Heating Oil

Heating a home with oil is common in many Alaskan homes. There is normally a tank outside of the home or in the basement filled with heating oil regularly. The oil pumps into a chamber where the oil is heats in a circulator or heat exchanger. The heat from the chamber becomes in contact with air or water. The water or air distributes through the house by pipes to baseboards, radiator, or through ducts in the house. Increase home heating safety with regular heating oil tank, fuel lines, and furnace inspections at least once a year – especially before winter. In cold places throughout Alaska, systems run constantly, and small leaks or corrosion can quickly become major problems.

Pellet Stoves

These stoves work like wood stoves except they are fueled by pellets. Pellet fuel sources include sawdust, paper, and bark. Pellet stoves burn very hot and clean due to a reduction of smoke and ash. Additionally, pellet stoves require good ventilation and a source of electricity to work properly. However, pellet stoves produce ash and creosote buildup that can block airflow and increase the risk of fire or carbon monoxide exposure. In cold climates like Alaska’s – where stoves may run continuously – weekly ash removal and a full vent cleaning at least once a year are essential to home heating safety. Ensure that you practice safe use with pellet stoves as the flames are real and can cause injury.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces or stoves are common heat sources and often used for additional heating and considered a good alternative for home heating safety. The appeal of electric fireplaces is lowered risk because the flame is not real. On the other hand, items around the fireplace can become very hot and even catch fire. Never store items on top of an electric fireplace and keep at least 3 feet of clearance in front of the unit. Always check that proper ventilation allows good heat distribution.  

If you buy a used electric fireplace or stove, ensure that you check the cords for fraying or damage. Do not use units with frayed or damaged cords – these decrease the home heating safety benefit. Plug your electric fireplace directly into a wall outlet – never use an extension cord or power strip. Electric fireplaces draw significant power. Using an extension cord can cause overheating, electrical fires, or tripped breakers—especially during long winter use in places like Alaska.

Home Heating Safety

Home heating safety is especially important throughout Alaska, where long, extreme winters mean heating systems run for months at a time. When equipment operates continuously, the risk of fire, carbon monoxide exposure, and system failure increases. Temperatures can stay below zero for days or even weeks. If a heating system fails, indoor pipes can freeze and burst quickly, causing major property damage and leaving families without shelter during dangerous weather.

Home Heating Safety Benefits

1. Prevents House Fires

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Furnaces, space heaters, wood stoves, and chimneys can ignite nearby materials if they aren’t properly maintained or spaced. Regular inspections and safe use significantly reduce this risk and increase home heating safety.

2. Protects Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Fuel-burning systems (oil, gas, propane, and wood) can produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. Because CO is impossible to see or smell, it can accumulate unnoticed when furnaces malfunction, vents become blocked, or space heaters are used improperly. As a result, dangerous levels may build up inside the home. Therefore, installing carbon monoxide detectors and scheduling annual equipment servicing are essential steps to increasing home heating safety that can ultimately save lives.

3. Reduces Burn Injuries

Hot surfaces like radiators, wood stoves, and portable heaters can cause serious burns—especially for children and older adults. Keeping safe clearance zones and using protective guards helps prevent injuries.

4. Avoids Freezing and Property Damage

In Alaska, if a heating system fails, indoor plumbing can freeze and burst within hours during severe cold. Safe, well-maintained systems reduce the risk of costly water damage.

5. Lowers Energy Costs

A properly maintained heating system runs more efficiently, not only increasing home heating safety, but also reducing fuel consumption and saving money during long winter months.

Plan ahead – home heating safety considerations are the best way to help avoid potential dangers and ensure a warm winter season.

Johnson Law has been helping injured Alaskans for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Source(s): SMO, “How Does Oil Heat My Home?” and Fireplace Universe, “24 Things You Need To Know About Pellet Stoves” and Twin Star Home, “Are Electric Fireplaces Safe?“

Image created using ChatGPT – Prompt: Family enjoying their warm Alaskan home

Research from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than twelve thousand children 19 and younger die each year from preventable accidents. Safety at home means keeping homes safer for children of all ages.

Keep Kids Safe

Children, especially younger children, get hurt more often because they are smaller and less aware of danger. They are also curious and get hurt in ways that adults would not. Safety at home includes awareness of the most common causes of child injuries will help stop accidents and keep your child safer.

One of the most common accidents that hurt children is falling. Increase safety at home and prevent falls by supervising play activity. Do not let children play on furniture or near open windows. To protect particularly young children, block stairways with safety gates. Do not use baby walkers near stairs.

Children of all ages can choke on food. Some foods, such as hot dogs, hard candies and nuts are responsible for approximately 40% of choking deaths. Help prevent choking by monitoring what your child eats. Cut food into smaller bites when possible.

