"Fall Back" Time Change is the Perfect Time for a Winter Home Safety Check

Pittsburgh, PA, November 13, 2019 --(PR.com)-- Leaves are changing, temperatures are dropping, and many homeowners are starting up their furnaces and fireplaces for the first time of the season which can mean an increased risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the United States Fire Administration, $2 billion in property loss occurs each year from winter home fires. In addition, hospital emergency departments see about 50,000 people each year due to accidental CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

With the end of daylight saving time approaching for most of the United States on November 3, it’s the perfect time to conduct a winter home safety check. Taking that hour you gain this weekend to ensure your home heating sources are operating safely and efficiently can keep your family both safe and warm this winter.

The experts at Guardian Protection offer these cold weather safety tips for homeowners:

1. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries in non-monitored smoke and CO detectors once a year. If a CO detector is a plug-in, press its test button to ensure it’s working. Monitored smoke and CO detectors should be tested regularly, according to the security provider’s recommendations. Generally, all smoke and CO detectors should be tested monthly.

2. Change the filters in your furnace. Dirty, clogged filters cause a furnace to work overtime and less efficiently and can present a fire hazard. Ideally, check and replace filters each quarter.

3. Use space heaters carefully. Space heaters can be a great source of additional heat for a chilly room when used safely. Avoid placing them near curtains, tablecloths or other fabrics and check to make sure the heater has an automatic shutoff in case it reaches a dangerous temperature. As always, keep pets and children away from these heat sources.

4. Be careful with open flames. Whether it’s holiday candles or a wood-burning fireplace or stove, use open flames with caution. Always have a screen in front of your fireplace and never leave candles burning after you’ve left the room or the house. Finally, be sure to avoid placing decorations, holiday trees and other seasonal décor close to an open flame.

5. Create a cold weather survival kit. In case of a winter storm that may result in a power outage, check your batteries in flashlights and other non-electric lighting, make sure you have a three-day supply of non-perishable food and restock your first aid kit.

“The end of daylight saving time reminds us that much colder weather is coming for most of the country and that we need to be prepared,” Kevin Bish, Vice President, Marketing commented. “That means ensuring your home’s heating system, smoke and CO detectors and other heat sources are operating safely and efficiently to minimize fire and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.”

For more safety tips and to learn about monitored home security options, visit the Home Matters Blog on Guardian’s website or follow Guardian on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.