Things You Should Know About Summer House Fires

6/16/2020 (Permalink)

Avoid disasters like this one by taking simple summer precautions.

House fires are less common during the summer months than during the winter but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen. House fires can happen at any time and the summer presents a range of unique risk factors that cause fires. There are some things you should know about summer house fires to stay aware of your surroundings and help prevent disaster in your home.

One of the biggest causes of fires in the summer is cooking, both outdoor and indoor. Indoor cooking is a leading cause of fire all year round and the summer is no special case. However, in the summer, many people take the cooking outdoors to their grill. Grill fires are often caused by mishandling of propane, improperly maintained grills, and inattentiveness. You should check your propane tank and line for leaks and to ensure that it is properly attached every time you use your grill. Additionally, your grill should never be left unattended. Take the time to clean your grill every time you use it, as buildup could be a major cause of grill fires.

Another common cause of fires in the summer months is air conditioners. Most air conditioner fires are caused by faulty electrical components and short circuits. You should have annual inspections of your air conditioning system to help avoid any electrical failures but also to help reducing cooling costs by cleaning out dirty or clogged systems. If you have central air, you are less likely to be at risk for electrical fire from the air conditioning system. Individual units can get overloaded and cause issues much quicker than central systems.

Smoking is a leading cause of house fires year-round as well. People who smoke in their homes are always at higher risk than those who step outside but dry conditions during the summer months can cause fires from improperly extinguished cigarettes if you are not careful.

Other causes of summer house fires include a spike in arson cases and natural disasters like lightning storms. There is not much you can do to prevent either of these cases but they are far more rare than the other preventable issues that lead to house fires in the summer months.

If the worst-case scenario happens to you, make sure that you call SERVPRO of Portage County. We are faster to any disaster 24/7/365. We have highly trained technicians to repair and clean damage to your home. Contact us at (330) 650-4486.