Heating Fire Safety & Warming Centers

Staying Warm & Safe

During extremely cold temperatures, residents may heat their home with alternative sources to supplement a furnace. The Ankeny Fire Department, along with the U.S. Fire Administration, offers the following heating tips to help maintain a fire-safe home:

Space Heaters, Furnaces & General Heating Safety

• Place space heaters on a solid, flat surface, at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet from space heaters and open fires at all times.
• Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
• Check heaters for cracked or damaged cords and plugs.
• Plug heaters directly into wall outlets, don't use extension cords or power strips.
• Have your furnace, heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.
• Make sure your outdoor furnace vents are clear of snow or debris. Blocked vents can trap fumes like carbon monoxide in your home.
• Replace furnace filters according to manufacturer instructions.
• Never use an oven to heat your home.
• Keep anything that can burn away from your furnace.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer instructions.
• Install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
• If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave home immediately and call 911.

Fireplaces, Wood Stoves & Kerosene Heaters Safety

• Have your chimney inspected or cleaned each year by a professional.
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Do not burn paper in your fireplace.
• Put fires out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least three feet from your home.
• Make sure your wood stove or kerosene heater is three feet from anything that can burn.
• Install wood-burning stoves following the manufacturer's instructions or have a professional do the installation.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Only use kerosene heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
• Make sure your kerosene heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Refuel your cooled kerosene heater outside.

Safety Information Bathroom Ventilation Fans

The Ankeny Fire Department has recently responded to a couple of hours fires linked to bathroom ventilation fans.  Keep your home safe by following these maintenance guidelines:

• Regularly clean bathroom vent fans to prevent lint buildup.
• Remove lint and debris from both the fan and its cover.
• Ensure the fan turns freely during cleaning: if not, replace it.
• Avoid continuous operation of the fan.
• Consider installing a humidity or time switch for fan control.
• If the fan starts making weird noises or smells funny, it needs to be replaced.

Stay safe and proactive in maintaining your home's ventilation system.