Modern furnaces do a spectacular job at keeping our winter havens warm and safe and cozy, when they are used properly. Nonetheless, like any sort of appliance that burns fuel, a home heating system can come down with a variety of problems that can pose a threat to the safety of those in the home.
To keep your home safe throughout the holiday season and the rest of the winter, our top-notch technicians at Springboro Heating & Cooling put together the following list of 7 easy furnace safety tips:
Keep Your Southwest, Ohio, Area Home Safe This Winter!
Establish Clear Furnace Safety Rules
This goes for anyone out there who lives with others, and especially for those with kids in the home. Now is a good time to gather everyone to meet and discuss the furnace safety guidelines or rules for your particular home, and maybe even put up a list of the rules on your refrigerator. You can utilize many of the items here on our list for starters. Keep in mind you should never allow kids to play anywhere near the heater or furnace. Furnace rooms truly should be “kid free zones.” Make sure everyone in the home realizes what they should do in the event of an emergency. Moreover, make sure everyone knows precisely where the gas shutoff valve is located if you have a gas furnace, in case of a gas leak.
It’s Never Too Late For Maintenance
Sure, your furnace might seem to be working fine now with the heating season underway. However, we should stress it’s never too late for preventative maintenance. One of the most important aspects of a seasonal furnace tune-up is the way our certified technicians inspect a home heating system from top to bottom to ensure it is operating safely and efficiently. Our techs check for any problems (like a cracked heat exchanger or damaged or burnt electrical wires) that could become serious safety problems in your home. As such, furnace tune-ups are vital. If you want peace-of-mind knowing your home heating system will run safely this winter, give us a call!
Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide leakage is one of the most serious safety hazards in a home and can be caused by a malfunctioning furnace. As such, it is vital to check to guarantee all of your home’s carbon monoxide detectors are properly operational. Make sure to individually test all of these detectors if necessary. Install a new pair of batteries in each unit if the batteries are getting old.
Check All Smoke Detectors
If things aren’t working the way they should, furnaces can become fire hazards. As such, in addition to checking your furnace, now is a good time of year to test your home’s smoke detectors. This should be done every year. Like C.O. detectors, you should install a fresh pair of batteries in each unit when the batteries are old.
Keep Safe Zone Area Around Furnace
You can decrease the chances of fires caused by a furnace or home heating system by keeping the area surrounding the unit clear and free and open and most of all — kid free. As such, storing anything near the furnace is a bad idea. This is especially important to realize when it comes to anything that might be flammable, like fuel, paint or household chemicals.
Replace Furnace Filter Frequently
Bad air filters restrict airflow to your furnace, which is dangerous and expensive. Specifically, it puts unnecessary strain on the furnace, causing it to overwork, which reduces its lifespan and increases energy costs. This is also something that can increase the chances of a carbon monoxide leak and allow dirt to build up on a furnace’s various components. As such, it is imperative you check and change your filter every month this winter.
Call Us If You Suspect Any Issues
You should not take any chances with any sort of fuel-burning appliance such as a furnace or home heating system. As such, it’s always best to stay on the safe side and call our friendly professional team here at Springboro Heating & Cooling if you suspect that anything’s going awry with your system.
If you have any questions about these furnace safety tips, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, call Springboro Heating & Cooling today at 937-600-6834, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
