Furnace Safety Tips for Winter
Winter has officially arrived in Edmonton, requiring you to run the heater at its highest setting to keep your home cozy. Are you confident your furnace, space heater, fireplace and other heating devices are safe? While crucial for staying warm, heating equipment can pose a danger if not used and maintained correctly. Explore some important heating system safety tips to ensure a cozy and safe winter.
Identifying the Risks
Because homes rely heavily on heating systems during colder months, home fires and heating-related accidents are more common this time of year. Some common risks include:
Candles and holiday decorations: Winter celebrations frequently include decorative lights and candles. Although these items make the long winter nights more cheerful, they can become fire threats if left unattended or placed near flammable materials.
Generators: Operating a generator during an electricity outage is a helpful backup plan. However, improper usage can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Ensure these machines are located 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 Even though engineered to function safely, these devices can become dangerous if they are outdated, malfunctioning or not operated safely.
Poor ventilation: Improper ventilation can result in dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, especially from natural gas, propane or oil heaters.
Old wiring: Older homes with outdated electrical systems may struggle with the demands of contemporary heating appliances. When overloaded, the wiring may overheat, increasing the likelihood of electrical fires.
Wrong use of heating equipment: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like turning on the oven to warm up your residence, or placing wet socks over a space heater, can be risky.
General Safeguards
Observe these safety recommendations in the winter and throughout the year to keep your home and family safe:
Gas leaks: If you notice a strange rotten egg smell, it may be a gas leak. For your protection, 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 no less than 3 feet away from heating sources like furnaces, fireplaces and portable space heaters.
Children’s safety: Instruct your children about the hazards of matches, candles and heating devices. After that, establish a “kid-free zone” near open flames and heaters to reduce the chance of accidents.
Electric safety: Don’t use heating appliances with extension cords or power strips. In addition, 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 make sure they are extinguished before walking out of the room or going to sleep.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide sensors: Keep these accessories throughout your home, especially right outside sleeping areas and test them every 30 days.
Ways to Stay Safe with Heating Systems
Here are some helpful heating system safety tricks to consider this winter:
Professional installation: Because a bad setup can increase the risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, you should always leave furnace installation to a trained service pro. You’ll appreciate peace of mind for many years, knowing your equipment is operating the way it is supposed to.
Scheduled maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by well-qualified professionals can discover hidden concerns that might not be visible to the untrained eye. These appointments can detect worn-out parts, ventilation issues and potential gas leaks. Routine maintenance also ensures peak efficiency and helps lengthen your system’s life span.
Space heaters: Never allow space heaters to function unattended or while you’re in bed. Place 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: Place a metal screen in front of the fireplace to stop sparks from flying out and igniting nearby items. Snuff out the flames before leaving home or going to bed. Once it has totally cooled, put the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your house.
Partner with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for Heating Service in Edmonton
As the winter months intensify, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to protect your comfort and protection. Our certified technicians provide fast, long-lasting remedies for all your heating needs, with services backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not thrilled with our performance, you can depend on us to make it right. Along with our technical expertise, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is significantly involved in the local communities we serve and remain dedicated to innovation and customer engagement. For help ensuring a worry-free winter, call 587-404-0790 today to arrange an appointment with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.