Home Heating Safety Tips

Your furnace has an important, multi-faceted job to do:

• Keep your warm and comfortable
• Operate properly and efficiently for approximately 6 months a year
• Filter out dirt, dust, and other pollutants so they don’t enter your living space
• Keep you safe from carbon monoxide poisoning and other potential safety hazards

Six months of steady, reliable performance with zero breaks – imagine having that kind of job! But while we weren’t built that way, your furnace is. It’s also built to be properly and routinely maintained so that it can continue to perform to your expectations season after season.

As for keeping your home and family safe, follow these important tips for your added peace of mind:

• Make sure each level of your home is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, including all bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test each alarm once a month and replace batteries every six months.
• Keep flammable objects at least three feet away from all heat sources such as space heaters, wood or pellet stoves, fireplaces, and radiators.
• If you must use a portable space heater for added heat, make sure it meets current UL safety standards. Choose one that is properly sized for the room and place it on a solid surface.  Never use a space heater with a frayed or damaged cord and void using extension cords as they can overheat and become a fire hazard. Turn the space heater off when you’re not in the room or are going to sleep and never leave small children or pets unattended while a space heater is running.
• Clean all vents and registers routinely and do not block them with drapes, furniture, toys, or other objects.
• Never, ever use your stove or oven to heat your home.
• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep once a year to ensure proper operation and to prevent creosote build-up, which can start a chimney fire.
• Have your furnace inspected once a year. An annual inspection can uncover potential issues that could lead to more costly repairs, help prolong equipment life, improve operating efficiency, and help prevent a home electrical fire.
• Replace furnace filters every eight weeks or so during the heating season. A clogged, dirty filter causes your heating system to work harder than it should to keep your home nice and warm all season long. And that results in unnecessary wear and tear and higher utility costs.

Has it been a year or longer since your last home heating system inspection?  If so,  contact Correct Temp for the added comfort, safety, and confidence you want this and every winter season.