Preventing the most common burn injuries improves safety at home. Cook on back burners of the stove and turn handles backward, so children cannot pull or knock over pots

Basic Tips For A Safety At Home

• Keeping walkways and stairs clear of clutter to help prevent falls;
• Ensure toys are safe and child appropriate;
• Teaching children to put away toys to avoid tripping over them;
• Keeping small toys away from small children to prevent choking;
• Storing medicines, cleaners, and other chemicals up high and out of reach of children. If storing these items lower, use a child-proof cabinet lock;
• Testing home fire alarms often; and
• Practicing an exit plan with your children in case of fire

Johnson Law encourages Alaskans to adopt safety at home measures for a continued happy holiday season. We recommend these websites to parents and caregivers keen on increasing safety at home:

• Mom Junction – safety for children from birth through early teens;
• Childhood 101 – building a better environment for children 12 and younger; and
• Safe Kids Worldwide – monthly newsletter delivered to your email.

Johnson Law, P.C. has been helping Alaskans for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Image Source: I’m The Chef Too

Traveling Over The Holidays

Never post your travel plans online. Sharing your travel details makes you susceptible to intruders in your absence. Even if you feel that your online posts are private. Home safety includes protecting your privacy. Avoid becoming a victim by sharing specific details on the internet – always practice Internet Safety.

Notify a neighbor of your travel plans. The best person to increase home safety and keep an eye on your house is a person living close to you who sees your home throughout the day. Provide good contact information to your neighbor so they can easily reach you in case of emergency.

Do not make your home look appealing to a criminal. Many crimes against home safety occur because of opportunity. If you know that you will be away for extended times, do not order packages that will sit on your door step for days. Ask a friend or neighbor to grab your mail so that your mailbox is not over filling. The post office will also hold mail while you are traveling as a good way to avoid packages being stolen.

Staying Home Over The Holidays

Staying home with family or having visitors at your home are also perfect ways to spend the holiday season. It is still important to implement home safety precautions and not make yourself a target.

Do not put your tree in front of an open window with presents all around. Presents under the tree look nice. They also attract attention. Hide presents in safe locations until you plan to actually open them up. Burglars may drive by, see a tree in the window with presents surrounding it and make your home a target while you are away.

Finally, home safety includes checking the exterior of your home frequently. Walk around your home to look for oddities, lock all exterior doors before leaving home, and ensure your garage door is closed every night.

Christmas Lights And Home Safety

Fire hazards increase during the holidays. Before you string lights on the house or the tree, be sure to inspect the strands for frayed cords or cracked lamps. To prevent an accidental fire, replace any broken lamps, and throw away strands with frayed cords.

Home Safety Is a Key Part of Holiday Safety

Plan ahead – home safety considerations are the best way to help avoid potential dangers and ensure a wonderful holiday season.

Johnson Law wishes everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. Johnson Law has been helping injured Alaskans for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Sources: Safewise: How to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure During the Holidays

Image Source: Anchorage Daily News

What Is Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, also known as the silent killer, is an odorless gas that can enter the blood stream and cause serious illness or death. Consequently, too much in the air causes the body to replace the oxygen in red blood cells with the carbon monoxide. Most importantly, knowing the signs of poisoning and how to prevent it can save your life.

Signs And Symptoms of Poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur from both overexposure in single incident or exposure in small amounts over an extended period of time. You may be exposed and not know for several days. This can lead to long term effects. Stay alert for signs and symptoms of this type of poisoning including a dull headache, weakness, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.

If you think you have carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical treatment. In most cases, medical treatment involves hyperbaric oxygen therapy, where the patient breaths pure oxygen in a chamber with pressure higher than normal to replace the carbon monoxide with oxygen.

Prevention

Prevent poisoning by installing carbon monoxide monitors on every level of your home and work place. Furthermore, install monitors lower to the floor for faster detection and never ignore alarms.

Never run a vehicle in a garage because exhaust needs plenty of air circulation.

A few additional safety measures to prevent this danger within your home:

• Have your heating system, water heater, dryer and other gasoline operated appliances inspected each year by a qualified technician;
• Do not heat your home with a gas stove;
• Do not use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline operated device inside your home;
• When using a fireplace, make sure it is properly vented before each use;
• Do not use any gasoline-powered engine (mowers, snow blowers, chains saws) in enclosed spaces;
• For additional research material Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

To sum up, please stay safe and warm this winter season. Protect yourself and your family by taking recommended safety measures and staying aware of carbon monoxide poisoning dangers.

Johnson Law has been helping injured Alaskans for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Source: Mayo Clinic – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Image Source: THE MENA STAR