Keep the homestead safe this winter

BONNERS FERRY — As winter progresses, and the snow continues to fall in Boundary County, staying safe and warm during the cold months is imperative to living without incidents.

Staying warm is the first thing residents consider when preparing for the wintertime. Many members of Boundary County utilize wood heat, and while gathering wood for the fireplace is important, preparing the home and fireplace is highly important as well.

When using a stove on legs, the stove does not provide enough space beneath it to keep a combustible material, such as wood flooring, cool enough. To amend this problem, use solid masonry bricks topped with sheet metal no less than 24 gauge, and extending 18 inches or more on all sides. Make sure the stove is at least 36 inches from surrounding walls, and protect walls with a heat shield.

A heat shield is made of no less than 24 gauge sheet metal, and is recommended to be placed at least an inch above flooring, and an inch from the wall to allow air circulation, which will keep the material of the wall from conducting too much heat. Be sure that the surrounding bricks are intact and that the chimney is free of built up residue, for both freestanding stoves and those built into the wall. Inspect the outer chimney as well to be sure it is also up to regulations.

Sometimes people have few options in heating and resort to a source of heat not designated for that purpose.

“Please do not use propane or gas appliances to heat your house unless they are rated for indoors, installed and inspected properly,” said South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser. Using these appliances can increase chance of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Space heaters are a good way to heat up a smaller area, especially those that are difficult for wood heat to reach. They can be hazardous, though, if used incorrectly.

“Please never use an electric space heaters with an extension cord,” said Rohrwasser. “The heaters have warnings written on the new ones. This draws too much current and heats up the cords which can cause a fire. Also, please never run extension cords under carpets — they can become damaged and start a fire.”

“Remember the three feet rule. If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs,” states the Red Cross website on winter safety.

Keep in mind the warnings and directions of all appliances including cell phones and chargers, and never cover wires powering electronics or appliances with anything.

Keeping your home safe from fire is very important, but avoiding water damage that can cause mold is key as well.

“Protect your pipes. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing,” said Red Cross. “Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.”

Many people in Boundary County own a generator. They are useful and sometimes life-saving machines, but one should never run a generator inside an enclosed space, and don’t attach it to your house’s electricity, but attach the object being powered to the outlet located on the generator itself. Reading warning labels and following the manufacturers directions for any appliance is key to the safety of the user.

Make sure there are smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors located throughout the household, and that their batteries are functional. Have an emergency escape plan for everyone in the household, and display directions to the house near a phone.

“Have the directions of how to get to your house written down and keep them by a phone so that if it is you, or someone else that is at your house, and if something tragic is going on, you may not remember how to tell people how to get to your house, but if you have it written down it will be easy to read off. That will save valuable time for first responders,” said Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer.

“Carbon monoxide detectors save lives, but less than one-third of American homes have one installed,” states the National Safety Council Mission website. “(Especially) with December and January at the peak of CO poisonings.” They go on to add other ways to stay safe during the winter.

Taking care of the outside of the home is also important in warding off water damage.

“Clean out the gutters, disconnect and drain all outside hoses. If possible, shut off outside water valves. Repair roof leaks and remove tree branches that could get weighed down with ice or snow and fall on your house — or your neighbor’s,” advises Nationwide Insurance Companies website. “Wrap water pipes in your basement or crawl spaces with insulation sleeves to slow heat transfer.”

Be mindful of the health and state of the trees around the home and remove the trees or branches that may be a threat under the weight of heavy snow. Also have the integrity of the house’s roof checked in case of heavy snowfall.

Keeping up with clearing areas of snow can be a burden both physically and financially, but it is not only essential for transportation, it can save lives. Leaving lights on in an emergency, having an emergency plan, and being descriptive of one’s surroundings is very important for first responders.

“When we need to get help out to someone fast. In some of the remote areas, the road signs are either not up, covered in snow, or the people calling can’t describe to dispatch quickly and give good driving directions on how to get to their place,” said Kramer. “Those can all be critical moments. So we recommend that people make sure that house numbers or signs are visible.”

In addition to making sure one’s home is safe and up to standards, residents need to keep their own health and wellbeing up to par. Avoid excessive exertion while removing snow, and wear properly equipped clothing for the cold weather, especially during extended time outdoors.

Just as the cold can be detrimental to the health of humans, it can be life or death for pets. Be sure that outdoor pets have a place to stay warm and out of the wind, as well as having access to unfrozen water. Pets that are normally kept indoors will have a much lower tolerance to the cold, so limit their exposure outside.

With winter still at the door of Boundary County, these tips may come in handy, or may save a life. For more tips and tricks to not only keep the home safe, but to keep oneself healthy, visit the following informative websites.

Nationwide Insurance Company: https://www.nationwide.com/winter-weather.jsp

National Safety Council Mission: http://www.nsc.org/learn/Pages/safety-events-winter-safety.aspx

For more information about fireplace regulations, visit this site from the National Safety Council Mission: http://nasdonline.org/1248/d001052/wood-stove-installation-and-operation.html

Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Top-Ten-Red-Cross-Cold-Weather-Safety-Tips