AFTER a recent burst of hot weather, the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) has urged people to have their air cooling equipment serviced before summer.
MFS and Country Fire Service (CFS) firefighters have responded to more than 80 house fires linked to air conditioners, evaporative coolers and fans across the state since 2014.
MFS community safety and resilience commander Greg Howard said all electrical cooling equipment, including air conditioners and evaporative coolers, should undergo a thorough check and service by a qualified tradesperson before summer begins.
“Each summer firefighters respond to incidents where poorly maintained cooling equipment has sparked house fires causing unnecessary property loss and risk to lives,” he said.
“Without routine cleaning and servicing, users could be unaware of a build-up of dust or the deterioration of components, which can cause the equipment to overheat and cause a fire.”
It is important to prepare homes and cooling equipment for the possibility of extended periods of hot weather or heatwaves to reduce the risk of devastating house fires.
“If your home has electrical cooling equipment, now is the time to arrange for it to be serviced so that when you need to use it you can be confident it is in the best possible condition,” Mr Howard said.
