More than one third of American homes use fireplaces, woodstoves and other solid fuel fired appliances as auxiliary home heating devices.

According to the Insurance industry, heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires.  Often these fires are due to improper installation, creosote buildup, closeness to combustibles and lack of adequate cleaning or maintenance.

Here are some do’s and don’ts for Fire Safety, which will go a long way to lessen alternate heat losses.

Do

-Before every heating season, conduct a cleaning and maintenance checkup

-Make sure there is enough clearance between stove and combustible materials

-Burn only dry well seasoned wood.  Soft, moist wood contributes to creosote buildup

-Make sure to keep a fire extinguisher near the heat source

Don’t

-Connect a woodstove to a chimney serving any other appliance

-Start a fire with flammable fluids such as gasoline

-Burn trash in a stove

-Let a wood fire burn unattended

-Install an outside wood furnace closer than 50 feet from any structure

For more information on fire safety, contact the United States Fire Administration website atwww.usfa.fema.gov

Kevin Connors is a Certified Insurance Counselor and licensed Property/Casualty and Life Insurance Agent with The Connors Insurance Agency in Mechanicville, NY.  Mr. Connors can be reached at (518)664-7307 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The recent winter storms, not only in our area, but parts of the South and in particular Atlanta, not only wreaked havoc on traffic, but left many motorists and vehicles stranded on highways for days.  Some people were forced to stay in their cars overnight, while others abandoned their vehicles to escape the gridlock.

The harshness of the winter that the entire country is experiencing emphasizes the importance of making sure that your vehicle is prepared for cold and inclement weather.

There are two important aspects of vehicle preparedness during the winter months.  Make sure that your car is winterized and make sure you have the right equipment on hand to help solve any problem that may arise.

Some important things to check when winterizing your vehicle would be your antifreeze level, brakes, heater and defroster, oil, tires, lights and windshield wipers.  And make sure to keep your gas tank as full as possible to prevent the fuel line from freezing.

If you’re on the road when disaster strikes, having the right equipment and materials in your car can help to rescue yourself and others, or allow you to safely remain in your car until help arrives.  These would include a first aid kit, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, snack foods and water.

Keeping your car properly equipped and in top condition will reduce the risk of a serious winter weather related incident on the road, as well as leave you better prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise.

Kevin Connors is a Certified Insurance Counselor and licensed Property/Casualty and Life Insurance Agent with The Connors Insurance Agency in Mechanicville, NY.  Mr. Connors can be reached at (518)664-7307 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.