"In January and February, fires caused by heating appliances overtake
cooking fires as the leading cause of home fires, and carbon monoxide
risks also rise as families turn to alternative heating solutions to
keep warm," said Meri-K Appy, president of the
An alarming 59 percent of American households have not installed a CO
detector, and many other homes do not have a working CO detector due to
missing or dead batteries. The start of
"Space heaters, generators and other alternative heating solutions offer
cost-effective ways to keep your family warm throughout the winter
without heating the whole house, allowing you to lower your thermostat
to reduce your energy bills," said
Portable Space Heaters
-- Make sure your heater has been tested for safety. Look on the bottom for a label such as ETL, UL or CSA. -- Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including furniture, people, pets and curtains. -- There should always be an adult in the room when a space heater is on. -- Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep. -- Never use space heaters to dry clothing or blankets.
Prevent CO Dangers
-- Install at least one CO alarm near sleeping areas. -- Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up your home's central heating system and repair leaks or other problems. -- Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced. -- Never use an oven or range to heat your home. -- Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage.
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
-- Burn only seasoned hardwood like oak, ash or maple. Do not burn trash, cardboard boxes or Christmas trees because these items burn unevenly, and may contain poisons or cause a home fire. -- Have a professional chimney sweep inspect chimneys every year. -- Open flues before fireplaces are used. -- Use sturdy screens or glass doors to keep embers inside fireplaces.
Generator Safety
-- Always read the Owner's Manual and instructions for your generator. -- Carefully follow all instructions and warnings in order to safely start and operate the generator. Do not cut corners when it comes to safety. -- Permanently installed automatic standby generators are the safest way to provide backup power to your home. -- Portable generators will also provide electricity for your home when the power goes out. But you have to know how to use them safely. -- Portable generators can produce carbon monoxide. They should always be used outdoors and placed away from open windows. -- Never use a portable generator indoors or in any enclosed space, such as a garage. -- Be careful when you refuel generators to avoid starting a fire or getting burned. -- Be sure the generator is connected correctly. -- Never try to power the house wiring by "backfeeding" the generator into a wall outlet. This can put utility workers and neighbors in danger. -- After starting a generator wait 10 seconds for the power to stabilize. Then plug in your appliances. This helps avoid electrical shocks.
For more information and resources on how to stay safe during the winter season, visit www.mysafehome.org, and for tips on saving money and energy, visit lowes.com/energy.
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With fiscal year 2008 sales of
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Source:Lowe's