Home Safety Tips | Norcia Insurance Consultants

For many families, winter months mean sitting around their wood-burning fireplace and enjoying the warmth and comfort of a crackling fire while roasting marshmallows and spending quality time with one another. But, as many of us know, a fireplace and chimney can be fire hazards if not properly used and cared for. As an insurance adjuster in Minnesota, we have helped countless homeowners whose houses have sustained damage as a result of a chimney fire, so here are a few tips on how to make sure yours is as safe to use as possible.

At least once a year, preferably either right before or right after winter, have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned. Every time you have a fire in your fireplace, creosote forms. Creosote is a black and sticky flammable substance that needs to be cleaned off on a regular basis to ensure it doesn’t ignite and cause a fire.
Make sure you only burn wood that is dry and cured. This means the logs need to have been split, stacked and dried for at least 8 to 12 months. You should make sure the log pile has a cover on top of it, but leave the sides open to allow for air to properly flow through.
In your fireplace, make sure the only thing you are burning is wood. Do not burn lumber scraps, construction scraps, painted wood or other pieces of treated wood. These types of wood could release harmful chemicals into your home, and it could affect the indoor air quality at your house. You can use starter logs to start the fire if you need to, but just be sure to use only one of them at a time since they burn very hot.
When you don’t have a fire going in your fireplace, make sure you close the damper to keep the warm air from getting out. And when you are burning a fire in your fireplace, make sure you keep the glass doors open to allow the heat of the fire to get into the room.
Make sure you have a cap on top of your chimney that is in good working order. The cap will help keep animals from nesting in your chimney (which is a fire hazard in and of itself), and they also help reduce downdrafts. A professional chimney sweep can check your cap as a part of your annual inspection and they can install a new one if need be.

For more information on how to hire an insurance adjuster in Minnesota, call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677), or you can contact us to set up your Free Consultation.

Did you know that April 13 through April 17 is Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week? Every year, Minnesota’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) collaborates with the National Weather Service and 16 different state and local agencies and organizations to raise awareness of the seasonal threats that severe weather can bring. The intent is to teach Minnesota residents how to avoid severe weather or, if they cannot avoid the bad weather, what to do before, during and after the severe weather hits.

Severe Weather Awareness Week features two very important events: two statewide tornado drills. On Thursday, April 16, sirens throughout the state will be tested to ensure that they all work properly in the event of a tornado. And these tests are a great time for residents to practice their tornado drills and to educate their families on what to do when the alarm sounds for real. The drills will be held at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. During these drills, all statewide sirens will sound off and all NOAA weather radios in Minnesota will also sound the warning alarm.

On average, Minnesota experiences 40 tornadoes a year. The record was set in 2010 when 104 tornadoes touched down throughout the state.

Each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week will focus on a different topic:

Monday: Alerts and warnings

Tuesday: Severe weather, lightning and hail

Wednesday: Floods

Thursday: Tornadoes (including statewide tornado alarm tests and drills)

Friday: Extreme heat

If you visit the Severe Weather Awareness Week site, linked to above, you can get more information about each day’s topics.

Emergency preparedness is especially important this time of year. While the warmer temperatures and milder weather are both great for outdoor activities and fun, the weather can change at the drop of a hat. It can go from sunny and pleasant to stormy and dangerous in a matter of minutes. And when you hear a tornado siren go off, it is imperative that you and your loved ones know what to do and where to go so everyone is as safe as possible.

And if the worst does happen and a tornado or another severe weather event affects you, call us at Norcia Insurance Consultants. We are public insurance adjusters serving the entire state of Minnesota, as well as Wisconsin. Call us when you need help with your insurance claims. We can help make sure you get the money you deserve from your insurance company.

Call 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.

Category Archives: Home Safety Tips

Fireplace Safety Tips

Next Week is Severe Weather Awareness Week