Keep Warm and Safe throughout the Frosty Season
Author: Markus Strehlitz
In many countries, winter is the season for central heating and Christmas lights. That said, this can also pose dangers within your own four walls - for instance due to fire or carbon monoxide. With this in mind, it's important to know how to operate your appliances correctly and be prepared for emergencies.
The weather outside is getting colder and people make themselves cozy indoors, turning on the heating or lighting a fire in the fireplace. Unfortunately, reports of accidents every winter reveal that people frequently repeat the same mistakes. Gas boilers, for example, can pose a danger if they are poorly maintained or not maintained at all. If the gas boiler flue is not secured, carbon monoxide can escape. What is particularly dangerous about this is that carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible. Anyone inside the room will therefore not notice that there is a leak and will be defenseless against the gas.“After just two or three breaths, the carbon monoxide causes unconsciousness,”reports Lars Inderthal, DEKRA's fire protection specialist in the electrical and building services engineering department. What's more, carbon monoxide poisoning can ultimately lead to death.
Fireplaces should also be regularly maintained - as well as cleaned or swept. There are some additional things to consider during operation to ensure that you can enjoy the heat safely: Only approved fuel should be used for the fireplace, given that a fireplace is not a garbage incinerator where waste can be disposed of. Unsuitable materials can lead to deflagrations. Lars Inderthal further advises against using wood that is not fully dry. “This creates what is known as gloss soot that can set the entire fireplace on fire.“ The pleasant radiant heat can also become a hazard if there are objects too close to the fireplace. For example, the Christmas tree, that gets extremely hot and catches fire.
Use with caution: Extractor hood can create negative pressure
Even with regular maintenance and proper operation of the heat source, dangers still remain. For example, hazards can arise if a fireplace such as a gas boiler or fireplace is in close proximity to the kitchen in which an extractor hood with exhaust air is operated. Both the gas boiler and the fireplace use oxygen from the air in the room to heat. If the extractor hood also sucks air out of the room, a negative pressure is created. As a result, the negative pressure causes the carbon monoxide to escape from the fireplace into the room.
This can be prevented by opening the window during simultaneous operation of the fireplace and extractor hood. During regular maintenance of the heating unit, the chimney sweep will ensure that an adequate contact switch is fitted to the kitchen window. This switch is connected to the extractor hood by cable or by radio and ensures that it can only be switched on when the window is open or tilted. In winter, however, it is particularly tempting to deactivate the window contact switch to avoid the cold outside air entering the home. However, you should be careful here: Without a simultaneous supply of fresh air, this can lead to serious health consequences such as headaches or dizziness and even serious poisoning.
Additionally, installing a carbon monoxide measuring device can also be useful. This type of CO detector warns of escaping carbon monoxide. Another alternative are so-called negative pressure monitors. These devices monitor the pressure in the room and interrupt the power supply to the extractor hood if the pressure falls below the permissible value.
Electric blankets, candles, fairy lights - fire risks during the Christmas season
In addition to heaters or fireplaces, electric devices such as electric blankets or fan heaters also provide warmth in winter. Lars Inderthal strongly recommends paying attention to the CE mark before purchasing them. Products without this label pose a greater risk of defects or poor workmanship leading to overheating and hence fires. The same also applies to fairy lights. After all, wintertime is also Christmas time. If Christmas lights do not meet the necessary safety standards, they can also become a fire hazard. Another basic piece of advice for the Advent season is one that everyone should be aware of - but obviously not always is. Candles such as those on Advent wreaths or Christmas trees should never be left unattended for an extended period of time. “There is no issue with just popping to the door to collect a parcel,” the DEKRA expert says. “But you shouldn't leave a burning candle alone for long periods of time. This applies all the more if children or pets are alone in the room with the burning candle.”
Preparing for the worst-case scenario
Generally speaking, it’s important to be aware of potential dangers and to be prepared, the DEKRA expert warns. Installing smoke detectors in all rooms is one way of doing this. However, according to Lars Inderthal, being mentally prepared involves even more. “You should ask yourself things like: Is there anyone in the household who can't help themselves in an emergency - such as people with disabilities or children? Is the escape route clear or are winter boots left outside the front door blocking the stairwell?”
You should also familiarize yourself with how to use a fire extinguisher, as there is often not enough time to do this in the event of a fire and there is a risk of wasting the valuable help provided by the device due to improper operation. “The extinguishing agent in the fire extinguisher is only enough to use for five to six seconds,” says Lars Inderthal. After that, it's empty. And a second one is rarely available. In other words, you should know how to use the device correctly straight away. Armed with this knowledge, you can then enjoy a relaxed winter at home.