While house fires occur year-round, they’re most common in the fall and winter. As temperatures drop and leaves fall, it’s important to prepare your home for cold weather. Follow these handy tips from the Mentor Fire Department.
- Have your furnace and chimney cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional. Make sure they check your flue. If you turn your furnace on and then see water on the inside of your windows, that may indicate that your flue is blocked which is a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is properly placed, has working batteries, and is not expired (most expire in 5-10 years and should have an expiration date on the unit).
- Do a thorough clean-out of your dryer vent.
- Exercise your main water shut-off. This will help ensure that the valve will operate if you need to shut the water off during an emergency or repair.
If you have questions about fire safety, call the Mentor Fire Department’s Public Education Office at (440) 974-5769 or garey@cityofmentor.com.