A SAFETY TUNE-UP FOR YOUR KITCHEN
Proper ventilation, alarms and detectors key to healthy home
Usually when people think about preparing for Thanksgiving, they typically focus on getting the right ingredients before the grocery stores are ransacked. But you should also be thinking about your kitchen and the role it’s going play over the coming holidays, not just Thanksgiving.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and it’s the main attraction for most people over the holidays because it’s where all the action — and magic — happens. Everyone gathers in the kitchen, so it’s important to give it a tune-up before the guests arrive. Let’s talk safety first. The kitchen is the No. 1 spot where a house fire can start, and more cooking over the holidays increases that risk. It’s important to make sure your smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors) are working. We’ve all seen the headlines. Don’t become one.
You should be testing smoke alarms and CO detectors monthly and changing the batteries twice a year. I like to do it when we change our clocks because it’s easy to remember. Clocks go back an hour at 2 a.m. on Nov. 6, so you might want to set up a reminder now.
Every kitchen should have a fire extinguisher. Remember to check the expiry date. I know some people like to deep-fry their turkey, so in case an accident happens, you want to make sure you have a working fire extinguisher handy. Keep it near an exit route and away from the stove.
Once you’ve covered safety, focus on health.
Part of maintaining a healthy home is ensuring proper ventilation. When it comes to your kitchen that means making sure you have a proper range hood — these aren’t for decoration. You need one to get rid of excess moisture, as well kitchen fumes and odours, which can be considered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and potentially hazardous.
Every kitchen needs proper ventilation because it’s the source of a lot of moisture in your home, for example, when you cook or wash dishes. Even breathing creates a lot of moisture, so if there’s going to be a lot of people gathered in what can sometimes be a small space, it can lead to excess moisture and condensation. That moisture can end up in your walls, floors, ceiling, and attic.
It doesn’t matter if your stove is gas or electric, you need an extraction fan over it. It should extend over the entire surface of the stove and be installed close enough to extract air, but not so close that you bump your head. Too many “designer” hoods are installed too high.
A good range-hood system eliminates steam, fumes and odours at about 300 cubic feet per minute. It must extract the air to the outside, not into the attic or a wall cavity, otherwise you’re just pulling moisture into that space, which can lead to mould. And venting into the attic space is against code.
A fan needs to be the right size for your stove and house. And remember to run the fan at least thirty minutes after cooking. Most people turn it off too soon because of the noise, but the good news is there are quieter models. Consider investing in one.
There are also over-the-range microwaves that have a ventilation system below; it’s two-inone, so if kitchen size is an issue, it can help you save some space.
Before the holidays start, it’s also important to make sure the hood vent itself is clean and grease-free. Grease buildup not only blocks the vent hood from working properly, but it can also be very dangerous in the case of a stovetop fire.
Whether it’s a charcoal filter that recycles air back into the kitchen or a metal filter, a clean and grease-free hood-range filter — as well as ducts — can help keep flames from spreading quickly.
My dad taught me to be thankful for everything I have. Unfortunately, I lost him too soon but it helped me appreciate the importance of family and times we share together. Part of being thankful is taking care of the things that are important to us, including our homes, and doing the proper maintenance so they last and protect our families. If you give a little thanks to your home, it gives back in a big, big way.