6 Tips to Prevent Against House Fires

More than 374,000 homes in the United States catch fire each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These fires cost homeowners billions of dollars each year. And while most house fires are covered by homeowners' insurance, they can still destroy otherwise irreplacable items while leaving you and your family susceptible to injury and illness. So, what steps can you take to prevent house fires?

#1) Don't Overload Outlets

A common cause of house fires is an overloaded electrical outlet. Normally, the circuit breaker will trip when an outlet is overloaded to prevent a fire from occurring. Neither circuit breakers nor their fuses, however, function as intended 100% of the time. If you accidentally overload a circuit, the excessive electricity flowing through it may cause enough heat to spark a fire.

#2) Buy a Fire Extinguisher

Hopefully, you never need to use it, but just having a fire extinguisher will provide you with peace of mind knowing that you can put out small fires before they turn into larger, more costly structural fires. You can buy fire extinguishers from most home improvement stores for as little as $20 to $30 -- a small price to pay considering the fire protection benefits they offer.

#3) Don't Smoke

Not only is smoking bad for your health, but it increases the risk of a house fire as well. Statistics show that roughly 14% of all house fires are attributed to smoking. Ideally, you shouldn't smoke (for many reasons). But if you're going to light up, step outside to do it.

#4) Clean Your Oven

That's not a typo. Cleaning your oven can reduce the risk of a house fire. Over time, food debris will accumulate inside an oven. And the next time you cook something, that debris may catch fire. Clean your oven on a regular basis to lower the risk of a fire.

#5) Don't Water to Extinguish Oil Fires

Never use water to extinguish an oil fire in the kitchen. The correct way to extinguish an oil fire in the kitchen is to smother it with baking soda. Baking soda will completely cover the fire, preventing it from receiving oxygen. And without oxygen, the fire will go out.

#6) Clean Lint Trap on Dryer

Another common cause of house fires is a dirty lint trap in clothes dryers. When lint accumulates inside this trap, it increases the risk of a fire. The heat produced by the dryer may ignite the delicate, fine material of the lint. So, clean the lint trap each time before using your dryer.