Winter Home Safety Checklist: What a Firefighter Checks First

What do a dirty chimney, a dead alarm battery, and a space heater beside a curtain have in common?

They are not bad luck.

They are the things nobody checked.

During my years as a firefighter, I saw the pattern repeatedly. A chimney nobody swept. A heater sitting too close to bedding. A smoke alarm that had been chirping for weeks. A pipe that froze during one hard Georgia night and flooded a home while everyone slept.

I am Tamera Shearon, founder of Peachtree Battle Realty, a veteran, retired firefighter, and Atlanta real estate and mortgage broker.

I wrote this winter home safety checklist to help you handle five basic checks in one weekend. No drama. No complicated project list. Just practical steps that can help you protect your home and the people inside it.

The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire and the National Fire Protection Association offer additional winter and home fire education. Use this checklist as a starting point, and always follow manufacturer instructions for your home and equipment.

Chimneys and Creosote, Get the Chimney Swept Before the First Fire

Why this matters: Every wood fire can leave chimney creosote behind. This tar-like residue thickens over time and can ignite.

A fireplace can make an Atlanta winter evening feel like a warm bowl of soup after a long day. But the chimney still needs attention before the first fire of the season.

Do not assume a chimney is safe because the last fire looked normal. Creosote can build up where you cannot easily see it. That is why professional cleaning and inspection matter.

This is not a do-it-yourself chimney project. Never clean or inspect a flue yourself. Chimney work belongs to a licensed professional.

Before the season gets busy:

• Have the chimney swept and inspected by a licensed chimney sweep before the first fire.
• Look up the flue from the firebox. If you see heavy black, glazed, or flaky buildup, stop and call a professional.
• Check that the damper opens and closes freely. A stuck damper can push smoke back into the room.
• Keep the hearth clear. Maintain three feet of empty space, and do not stack firewood against the fireplace.
• Burn dry, seasoned wood. Wet wood creates more smoke and more creosote.

Use a sturdy screen while the fire is burning. Never leave a fire unattended. If you have questions about your fireplace, chimney, or venting system, contact a licensed chimney professional.

Prevent Frozen Pipes in Georgia Winters

Why this matters: A Georgia freeze does not have to last long. One hard night can split a pipe and send water through your home while you sleep.

Atlanta winters can be unpredictable. One day feels like spring. The next day brings a sharp freeze that moves through the neighborhood like an unexpected traffic jam on I-285.

You do not need a long project list to prepare. Start with the water shut-off and the most exposed plumbing.

• Find your main water shut-off valve and confirm that it actually turns.
• On nights below freezing, let one faucet drip slowly. Choose the faucet farthest from where water enters the home.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks located along exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
• Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots with insulated hose-bib covers.
• If you travel, keep the heat set at 55°F or higher. Never turn it off completely.

If a pipe freezes, do not reach for a torch or open flame. Call a licensed plumber. A professional can help address the issue without creating another hazard.

Knowing where the main shut-off is can also save valuable time if a pipe breaks. Find it now, before water is running across the floor.

Smoke Alarms: Test Them and Check the Dates

Why this matters: Smoke and toxic fumes can become life-threatening before flames reach you. Working alarms provide an early warning, and outdated alarms may not perform as intended.

Smoke alarm replacement is not a once-and-done task. Alarms have dates. Batteries have limits. A quiet alarm is not necessarily a working alarm.

Walk through the home with your phone or a small notepad. Check each alarm. Press the test button. Listen carefully.

• Press the test button on every smoke alarm. Replace any unit that stays silent.
• Change batteries twice a year when you change the clocks, or follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Check the date on the back of each alarm. Replace the whole unit at 10 years, or sooner if the manufacturer says so.
• Place alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, including the basement.
• Add carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas and on every level with a fuel-burning appliance. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless.

Hardwired or interconnected systems may require a licensed electrician. Do not disconnect, rewire, or modify those systems yourself.

Keep going and finish the remaining checks this weekend while you are already in the groove.

