Attic Fan Fire Hazard

A space heater left unattended can be a serious fire hazard.

Attic fan fire hazard.

Some fire safety experts believe the installation of a whole house fan or attic fan may pose an increased risk for attic fires. If you have space heaters an attic is probably not the place to keep them. This fire safety measure will help remove soot and debris which could become a fire hazard. Gable mounted fans are mounted on a hole in the gable wall.

When circuits are overloaded and the breaker fails to respond appropriately the excess draw could result in a fire. Plastic fan parts may pose a fire hazard. When dust and debris build up in your hvac s filter it can be a fire hazard. The hot grease vapor touches exhaust fan filters fan blades the ductwork your cabinets the kitchen ceiling and other surfaces in your kitchen.

It then condenses on those surfaces. The single most common cause of residential attic fires is electrical malfunction. The fema document previously mentioned states that a whopping 43 of all residential attic fires are caused by electrical malfunction. I would find the breaker that operates the attic fan and make sure it is turned off though.

Mounting attic fans may be roof mounted or gable mounted. Likewise when there are flammable products nearby your heater you may be risking a fire. Plastic may be a fire hazard as it may catch fire due to the overheating of the motor. And when using the fireplace keep any flammable materials such as blankets curtains and rugs away from the fireplace and never leave children unattended near a working fireplace.

Besides plastics become brittle and break over time due to exposure to heat. The fan s electric motor can be miswired and overheat posing a fire hazard. That said you may want to weigh the pros and cons of attic fan installation.