Furnace Safety Tips for Winter
Winter has officially arrived in Edmonton, leaving you no choice but to run the heater at its highest setting to keep your home comfortable. Are you certain your furnace, space heater, fireplace and other heating appliances are safe? While crucial for staying warm, heating equipment can become a hazard if not used and maintained correctly. Discover some vital heating system safety recommendations to ensure a warm and worry-free winter.
Understanding the Risks
Because households rely heavily on heating systems when it’s cold, home fires and heating-related accidents spike this time of year. Some typical risks include:
Candles and holiday decorations: Winter festivities often include decorative lights and candles. Although these items make the long winter nights more cozy, they can become fire threats if left unattended or placed near flammable materials.
Generators: Operating a generator during a power outage is a helpful backup plan. However, improper usage can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Ensure these appliances are set up outside and far from windows or doors.
Heating appliances: Space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces contribute significantly to home fires during the winter season. While designed to operate safely, these devices can become hazardous if they are outdated, malfunctioning or improperly used.
Poor ventilation: Insufficient ventilation can cause dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, especially from natural gas, propane or oil heaters.
Old wiring: Older homes with antiquated 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 likelihood of electrical fires.
Wrong use of heating devices: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like running the oven to warm up your residence, or placing wet socks over a space heater, can be hazardous.
General Precautions
Follow these safety recommendations in the winter and through the year to keep your residence and family safe:
Gas leaks: If you notice a strange rotten egg smell, it might be a gas leak. For your safety, act immediately—open windows and doors to air things out, evacuate the area and get in touch with your local gas company and fire department.
Combustible items: Make sure to place anything that can burn a minimum of 3 feet away from heating sources like furnaces, fireplaces and portable space heaters.
Children’s safety: Instruct your kids about the dangers of matches, candles and heating equipment. After that, establish a “kid-free zone” close to open flames and heaters to prevent accidents.
Electrical safety: Do not run heating equipment using extension cords or power strips. Additionally, plug only one high-power-draw device into an electrical outlet at a time. These tips help avoid electrical overloads, which can cause overheating and fires.
Candle safety: Thoroughly watch lit candles and make sure they are extinguished before walking out of the room or going to sleep.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors: Keep these accessories inside your home, especially right outside sleeping areas and test them every 30 days.
Specific Heating Equipment Tips
Here are the top heating system safety guidelines to follow this winter:
Professional setup: 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 a long time, knowing your equipment is running the way it is supposed to.
Scheduled maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by trained professionals can discover hidden concerns that might not be recognizable to the untrained eye. These visits can identify worn-out parts, ventilation issues and potential gas leaks. Routine maintenance also ensures maximum efficiency and extends your system’s life span.
Space heaters: You shouldn’t ever allow space heaters to run unattended or while you’re sleeping. Position these items on a stable, non-flammable surface and keep anything that could catch fire away from the front, back and sides of the equipment.
Fireplaces: Install a metal screen in front of the fireplace to stop sparks from escaping and igniting nearby objects. Extinguish the flames before leaving home or sleeping. Once it has totally cooled, put the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your residence.
Call Rob's Albertan Service Experts for Heating Service in Edmonton
As the winter months intensify, Rob's Albertan Service Experts is ready to maintain your comfort and security. 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. Beyond our technical expertise, Rob's Albertan Service Experts is significantly involved in the local communities we serve and remain committed to innovation and customer engagement. For assistance staying warm this winter, call 780-800-9047 today to schedule an appointment with Rob's Albertan Service Experts.