Space Heater Safety: The Three-Foot Rule

Why this matters: Space heater fires often follow the same pattern. The heater is too close to something that burns, or it is running while nobody is watching.

A space heater is not a storage shelf. It is not a clothes dryer. It is not a substitute for supervision.

The safest approach is simple: give the heater space and attention. Think of the three-foot rule as a personal buffer zone.

• Keep at least three feet of clear space around every heater. Move curtains, bedding, paper, laundry, furniture, and pets away.
• Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord or power strip.
• Never run a space heater unattended or while you sleep.
• Place it on a hard, level, non-flammable surface. Do not put it on carpet or a rug.
• Keep heaters out of bathrooms and away from water. Choose a model with automatic tip-over and overheat shut-off features.

If a cord, plug, or outlet feels warm, stop using the heater and call a licensed electrician. Do not keep using a questionable outlet because it is convenient.

These are simple winter home safety tips, but simple does not mean optional. The three-foot rule gives heat a boundary.

Gutters, Ice Dams, and Water at the Foundation

Why this matters: Clogged gutters can overflow, freeze, and push water under the roof edge or down toward the foundation.

Atlanta does not get heavy snow every winter. But ice dams Georgia homeowners see after a snow or hard freeze can still create problems. Icicles at the roof edge may look picturesque. They can also signal that warm air is escaping into the attic and melting snow unevenly.

This is where a small maintenance issue can become a water issue.

• Clear leaves and debris from gutters before the first hard freeze, while the material is still dry and easier to remove.
• Make sure downspouts carry water five to six feet away from the foundation. Use extensions or splash blocks.
• Check the soil line around the foundation. A slope toward the house can direct water where you do not want it.
• Watch for ice dams after snow. Icicles at the roof edge and ice inside the gutter deserve attention.
• If ice dams form year after year, ask a licensed roofing or insulation professional about attic insulation and air-sealing.

Roof and ladder work is not a weekend project if you are not equipped or comfortable doing it safely. Hire a licensed professional. Do not climb onto an icy roof to solve a problem that needs a qualified evaluation.

A clean gutter will not fix every drainage problem. But it is a smart first check.

A Note From Tamera

I did not write this to sell you anything.

I wrote it because I have stood in homes after the fire. Almost every one of those calls started with something that could have been checked.

A chimney sweep would have caught it.

A battery would have caught it.

Three feet of space would have caught it.

That is the heart of Serve Before You Sell. Help first. Explain clearly. Show up when people need you.

And thank you to everyone who serves our communities. Firefighters. EMTs. Veterans. Teachers. Volunteers nobody pays but everybody depends on.

Your work matters.

At Peachtree Battle Realty, we are available 24/7. We return every call the same day. That is a promise, not a slogan.

Work through all five checks, then share this with a neighbor who could use the reminder.

Love Your Neighbor

A safe home is one way to love your neighbor.

Share this winter home safety checklist with a family member, a new homeowner, an older neighbor, or someone who is away from home during the winter. Encourage people to grow some of their own food when they can, and support local growers who strengthen food resilience in our communities. Choosing produce with viable seeds can also help protect seed diversity.

For broader neighbor-to-neighbor education, visit Peachtree Battle Realty, explore our buyer education resources, or learn more about how we help people buy, sell, and finance homes through our real estate and mortgage education.

Love Your Neighbor. Ditch the Drama.

Peachtree Battle Realty – Atlanta's Winning Move!

(678) 251-5024 · peachtreebattlerealty.com

This article is general homeowner education, not legal, code, inspection, or professional safety advice. Every home is different. For chimney, electrical, plumbing, and roofing work, use a licensed professional. In an emergency, call 911.

Tamera Shearon, NMLS #2413707 GA, Real Estate and Mortgage Broker, NEXA Lending LLC, NMLS #1660690, 5559 S Sossaman Rd, Bldg #1, Ste #1, Mesa, AZ 85212, NEXA Lending LLC is an Equal Housing Lender.