As an owner, you want to protect your vacation rental from foreseeable (and unforeseeable) dangers. According to the US Fire Administration, preventable fires claim thousands of lives and millions of dollars in property losses every year. In fact, home electrical systems that have faulty outlets or old wiring are the biggest culprits. Fortunately, you can take many steps to protect your vacation rental home against house fires, in turn protecting your vacation rental business, your investment in the future, and, most importantly, your renters.

General Safety Precautions

• Aim to check your electrical appliances and home wiring about every five years. You';ll want to look for worn or damaged cords and promptly hire an electrician to replace them.
• Buy appliances tested by a reputable laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Clean your appliances when necessary, but also consider hiring a service person to inspect your chimney, fireplace, stoves, and furnaces annually.
• Inspect and clean chimneys and fireplaces on a regular basis. A loose guideline is clean after each cord of wood burned.
• Hire a pro to replace light switches that overheat or lights that flicker.
• Avoid keeping space heaters in your home. These require renters to be extra careful and may be riskier than they are worth.
• Equip your home with electrical plug covers if you consistently rent to families. Please note: Be sure to talk with your attorney and insurance agent before claiming to be “child proofed”.

Spotlight on Safety Devices

• Smoke detectors should be on every floor of your house, even in the basement, as early-warning devices. Here are some guidelines for installation and maintenance:
• Be sure to have an alarm inside or near every sleeping area to give your guests maximum protection.
• Try to get a model that has both ionization and photoelectric coverage, sometimes called a “dual sensor” alarm. This should protect against most sudden and slow-starting fires.
• Follow the manufacturer';s installation instructions as closely as possible.
• Have your housekeeper test the alarms monthly and replace their batteries twice a year to keep them in prime condition. Putting a sticker with the date on it is the best way to keep track of the last time you changed it.
• Consider installing alarms with strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to meet the needs of your hearing disabled renters.

Keeping a fire extinguisher on hand is also important, so make sure your renters know where it is and how to use it. You can post instructions near the extinguisher itself or include them in your rental rules and/or directions. It';s a good idea to keep an extinguisher in the kitchen and grill area and possibly even in the bedrooms. Additionally, pay attention to the kind of extinguisher you buy because different extinguishers work for different fires. Here are some pointers for choosing and maintaining fire extinguishers:

• They come in five types and are distinguished by colored labels. For more information on the type of fire extinguisher you should have in your home, visit the US Fire Administration website.
• Fire extinguishers need to be checked routinely on three main points:
  • The extinguisher is easily accessible to renters
  • The pressure level is set correctly
  • The parts and body are clean and undamaged
• If the extinguisher is damaged in any way, it is highly recommended that you replace it with a new one.

Consider installing a home fire sprinkler system to further protect your vacation rental. You may be interested to learn that residential fire sprinklers:

• Are generally smaller and less obtrusive than industrial-grade models you might see in office buildings.
• Can be connected to your home';s water supply.
•  May be less expensive if made of plastic piping, but they are still an investment. However, by touting your improved safety features, you may attract more renters.

Fire Safety Laws and Vacation Rental Homes

Keep in mind that laws and codes change all of the time based on various situations, locations, and events. Be sure to independently research and ask questions about the laws and codes pertaining to your vacation rental. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a company that writes life-safety codes and standards. Each individual city, state, or local office uses and adopts these codes on a local level.

Your best bet for interpretation of these laws and codes would be through your local Fire Marshall or county office. I think we all get that "lump in the throat" feeling when we hear inspections from a local governing authority; however, this is just one step in protecting both you and your renters.

Fire is a danger that you can bring under control by following some of the guidelines listed above. In the interest of your vacation rental business and the safety of your guests, it is important to try and take the proper cautions to protect your home against fire hazards.

Source: US Fire Administration

What have you done to improve fire safety at your vacation rental? "We have a two story home and all the bedrooms are on the second floor so we keep collapsible fire escape ladders under each bed.  They're really easy to use, but we still include instructions in the directions for renters. So far, most renters have been very appreciative." - Joe D., Sacramento, CA.

Protecting Your Guests Against Carbon Monoxide What is carbon monoxide and what preventative measures should you take to protect your vacation renters?   Is There a Fungus Among Us?: Detecting and Preventing Mold in Vacation Homes How to detect and prevent mold in your vacation property.   Dryer Safety: Preventing Fires in Your Vacation Home Protect your second home from dangerous and costly dryer fires.   Three Safe Appliances To Buy For Your Vacation Property Three “must-have” appliances for your vacation rental home.

© Copyright, HomeAway, Inc. 2009, U.090506.AF