1. Putting heaters too close to room furnishings, such as drapes and upholstered furniture.
An electric or fuel burning heater can start fires if improperly placed. Watch where you put your heater in your house, or you may not have a house to put it in.
2. Installing wood- or coal-burning stoves too close to a wall.
You can't just put a wood or coal stove any place that looks attractive, or your house could end up looking pretty bad. If your stove is installed in the wrong place or in the wrong way, it could burn down your house. So follow the instructions carefully when installing stoves and stovepipes, allowing for required clearances.
3. Not inspecting fuel-burning furnace flues regularly.
Your furnace gives off heat and something else too. Carbon monoxide. If your furnace flue is clogged or loose, carbon monoxide could be going into your lungs instead of up the chimney.
HAVE YOUR FLUE PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED REGULARLY BEFORE IT'S TO LATE.
4. Not cleaning creosote from chimneys or fireplaces and heating stoves.
If you've been burning a lot of wood, your stovepipe and chimney may have a heavy build-up of creosote. If the creosote were to catch fire, your roof could catch fire, too. So clean out creosote before it wipes you out. Fireplace chimneys should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year; stovepipe chimneys once a month.
5. Failure to provide adequate ventilation for fuel-burning heaters.
Gas heaters give off a lot of heat. They may also give off carbon monoxide. So keep a window open an inch or more in the room in which you use an unvented heater. Keep warm, but don't risk your life doing it.
6. Improper furnace maintenance.
If your furnace is not properly maintained, you could be in very big trouble. Carbon monoxide could be spreading throughout your house as a result of a malfunction. So before the beginning of each heating season, have your furnace inspected by a professional. Why take a chance when your life depends on it?
7. Installing insulation improperly.
Adding insulation to your house can save you energy, but it could also lead to a fire. Have your home electrical system checked and have deficiencies corrected by a qualified professional, especially before installing insulation. And make sure insulations is kept away from ceiling light fixtures and other heat sources.
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