Fire Prevention Tips While Away on Vacation

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

Summer is typically a time where we all get to take a break from patterns of day-to-day life.

It’s always nice to have a couple of weeks off to either beat the heat at a cold tourist destination, or even to embrace it on a beautiful beach.

However, no matter how you deal with heat, you don’t want to return from your vacation this summer to discover that a heat of a different kind has destroyed your home.

Fire damage can happen at any time of the year – the extensive fire and smoke damage can destroy your home. While SERVPRO of East Baton Rouge offers emergency restoration services to help rebuild after fire damage, we want to provide some tips that can help you avoid a tragic event this summer.

Tips for Preventing Fire Damage at Home

There are certainly occasions where natural disasters are simply out of our control and really aren’t affected by any precaution we take. However, for those instances where everyday choices can make the difference, we’ve compiled a few tips for preventing fires at your home while traveling this summer.

Neighborhood Watch

You don’t need to have an active Neighborhood Watch to make sure someone’s looking after your home.

Ask one of your trusted neighbors to be on the lookout while you’re away. This can be very helpful for both preventing fires from breaking out, but also for stopping them before they get too out of hand. Even if you’ve taken precautions before leaving, it doesn’t hurt to have someone do a walk through to double check.

In the worst-case scenario, you’ll at least have someone you trust keeping your home in mind and ready to call the fire department. Their watchfulness can make all the difference in how much fire and smoke damage occurs.

Electricity

There’s a strong likelihood that you’re not going to be using any of your home appliances while traveling.

Unplug them.

It’s always proper fire prevention practice to make sure your appliance chords are in a good shape, that they’re being used to manufacture standards, and that your circuits and extension cords aren’t overloaded.

However, while gone, the simplest remedy is to unplug everything that doesn’t need power. A damaged chord can’t cause you issues if it’s not plugged in.

Also, while you may be somewhere taking in the summer sun and clear skies, a thunderstorm could be happening in your city. You can easily prevent a power surge hitting your house and causing a fire by having little-to-know items connected.

This appliance check also includes your water heater. This is another area of your home which should be checked routinely because damage to electrical lines or faulty valves or vents can lead to a major fire hazard.

Additionally, it’s a wise idea to check your house’s main circuit breaker or box. This is a good habit before leaving for the summer, but also for any time of the year. The main box serves as a defense against electrical surges. So, if you see it’s already burnt out, call a specialist right away.

Safety Systems

There is a wide variety of tech and detection services available to monitor your home while away. These are great whenever you’re away from home, especially if you’re gone for an extended period.

If you know you’re going to be traveling extensively, it could be a great idea to invest in a home security system. Wireless systems like these not only can alert you for when a fire breaks out, but can even be automated to the point of calling the fire department on your behalf. 

Investing in a sprinkler system for your home is an obvious plus against preventing fire damage. Check this system before you leave to make sure that it’s functional. A home security system and a helpful neighbor can only do so much, and it may be your sprinklers which save the day.

Enjoy the Heat

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is here for you with emergency restoration services in the unfortunate event that your home has fire or smoke damage. Routine appliance and safety equipment checks should be a part of keeping your home safe during any time of the year. It’s better to check them now, so you can enjoy your summer later.

If you need assistance with an old or new smoke alarm check or installation, please call SERVPRO of Ascension Parish today at 225-663-8877 and we will see that a proper check or installation is done by our local Red Cross for FREE.