Winter has officially arrived in the U.S., requiring you to run the heater on full blast to keep your home comfortable. Are you confident your furnace, space heater, fireplace, and other heating equipment is safe? While vital for staying warm, heating equipment can become a hazard if not used and maintained correctly. Check out some important heating system safety guidelines to ensure a warm and worry-free winter.
Understanding the Risks
Because homes rely heavily on heating systems in the winter, home fires and heating-related accidents are more common this time of year. Several typical risks include:
- Candles and holiday decorations: Winter events typically include decorative lights and candles. Although these items make the long winter nights more cheerful, they can become fire hazards if left unattended or set near flammable materials.
- Generators: Relying on a generator during an electricity outage is a beneficial backup plan. On the other hand, improper usage can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Confirm that these devices are positioned outside and far from windows or doors.
- Heating appliances: Space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces contribute significantly to home fires during the winter season. Even though crafted to operate safely, these devices can become function if they are outdated, malfunctioning or misused.
- Lack of ventilation: Inadequate ventilation can result in dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, especially from natural gas, propane or oil heaters.
- Old wiring: Older homes with obsolete electrical systems may face challenges when trying to meet the demands of contemporary heating appliances. When operated beyond its capacity, the wiring may overheat, increasing the possibility of electrical fires.
- Wrong use of heating devices: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like firing up the oven to provide warmth, or draping wet socks over a space heater, can be function.
General Safety Measures
Use these safety guidelines in the winter and throughout the year to keep your residence and family safe:
- Gas leaks: If you notice a strange rotten egg smell, it may be a gas leak. For your safety, act immediately—open windows and doors to air out the building, evacuate the area and get in touch with your local gas company and fire department.
- Burnable items: Make sure to place anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating sources like furnaces, fireplaces and portable space heaters.
- Children’s safety: Educate your children about the risks of matches, candles and heating equipment. Then, establish a “kid-free zone” near open flames and heaters to prevent accidents.
- Electrical safety: Do not run heating equipment using extension cords or power strips. Also, plug only one high-power-draw device into an electrical outlet at a time. These tips help stop electrical overloads, which can cause overheating and fires.
- Candle safety: Carefully supervise lit candles and blow them out before leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms: Use these devices inside your home, especially right outside sleeping areas and test them monthly.
Specific Heating Equipment Tips
Here are several heating system safety tips to keep in mind this winter:
- Professional HVAC service: Because a poor setup can increase the risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, you should always leave furnace installation to an expert. You’ll get peace of mind for many years, knowing your equipment is working the way it is supposed to.
- Regular maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by well-qualified professionals can expose hidden problems that might not be visible to the untrained eye. These inspections can identify worn-out parts, ventilation problems and potential gas leaks. Regular maintenance also ensures peak efficiency and helps lengthen your system’s life span.
- Space heaters: You shouldn't ever allow space heaters to function unattended or while you’re asleep. Put these items on a stable, non-flammable surface and keep anything that could catch fire away from the front, back and sides of the heater.
- Fireplaces: Install a metal screen in front of the fireplace to stop sparks from flying out and igniting nearby items. Extinguish the flames before leaving your dwelling or sleeping. Once it has completely cooled, gather the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your premises.
Choose Service Experts in the U.S.
As the cold weather gets worse, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to preserve your comfort and protection. Our ACE-certified technicians supply fast, long-lasting remedies for all your heating needs, with services backed by a Service Experts Guarantee. If you’re not happy with our service, you can rely on us to make it right. In addition to our technical expertise, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is deeply involved in the local communities we serve and remains devoted to innovation and customer engagement. For help ensuring a worry-free winter, call (866) 963-7996 today to arrange an appointment with Service Experts.
