 Many
consumer products produce enough heat to start a fire, and many of
us don't know it. Other products may not produce heat, but can still
pose fire risks. To be safe, you need to properly select, install,
use and maintain products in your home. Just as important, you should
know when to discard unsafe products.
- Choose well-made products that will wear well.
- When appropriate, choose products that are listed with Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), an independent, not-for-profit product safety
testing and certification organization.
- When choosing an appliance, look for fire-safe features such
as automatic shut-off.
- Before buying an appliance, be sure it can be used safely with
your home's electrical system, especially in an older home.
- Do not buy appliances at tag sales. You don't know how the previous
owners maintained the items.
For help in selecting safe products, consult UL, the Consumer Products
Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) and other government agencies and private organizations that
develop standards, test products and educate the public about safe
home products. See Resource
Links.
- Always follow the manufacturers' instructions for proper installation,
especially for electrical and gas appliances.
- Allow adequate space around products that produce heat or open
flame, and keep these products away from combustible and flammable
materials.
- Use the proper electrical cords and outlets for each product,
and do not overload circuits.
- Be careful not to pinch, fold or squeeze electrical cords behind
or under appliances.
- Consult the manufacturers' instructions and warnings for the
proper way to use appliances and other products.
- Do not leave appliances unattended when in use, and be sure
they actually turn off when they are supposed to.
- Unplug portable electrical appliances when they are not in use
and during electrical storms.
- Store products that generate heat, such as hair dryers and waffle
irons, only after they have cooled completely.
- Always follow manufacturers' instructions for proper maintenance
of products.
- Contact the manufacturer for assistance if you lose the instructions.
- Clean appliances properly, such as removing lint from a dryer's
lint trap, to reduce fire risks.
- Learn how to recognize when a product becomes unsafe.
- Check for worn parts or excessive wear.
- Stop using a product if you notice sparks, smoke, excessive
heat, poor performance, scorch marks, strange odors or other signs
of damage or wear, and have it inspected by a qualified professional.
- Don't use a damaged appliance or one that has been exposed to
water.
Pay attention to product recalls from government agencies, manufacturers
and organizations such as the CPSC, NFPA and UL. You can learn about
recalls through:
- Recall notification services offered by agencies and organizations.
- Newspapers and consumer magazines.
If your product has been recalled:
- Stop using it and follow the instructions in the recall notice.
- Don't lend, sell or give away a product that has been recalled,
or that you know to be defective.
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