When moving into a new home, it's important that you familiarize yourself and everyone in your household with fire safety tips and procedures. This may include installing equipment, making an escape plan or checking that alarms have been correctly installed. Check out these tips to keep your home safe from fire.
- Pack matches, flammables and electrical items properly before you move. Make sure that you properly pack matches or any flammables that you might be moving. Label the boxes clearly and if you're moving flammable liquids, make sure their containers are secure and that nothing will leak during the move. Remember that some moving companies will not move some flammable items. Find out what not to pack and move and what should be left behind. If you need to get rid of flammables, be responsible and dispose of such items properly.
- Check smoke detectors. After your move, one of the first things you should do is check the smoke alarms to ensure that they're working. If there aren't an adequate number in the new house, you can install your own. If you're unsure when the batteries were last changed, it's a good idea to replace the batteries.
- Make your home safe for young children. If you have young children in the house, it's a good idea to cover electrical sockets with plastic covers and to keep household cleaners and flammables stored in a place where little hands can't reach. For more information, check out the article on how to keep infants safe in a new home.
- Is the wiring up to code? Before you purchased your new home or signed the rental agreement, you probably asked detailed information about your new home's wiring. If you haven't, add it to your checklist of things to ask before you move in. Also, it's a good idea to find out the limit load of the electrical sockets; overloading sockets can be a fire hazard.
- Make a response plan. Whenever you move into a new space, it's a good idea to set up a fire escape plan and to go through it with all the household members. Make sure you choose several routes depending on the fire source. Go through safety procedures including what to do if your home has heavy smoke, where the emergency telephone list is stored and what to do to smother a fire. Most tips can be found through your local fire station or city website.
- If you have a fireplace, have it checked. If your new home has a working fireplace, make sure you have it inspected before using it. This information might be contained in your purchase agreement, but if it isn't, hire a professional to check the chimney and have it swept if it requires cleaning. A professional will also let you know if the fireplace is safe to use; often in older homes, the chimney may be cracked or the flu might not be working probably. Find out before you decide to light a fire.
