The Top Six Causes of House Fires in Arizona
Causes of House Fires in Arizona With help from the Phoenix Fire Department and the U.S. Fire Administration, we have tracked down the top six causes of house fires in Arizona. Some may surprise you and nearly all are preventable! Cigarettes Phoenix’s bravest say that cigarettes are a leading cause of house fires, not just in Arizona, but nationwide. A carelessly dropped lit cigarette can start a smoldering fire in upholstery or a mattress and hot ashes can set a carpet afire. If you cannot quit, at least smoke outside. Candles Second for the Phoenix Fire Department are candles, which will catch drapes or paper on fire quickly. Do not use improvised candle holders, keep candles away from combustible materials, and consider battery-operated or flameless candles instead. Overworked Electrical Cords Overloaded circuits, frayed wires, and misused extension cords are the third most common cause of Arizona house fires. All of these issues have simple remedies: 1. Discard, repair, or replace appliances with frayed wires. 2. Read warning labels on extension cords, and never gang them together. 3. Use power strips to help control loads. Clogged Dryer Vents Nationally, the U.S. Fire Administration reports 2,900 clothes dryer fires annually, causing approximately $35 million in property losses, 100 injuries, and five deaths. What is the most common cause for dryer fires? Failure to clean dryer vents! Air duct cleaning companies are also equipped to provide dryer vent cleaning. For superior dryer vent cleaning, Phoenix residents should turn to A-Z Air Duct Cleaning. Cooking The U.S. Fire Administration ranks cooking as the nation’s leading cause of house fires resulting in injuries, at 37.2 percent of all fires. Remember three ways to prevent cooking fires: Smother grease fires with a lid; never pour water on them. Install smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, but away from the stove. Never leave food to cook on a stove unattended. Monitor children in the kitchen. Heating Arizona does not compare well to the nation as a whole; 83.3 percent of fire deaths were from residential fires, far higher than the national average of 74.7 percent. Part of the reason is heating (not including candles), which nationally was the cause of more than 12 percent of house fires. Call A-Z Air Duct to prevent Dryer Fires near Phoenix, AZ A-Z Air Duct can help with preventing dryer fires. The same technology we apply to air conditioning duct cleaning can save you from the anguish and terror of a dryer fire. Contact us today to learn more. CONTACT US TODAY
Is Cleaning Air Ducts Worth It?
Imagine a whole room in your Phoenix-area home that you have never dusted and never vacuumed, but that gets constant use. If you have a furnace, central air conditioner, and ductwork, you actually have such a room: it’s your home’s air ducts. The Importance of Cleaning Your Air Ducts The total volume of most Valley homes’ ductwork is equal to that of a small room in a typical house. Now consider this: If you have never had your ducts cleaned, every bit of air moving through your house first has to pass through that dirty, dusty “room” before you breathe it. What is in Your Ducts? Anything caught up in the return registers of your home’s ductwork can lodge in the ducts. These contaminants include: Mold Mildew Pet Dander Insect droppings Fungi Bacteria Tobacco byproducts Dust Human skin cells and hair Debris in the Ducts of New Homes The ductwork in new homes is, you might think, completely clean. It is installed that way, yes, but construction debris can get swept up into the ductwork during routine furnace and AC testing during construction. Older Homes Your existing home comes to you with a murky history. Did the previous owners have the ducts cleaned? A buildup of mold, mildew, pet dander, dust, and other organic and inorganic matter can accumulate in just a few months. Children Children’s immature and developing lungs are far more sensitive to allergens and contaminants than adults’ lungs. Children breathe more rapidly, are closer to the ground where contaminants settle and tend to suffer from asthma at higher rates than adults, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. HVAC Performance Dust and dirt in your ductwork are usually caught by your air filter, but it can easily become clogged. Any particles that land on the heating element of your furnace, or your AC’s coil, rob the system of energy efficiency. Recommendations for Air Duct Cleaning The Environmental Protection Agency recommends duct cleaning for several very good reasons: Substantial, visible mold growth; Ducts are home to vermin (rodents, insects); Ducts are visibly clogged with dust and debris; You see or feel particles released into the home from your supply registers. Air Duct Cleaning in Phoenix, AZ So, is air duct cleaning worth it? Only you can weigh the factors affecting your Phoenix home, so consider your family’s health and make the decision to take advantage of the benefits of air duct cleaning. Contact us at A-Z Air Duct today to schedule a visit. CONTACT US TODAY
