You may remember coming downstairs in the morning, after spending the night at our grandparents’ house, to find them sipping coffee with the oven door wide open. This may seem like an easy solution for heating the house, but it’s incredibly dangerous and a serious fire hazard.
Let’s look at the reasons why you should never use an oven to heat your home, along with safe alternatives.
Why Can’t You Use an Oven to Heat Your Home?
While it might be tempting to just flip open the oven door and let the warmth flow out, this is a highly dangerous method of home heating. A few reasons why:
- Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Dangerous pollutants and gases can be emitted into your home.
- Increased risks of health effects.
- Unattended heat can catch fire if flammable objects are set too close.
- Risk of a higher gas bill if you let the oven stay on with the door open.
What are Some Safe Alternatives to Heat Your Home?
The easiest, safest solution is to use your home heating system. Space heaters are ideal for quick heating, but make sure they’re equipped with automatic shut-off in case they tip over or overheat.
Additionally, be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed. It’s recommended that you check home detectors twice a year.
What are Kitchen Safety Tips to Avoid a Fire?
To reduce the chance of a fire in your kitchen, following the cooking safety tips:
- Always stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, broiling, and/or grilling.
- Keep utensils like oven mitts, towels, curtains, food packaging, and wooden utensils away from the stovetop. They can catch fire.
- Maintain a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove, or wherever hot food is being prepared.
- Don’t use the stove or stovetop if you’ve been drinking alcohol or are tired.
- Turn pot handles away from “high traffic” areas (toward the back of the stove) so they can’t be bumped into.
- Always have a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Keep cooking equipment clean. Dust, grease, and crumbs can be fire hazards.
- Loose clothing can catch fire, so wear short, rolled, or tightly-fitted sleeves when cooking.
- Don’t pour grease or oil down the drain.
- Let grease sit and cool before throwing it in the garbage.
- When simmering, basting, or roasting food, use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking if you leave the room, but you should always remain in the kitchen.
- Smother small grease fires with a lid. Turn off the stove, place the lid on the fire, and let it cool fully until removing the lid. Never throw water on a grease fire. If you’re uncomfortable placing a lid on the fire, evacuate everyone and call 911.
- During an oven fire, turn off the heat and leave the oven door closed.
- When frying on the stovetop, always stay in the kitchen. Heat the oil slowly to your desired temperature and add food gently so the oil doesn’t splatter. If the oil starts to smell or you see wisps of smoke, turn off the burner immediately and/or cautiously remove the lid from the burner. Smoke is a sign the oil’s too hot.
How Does SERVPRO® Clean After Fires?
Whether you accidentally leave the oven on, a plug catches fire, or a candle falls over, fires can spread fast, causing severe damage and threatening human and animal life.
If you find yourself facing the aftermath of fire damage and don’t know where to turn, reach out to your local SERVPRO franchise. We’re a leader in cleanup and restoration, including water cleanup, mold remediation, deodorization, construction services, and so much more.
SERVPRO is Here to Help®. Contact us to find out more, or visit our FAQ and Glossary.