Winter Safety Tips

 Most home first are preventable, yet they remain more common during the winter months. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment, fire places and cooking are leading causes of winter house fires. Use these updated tips to help protect your home and family. 

1. Schedule Annual Heating System Inspections - Have your furnace or heating system professionally inspected and serviced once a year. Regular maintenance can catch small issues before they turn into costly or dangerous problems 

2. Clean Chimneys and Vents - Fireplaces and wood stoves create creosote buidlup, which is highly flammable; If you use your fireplace reularrly, have your chimeny professional cleaned at least once per year. 

3. Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Test alarms monthly and repalce batteries at least once a year. 

4. Use fireplace screens - install a tempered glass or metal screen to keep sparks and embers from escaping. 

5. Practice Candle Safety - Never leave candles unattended. Keep away from children, pets, curtains and decorations. Blow candles out before leaving the room or going to bed. 

Simple Winter Energy - Saving Tips that actually work

 Heating your home uses more energy than anything else - especially during the winter months. The good news? A few small changes can help lower you energy bills without sacrificing comfort. 

1. Let the Sun Do the Work - During the day open your curtains and blinds to let natural sunlight warm your home.
2. Close Curtains at Night - Once the sun goes down, close your
   
   curtains and blinds to help trap heat inside. 
3. Dress for the season - It's much cheaper to warm yourself than your entire house. Keep the thermostat a little lower and layer up with sweaters, warm socks and cozy blankets. 
4. Lower your water heater temperature - Water heaters run all day, even when you're not using hot water, Turning the temperature down just a few degrees can save energy and money and you likely won't even notice the change. 
5. Reverse your Ceiling fans - Most ceiling fans have reverse setting in winter - switch them to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This pushes warm air down from the ceiling and helps heat rooms more evenly 
6. Switch to LED lighting - LED Bulbs use far less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. They're also perfect for holiday and decorative lighting without increasing your electric bill.