Home Heating Safety: Tips for Cold Weather
Winter has officially arrived in Windsor, forcing you to run the heater on full blast to keep your home warm. Are you sure your furnace, space heater, fireplace and other heating equipment is safe? While essential for staying warm, heating equipment can become a hazard if not used and maintained appropriately. Discover some vital heating system safety tips to ensure a warm and stress-free winter.
Knowing the Risks
Because families rely heavily on heating systems during colder months, home fires and heating-related accidents increase this time of year. A few common risks include:
Candles and holiday decorations: Winter events often include decorative lights and candles. While these items make the long winter nights more cheerful, they can become safety risks if left unattended or set near flammable materials.
Generators: Using a generator during an electricity outage is a helpful backup plan. On the other hand, incorrect use can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Ensure these devices 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. Although crafted to operate safely, these devices can become risky if they are outdated, malfunctioning or not operated safely.
Not enough ventilation: Inadequate ventilation can lead to 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 today’s heating appliances. When pushed beyond their limits, the wiring may overheat, increasing the possibility of electrical fires.
Wrong use of heating equipment: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like running the oven to warm up your residence, or draping wet socks over a space heater, can be dangerous.
General Safeguards
Observe these safety guidelines in the winter and throughout the year to keep your household and family safe:
Gas leaks: If you smell an inexplicable rotten egg smell, it may be a gas leak. For your protection, act immediately—open windows and doors to ventilate the area, evacuate the area and call 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: Educate your children about the hazards of matches, candles and heating equipment. Then, establish a “kid-free zone” close to open flames and heaters to avoid accidents.
Electric safety: Avoid plugging heating appliances into 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 watch lit candles and blow them out before exiting the room or going to sleep.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide sensors: Keep these accessories throughout your home, especially right by sleeping areas and test them every 30 days.
Ways to Stay Safe with Heating Systems
Here are some helpful heating system safety tips to consider this winter:
Professional HVAC service: Because a faulty setup can increase the risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, you should always leave furnace installation to an expert. You’ll enjoy peace of mind for many years, knowing your equipment is working the way it ought to.
Regular maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by trained professionals can discover hidden problems that might not be visible to the untrained eye. These appointments can find worn-out parts, ventilation issues and potential gas leaks. Routine maintenance also ensures maximum efficiency and extends your system’s life span.
Space heaters: Never allow space heaters to function unattended or while you’re in bed. Put these devices on a stable, non-flammable surface and keep anything that could catch fire away from the front, back and sides of the heater.
Fireplaces: Put a metal screen in front of the fireplace to keep sparks from escaping and igniting nearby items. Snuff out the flames before leaving the residence or sleeping. Once it has completely cooled, collect the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your premises.
Choose Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for Heating Service in Windsor
As the winter season intensifies, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts is ready to maintain your comfort and protection. Our certified technicians deliver fast, long-lasting remedies for all your heating needs, with services backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not thrilled with our service, you can depend on us to make it right. In addition to our technical expertise, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts is very involved in the local communities we serve and remain devoted to innovation and customer engagement. For heating service in your neighborhood, call 226-773-3357 today to arrange an appointment with Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts.