According to the United States Fire Administration, more than one-fifth of residential fires are related to the use of supplemental room heaters - wood and coal-burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electric heaters - so before you throw a log on the fire or plug in the electric heater, take some precautions. And never use an oven or kitchen range to help heat your home.
Furnaces:
Your furnace should be checked regularly by a professional. The flame should burn a bright, steady blue and should never come outside of the furnace. If you hear or smell natural gas leaking from your furnace lines, evacuate the house immediately and use a phone outside the house to call 911.
Fireplaces:
Fireplace chimneys regularly build up creosote that can ignite. Chimneys need to be cleaned out frequently and inspected for cracks and obstructions. Never burn trash, paper, or painted/treated wood in your fireplace because these are difficult to control and create dangerous fumes. Use a fireplace screen that is big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace for best spark protection. Use a heavy duty grate and stack wood carefully to stop rolling logs from leaving the firebox.
Wood Stoves:
Inspect and clean your stovepipe and chimney on a regular basis and check monthly for damage or obstructions. Be sure to keep combustible objects away from the stove. Review safety and operating instructions for your model annually.
Space Heaters:
Only use heaters with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety listing. Read and follow all instructions in the owner's manual. The heater should be placed on the floor, away from combustible materials, and out of high-traffic areas. Never put anything on top of your space heater. Never leave the heater unattended or with unsupervised children. Electric heaters should be unplugged if you go to bed or leave the house.
Carbon Monoxide:
Along with fire, another potential danger of home heating is carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have any appliances or equipment that burn fuel such as propane or natural gas, fuel oil, kerosene, wood, coal, pellets, etc., you should install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home.
Smoke Detectors:
Smoke detectors save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home. Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. Replace all batteries twice yearly when you re-set your clocks.
Electrical Outlets:
Don't overload your outlets. Use surge protectors if multiple outlets are needed and do not insert more than two plugs into one outlet. Never force a three-pronged plug into a two-pronged outlet or extension cord.
This material was partly compiled from a variety of sources including the American Red Cross, United States Fire Administration and American Gas Association.
Clothes Slow to Dry? 
Dryer lint is extremely flammable. In fact, clothes dryers cause many more home fires each year than chimney fires do. Cleaning the lint trap on your dryer is only part of the maintenance needed, but please remember to clean it with every load of clothes. 
and plastic pipe ARE NOT CODE COMPLIANT and should be replaced, as these materials deteriorate quickly and are more easily crushed during installation, which reduces the venting capacity of the dryer vent. Never allow a dryer vent exhaust to terminate under the house or inside the attic space.
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