Fire Safety at Home: Test Alarms & Prep Before Fireplace Season

There’s something about the first real chill of fall that makes us want to light a candle, strike a match, or flip on that fireplace that hasn’t been used since March. The air smells a little crisper, the evenings come a little sooner — and suddenly cozy season is calling.

But before you settle in with your pumpkin-scented everything, take a minute for the not-so-glamorous side of fall prep: fire safety. Because nothing kills a cozy vibe faster than a preventable emergency.

Start with the little beeps

When was the last time you tested your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms? (Be honest.) Those tiny plastic disks on your ceiling are your first line of defense — and they deserve five minutes of your attention before the weather turns cold.

Press the button. Listen for the chirp. Change the batteries if it’s been a while. If the alarm is more than ten years old, it’s time to let it retire gracefully and bring in a newer model.

Give your fireplace or furnace a checkup

Whether your home’s heart beats through a gas furnace, a wood-burning fireplace, or an electric heater, this is the season to show it a little love. Have your system inspected or cleaned before it kicks into daily use.

A quick service call now can help you avoid breakdowns when the first snow hits — or worse, when you’ve already poured your cocoa and queued up your favorite blanket movie.

Dust off your safety plan

Take a look at your fire extinguishers (they have expiration dates, who knew?) and make sure they’re in spots you can actually reach. If you have kids, do a quick refresher on how to get out and where to meet in an emergency. It’s not the most fun dinner-table topic, but it’s one that matters.

Cozy doesn’t mean careless

We all love a good candle moment, but keep them away from curtains, stacks of mail, and well-intentioned but wobbly décor. And if you’re using space heaters, give them breathing room — three feet away from anything flammable is the rule of thumb.

Fire safety isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to post on Instagram, but it is the thing that lets you enjoy the season worry-free. A few simple checks now mean you can actually relax when the fireplace crackles and the nights get long — because cozy feels better when it’s safe.