Most home insurance policies provide coverage against damage from fire, lightning, and windstorms. Your policy will cover you if your home is demolished in a fire, and you will be compensated for the cost of rebuilding. You will also be reimbursed for the cost of roof replacement if that is what has been damaged, and if there is fire or smoke-related damage to any part of your home, you are covered for that as well.

According to experts, fire is the number one source of home damage. Most home fires are preventable, especially since the majority of them begin within the home. Take a look at the information below to learn how you can prevent fires in your home, stop them from spreading, and get help when you need it. Use this information to keep you and your family safe, protect your home, and keep the cost of your fire insurance down.

Mandatory: Smoke Alarms

Some people find smoke alarms to be annoying because they may go off when there is no danger, such as when cooking a meal or lighting a fire in the fireplace. All too often, homeowners will disconnect the alarm when it goes off accidently or even disarm it as a preventive measure when they know there will be heat and/or smoke in the house. This is a very bad idea, generally because people forget to reconnect it afterwards, or they may unwittingly break the smoke detector in an effort to disconnect or reconnect the unit.

Sprinkler Systems

Deciding to install a sprinkler system is an excellent way to increase your safety during a fire. The installation of the system may also boost the value of your property and could cause the premium on your fire insurance to go down.

Fires Caused By Electrical Hazards

A common cause of home fires is the overloading of circuits by using too many multi-function extension cords. If you must use a large number of extension cords, buy the type that have the highest level of protection against electrical surges. Always turn off and disconnect an appliance from its power source if you see sparks or smell an atypical odor coming from the appliance.

Fires Caused By Cooking

Kitchen fires are the most common source of fires within the home. Statistics show that each year, 100,000 home fires start in the kitchen as a direct result of careless cooking. A basic rule of fire safety is to never leave the kitchen when there is food cooking on the stove – unattended cooking fires result in fatalities all too often. It’s also vitally important to keep your clothing and other combustible material away from the heat source on the stove.

Many homeowners don’t realize that grilling outdoors is also an extremely common source of property fire. Always keep your grill located a safe distance from the perimeter of the home, flammable structures, and trees or bushes that could ignite easily. Rule of thumb: familiarize yourself with the instructions for your grill and follow them exactly.

Owning a Fire Extinguisher

As a rule of basic fire safety, keep a fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, and if your home is especially large, more than one could be required. The most important areas for placement are the garage and the kitchen. Everyone in the family should know exactly where the fire extinguishers are located and exactly how to use them.

Remember that just because a fire looks like it’s out does not mean it’s so. The fire and smoke could have spread to areas that you cannot readily see, such as behind walls, under floorboards, and upwards towards the attic or roof. Do call the fire department after any home fire, even if you believe you have extinguished the fire completely.

Be Sure to Call Your Provider Before You Make Changes to Your Home

If you are planning substantial alterations to your home, such as an addition or a major renovation, contact your provider first. They should know what you are planning, including the material you will be using, to determine if the renovations or materials used in construction present an increased risk for home fires. Your insurer can provide information about the resulting changes, if any, to your premium.

Make sure you have all the fire coverage you need – let SeattleHomeInsuranceQuotes.org provide you with no-cost Seattle online quotes to find the policy that is right for you.