficiently as possible. However we should not forget that each type of heat source carries it own type of risk.
Here are some helpful tips from Mitre10 on how to keep you and your family safe this winter, while staying warm too.
Matches and Lighters
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Keep all matches and lighters up high, out of the sight and reach of children. |
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Teach children to take matches or lighters to an adult straight away. |
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Only use child resistant lighters and safety matchbox holders. |
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Child resistant lighters are not child proof! |
Electric Blankets
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Check for frayed cords and other damage. |
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Ensure your electric blanket is secured to your bed. |
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Always turn off your electric blanket at the wall before getting into bed. |
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Have blankets checked annually by a competent service person. |
Gas Cabinet Heaters
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Don't use in a confined space and always ensure there is adequate ventilation, for example never use a gas heater in a bedroom. |
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Don't leave anything too close to the heater; objects (including people) should be at least 1m away. Don't dry clothes on these (or near any other open flames). |
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Store and install cylinders in an upright position with the valve uppermost. |
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Be careful when changing cylinders. Make sure the valve on the empty cylinder is turned off before disconnecting and the full cylinder is securely connected before turning on. |
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For families with children or the elderly or infirm always use a gas heater guard. |
Smoke Alarms: Maintenance
Dust and spider webs can affect smoke alarms. Clean with the vacuum cleaner once a month and while doing so, test the alarm by pushing the test button. Batteries must be changed once a year, ideally on an easy to remember date (such as New Year's day, daylight saving or a family member's birthday). All smoke alarms will sound a short 'beep' as the battery goes flat - take note and change the battery as soon as possible.
Smoke alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years. A smoke alarm constantly monitors the air 24 hours a day; after 10 years it has gone through more than 3.5 million monitoring cycles. After this much use components may become less reliable. This means that as the detector gets older, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases. Smoke alarms that are wired into any electrical system (or burglar alarm) also need to be replaced every ten years.
If an alarm regularly responds to smoke from cooking there are several options to handle this problem - replace the alarm with one that has a button to silence it for a few minutes or you could move the alarm further away, giving the smoke more time to dissipate. If the detector is the ionization model, another option is to replace it with a photoelectric model. This detector is less sensitive to the smaller particles so is less affected by cooking smoke. The other option is to use a heat detector rather than smoke alarm.
To stop an alarm sounding, you need to clear the air in the sensor chamber. Fanning the alarm with a paper or tea towel is the best method and the alarm will stop automatically. Do not try and disable the alarm by removing the battery.
Buy smoke alarms online in our Fire Safety department.
Caravans and Sleepouts
More and more New Zealanders are using caravans and sleepouts as extra sleeping and living areas. The fire danger in these is much higher than in a home.
The following tips will help keep you safe:
For lighting, use proper lighting units or torches. DO NOT USE CANDLES, THEY ARE TOO DANGEROUS.
Used fixed heaters only, and make sure furniture and fittings are at least one metre from the heater. Fan heaters with a cut off switch are the safest.
Fit a smoke alarm and test once a week (use a photoelectric alarm). Velcro the alarm to the ceiling so it can be removed when cooking.
Make sure gas and electrical appliances are turned off before going to bed. Turn gas off at the cylinder. Check gas cylinder (if fitted) and hose fittings to ensure they have been correctly fitted, are tight and undamaged. If gas is not required, remove the cylinder to a safe location.
Discard cigarette butts into a metal container or ashtray. Never smoke in bed.
Never leave children alone in your caravan. Keep matches and lighters out of their reach.
Check electrical appliances for frayed cords and other damage. Caravans should also have a current warrant of fitness.
Have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket near the exit and make sure you know how to use it.
Prepare for Winter – Wood Fires
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Check all bricks, baffles (steel or ceramic plate that goes in the fire above the flame), air tubes, door seals, etc and replace if needed. |
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Make sure the flue is clean, get in a chimney sweep if needed. You can also use a Soot Remover product from Mitre 10 to clean the chimney. See our Fireside Accessories department for a range of Soot Removers and Fire Screens. |
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Order next seasons wood as early as possible. This way the wood will be nice and dry and you will not be caught out if you need the fire early. |
Prepare for Winter – Pellet Fires
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Check the fire pot has been emptied |
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Give the fire box a good clean with the vacuum |
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Make sure the pellets in the hopper are dry |
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Have your fire regularly serviced |
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Order next seasons pellets as early as possible. This way the pellets will be nice and dry and you will not be caught out if you need the fire early. |
Prepare for Winter – Gas Fires
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The fires need to be serviced every two years by a certified gas technician to keep them in good working order. |
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With the electronic models, the flame rods and pilot assemblies may need to be replaced every 3 – 5 years. |
Safe Collection Of Ash
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Never empty ash into a plastic bucket, even if the fire has been out for several days. (There have been many house fires, where there are still hot embers in the ash and it has melted the bucket and set fire to the house). |
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Leave the ashes to cool for several days before disposal. |
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Ash makes good fertilizer. |
General Safety
In any home at any time, there's the potential for fire. Two very important things should be installed in your home as a safety measure - smoke alarms (for the kitchen, living area and every bedroom) and fire extinguishers (one in the kitchen and one elsewhere, also great for the boot of the car).
Read the installation instructions carefully and check them regularly so make sure that you get the most protection from these products.
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