Candles are an easy way to add ambiance and pleasant scents to your home, especially during the winter. However, they do also come with some risk that all homeowners should be aware of.
Candles cause more than 20,000 fires each year in the United States, injuring more than 1,000 per year, killing more than 100, and causing hundreds of millions in property damage. If you’re going to use candles in your home, there are some steps you can take to mitigate these risks. Here are just a few of them:
Place Them in the Right Spots
Candles are safest in a glass jar, which is convenient as that’s how most of them are sold. Don’t try to burn a candle alone on a dish, as the flame could easily spread. Additionally, you shouldn’t have any flammable materials within one foot of candles, especially not any curtains or drapes. It’s almost important to place the candles on heat-resistant surfaces. Plastic furniture, for example, can melt with enough exposure or even catch fire.
Always Keep on Eye on Lit Candles
If you light a candle, try to stay in the room with it as it’s burning. You should never leave it unattended for any period of time if you have pets such as cats or dogs, or small children, as they can easily knock over the candle and cause a fire. You should certainly extinguish the candle if you’re going to leave the house or go to sleep.
Beware of the Common Dangers
If you want to practice good fire safety, it’s important to know what the biggest risks are and how most candle-related house fires start. Unsurprisingly, they happen most commonly in the winter, particularly around Christmas. Also, a disproportionate amount of them start in the bedroom, so make sure to blow them out before bed. It’s also dangerous to rely on candles for light during a power outage as you may place them near flammable objects unknowingly.
Practicing safe candle use this winter should seriously cut down on the chance of a fire. But if you want another line of defense in your fight against fires, consider a home sprinkler system from Fire Tech Residential Sprinklers. We’ll give you a free estimate and install the system that best works for your home. Contact us today to learn more about our services.