Sarnia Fire and Rescue has seen a recent uptick in the number of fires caused by bathroom exhaust fans.
Public Education Officer Mike Otis said it's a common hazard that many people don't think about.
"They should be cleaned regularly," said Otis. "It's recommended that be done every six months. Vacuum it out, check the inside and make sure it's not filling up with dust or anything that can slow down the motor and cause it to overheat."
Otis said bathroom fans are only meant to be run for about 20 minutes at a time, to exhaust moisture, and aren't designed to be kept on all day.
He said putting them on a timer is a useful solution.
"Listen to them, and if they're making any funny noises then that could be a sign of trouble," he said. "If they smell like burning or anything then that's obviously a warning sign. Old bathroom ceiling fans should be replaced, there are more built-in safety features with the newer ones. It has to do with the engineering of it. They have something where if it seizes up, then it'll stop. With the old ones, if they get really dirty and the motor can't turn over properly, it'll still keep giving it power and overheat it to cause a fire."
Otis said it's also extremely important to ensure any new fans are properly installed by a professional electrician, adding one of the major causes of fires is faulty wiring.
He said while he doesn't have specific local statistics on the number of fires caused by bathroom fans, he said they're now required to report the incidents to the Ontario Fire Marshall because they're becoming increasingly common.
Sarnia Fire and Rescue has also launched its 12 Days of Holiday Fire and CO Safety Campaign, highlighting different safety tips for the holiday season, such as remembering to properly water your tree and checking your extension cords.