A spring cleaning list usually covers the basics. Scrub the walls, rotate the mattress, dust the furniture, and tackle the clutter. Fire hazards rarely make the cut, and that’s a problem. The same seasonal energy that can drive you to open the windows and mop the floors is also an opportunity to walk through your home with a sharper set of eyes.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about dust or clutter. It’s also important to look for conditions that might make your home vulnerable to fires. Some of the most common fire safety risks are hiding in plain sight—tucked in the laundry room, behind the stove, above a doorway, or at the end of a power strip. This time of year is the right time to resolve them. Here are some frequently overlooked fire hazards to include on your spring cleaning list.
1. Dryer Lint Beyond the Trap
Chances are, you know to clear the lint screen after each load of laundry, but it might not occur to you to clean out the dryer vent. This line runs from the back of the dryer to the home’s exterior, and over time, lint buildup in this exhaust duct can cause a fire. In fact, laundry machines cause an average of nearly 16,000 annual home fires, with dryers responsible for 92 percent of those incidents.
To help mitigate this issue, pull the dryer away from the wall, disconnect the vent duct, then clear out any accumulated lint. If the duct is long, coiled, or plastic rather than metal, it’s worth calling in a professional to clear out the buildup.
2. Kitchen Grease Buildup
Cooking is the number one cause of residential fires in the U.S., with about 170,000 reported home cooking fires over the course of just one year. Grease is one of the main culprits for this. Kitchen grease collects quietly on range hoods, exhaust filters, and the surfaces above or behind the stove. Over time, that grease buildup becomes a fuel source that can ignite quickly if excess heat or an open flame gets near it.
As part of your spring cleaning list, be sure to degrease the range hood and filter completely. If the filter has damage or saturation that cleaning won’t fix, replace it.
3. Dusty Vents and HVAC Returns
Dust accumulates in return air vents and HVAC registers over the course of each winter heating season. That buildup can restrict airflow or, in worse scenarios, spark a flame near heating elements. To protect against this, remove the vent covers, wash or vacuum them, and check for any debris in the duct openings. If it’s been awhile since the HVAC system was serviced, spring is a natural time to schedule that maintenance.
4. Outlet and Power Strip Overloads
In the winter, it’s common to use plug-in devices such as space heaters, electric blankets, or humidifiers. But when spring arrives, those plugs often stay in place even as you stash the devices back in storage. Outlet overloads or daisy-chained power strips can cause electrical fires, so walk through each room, identify what is drawing power from which sources, then unplug any cords or devices that aren’t currently in use. Extension cords used as permanent solutions are also red flags that you’ll need to replace.
5. Clutter in Storage Areas
You might store miscellaneous items in the basement, garage, or closet near an electrical panel without much thought. However stacks of paper, cardboard, fabric, or other flammable materials in close proximity to a heat source or panel can increase the risk of a fire ignition. Spring is the natural time to declutter these areas. Clear at least three feet of space around electrical panels, and be intentional about where you store combustibles.
6. Sprinkler Head Obstructions
Fire sprinkler inspections and other fire protection services often don’t make it on a spring cleaning list. But if you have rearranged furniture, installed shelves, or accumulated items in storage, the fire sprinkler system might not have the clearance it needs to work correctly. There must be at least 18 inches of clearance below all sprinkler heads, so walk through each room and resolve any potential obstructions.
7. Smoke Alarm and Detector Batteries
Daylight saving time is a convenient reminder to swap out smoke alarm batteries, which puts this task squarely in the spring cleaning window. It’s also important to make sure there’s no dust coating the smoak alarm, which can interfere with the sensors, and that your unit hasn’t expired (most have a 10-year lifespan). Finally, confirm that all smoke alarms are positioned correctly in each bedroom, hallway, and floor of the home.
Don’t Let Fire Safety Fall Off the List
Wiping down counters and clearing out closets is a useful start, but a total spring cleaning reset must include your fire protection services, too. If the sprinkler system is overdue for a checkup, our team can help. Contact A&A Fire Protection to schedule a seasonal inspection and make sure your home is as safe as it looks.
