Home Heating Safety

Having a home heating system is most of the time a necessity in certain parts of the world even though at times they can be dangerous. Always remember safety first because accidents can be prevented.

·         Have a working smoke detector on every floor of the home, ideally near bedrooms.

·         If you have fuel burning appliances in your home make sure you have a working CO2 detector

·         Keep space heaters three feet from flammable items like furniture or blankets. Turn the space heaters off when leaving a room or going to bed and never leave a space heater unattended. Try to only purchase space heaters with an automatic shut off and a guard around the heating source.

·         Always have a licensed contractor inspect your furnace annually and replace air filters every 30 days.

·         Do not use an oven or stove as an alternative heating source. Turning on burners and/or opening the oven door in order to heat a home can be dangerous and sometimes deadly. When operating a stove, turn pot and pan handles inward so children cannot grab them. Never leave food cooking unattended.

·         Clean fireplaces annually in order to avoid creosote buildup. When operating a fireplace, make sure it has a screen in order to contain stray embers. Keep all combustibles three feet from the fireplace.