Properly operating your heating equipment during the winter.
There’s nothing better than walking into a warm home on a cold winter day, especially if you get to cozy up in front of a warm fireplace. Your furnace is so important during the colder months – if it’s not working, no one is happy.
Whether it is a gas furnace, radiator or fireplace, you want to make sure that you follow proper safety precautions when heating your home. According to the United States Fire Administration, heating is the SECOND leading cause of house fires (cooking takes first place). Here are some tips to keep you, your home and your family safe during the heating season.
Create a 3-feet safety circle around any heat source. Make sure you keep anything that may burn out of this circle and make it a “kid-free zone.” This may be a no-brainer for something like a fireplace, but equipment, such as space heaters, can get just as hot and cause serious burns.
NEVER use your oven to heat your home.
Make sure you always turn portable heating equipment off when you leave a room or go to sleep at night.
If you have a portable space heater that runs on fuel, make sure you always use the correct fuel.
Make sure you have a safety screen in front of your fireplace and be sure to check your smoke alarms at least once a month.
You should have a contractor come out to clean and inspect your furnace yearly – preferably in the fall. Winter may be in full swing now, but it is never too late to make sure your equipment is running efficiently and safely. While you’re at it, make sure you have someone come and clean out your chimney as well.
If you want to schedule a furnace inspection with a local contractor, remember it’s never too late. You may even want to pencil in a reminder for next fall. Not only can a clean and check during the fall ensure your gas furnace is running safely, but it can also make sure your equipment is running efficiently – saving you money during the peak heating season.
Do you do all of these safety checks during the winter? What else would you add to this list?