Our fire restoration team advises you to keep a fire extinguisher nearby to prevent kitchen fires from spreading.

Did you know that your kitchen contains more hazards than anywhere else in your home? Mixing high heat with chemicals, having high-flame and water-reliant appliances, and injury-causing tools can make your kitchen a danger zone. Learn about the hazards in your kitchen and how you can protect your home and your family with water, smoke and fire restoration services and these preventative tips.

What are the biggest hazards in a kitchen?

Besides your chef’s knife, hand blender, and that nasty skin-peeling cheese grater, your kitchen contains numerous hazards that can cause fires as well as smoke and water damage. Some of these dangers are not always visible.

Common kitchen dangers to look out for include:

• Electrical appliances that have exposed or faulty wiring, causing electrical shock and sparks
• Flammable and corrosive products, such as cleaning supplies, cooking oils, paper towels, oven mitts and other items that can catch fire, emit smoke, or cause burns
• Water/pipe leaks (including in your dishwasher), causing the need for extensive water damage restoration
• Flame/high heat from gas ovens/stoves
• Gas leaks from burners not being turned off
• Poor ventilation causing the need for smoke damage restoration

What can you do to make your kitchen safe?

There are several things you can do to ensure safety from kitchen hazards.

Our fire damage restoration team recommends that you start with your cooking area:

• Clean your stovetop and oven regularly.
• Make sure the filter in your overhead ventilation is working correctly.
• Never leave food cooking unattended.
• Never place foil-wrapped or metallic items in your microwave.
• Make sure to turn off your gas burners after you’ve finished cooking.
• Do not place flammable materials near your stove.
• Test your smoke alarm regularly.
• Always have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Prevent flooding and water damage with these tips:

• Never dump cooking oil or grease down your drain.
• Inspect the caulking around your sink.
• Check valves and pipes under your sink for leaks.
• Make sure the ventilation in your range hood allows evaporation to escape.
• Check around your fridge and dishwasher for any signs of water.
• Clean your dishwasher filter regularly.

For more flood restoration tips, read How to Survive a Leak.

Other tips:

• Inspect all electrical appliances for frayed and damaged wiring.
• Prevent chemical fires by storing cleaning and other hazardous products in a secure and dry location. Label all products.
• Keep your kitchen clean and uncluttered at all times.