Our home heating systems, or furnaces, do a magnificent job of keeping our winter dwellings safe and warm — at least when they’re taken care of and used properly. However, when it comes to any sort of equipment that produces heat, furnaces can develop problems over time that can become threats to the safety of a home.
To help you maintain a safe home all winter this year and give your home heating system the respect and attention it deserves, we at at Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning put together a list of 7 Easy Home Furnace Safety Tips:
Keep Your Lancaster, Ohio, Area Home Safe This Winter!
Keep up with HVAC system maintenance
Of course furnace maintenance is at the top of our list! And for good reason! One of the most important parts of furnace tune-up is how you get a certified HVAC technician to inspect your home heating system to make sure everything is good to go, everything is running safely and efficiently. During one of our maintenance visits, our techs check for cracked heat exchangers, damaged or frayed wiring, refrigerant leaks, and other malfunctions that could become serious safety hazards in your home or at the least cost you excess energy expenditures. Because of all this and more, seasonal maintenance is imperative. If you want the peace-of-mind of knowing your furnace is going to run safely throughout the winter, give us a call! It’s never too late for HVAC system maintenance.
Check all your carbon monoxide detectors
In case you haven’t done so already, now is the time to check your carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Because CO leaks are one of the biggest safety threats in a home during the winter and can be caused by a malfunctioning furnace, it is imperative you check these at least every year to guarantee they are all properly functioning. Also, it’s a good idea to install a new pair of batteries in each detector if you question your batteries.
Check all of your smoke alarms/detectors
Since we are already checking carbon monoxide detectors, testing smoke detectors cannot be overlooked, unless you have detectors that combine these functions. This is essential because furnace problems can cause house fires; in fact it’s a leading cause. As such, now is a good time of year to check your home’s smoke alarms, if you have not done so already. You should do this every year. Also, like CO detectors, you should consider installing a fresh pair of batteries in each detector.
Maintain an open and free area around your furnace
Keeping the area around your furnace free and open, maintaining a radius of a few feet at least of space, is essential; it will reduce the chances of a fire in the event your furnace or home heating system overheats or has issues. Because of this, you should avoid storing anything near the furnace — especially anything flammable!
Change furnace filters frequently
Dirty, old, outdated furnace filters block vital airflow your furnace needs unimpeded. This puts needless strain on your home heating system making it have to strive harder to provide heat. Furthermore, it also increases the risks of a carbon monoxide leak and causes dirt to build up on a furnace’s parts and equipment, which can lead to several other efficiency and safety problems. Because of this, it is imperative homeowners check and change their air filters every month during the wintertime.
Discuss safety guidelines, keep kids away from furnace
This tip is important for anyone with family, and especially for those with children living in the home. We recommend getting everyone together at one time to discuss your home’s furnace safety guidelines and to go over rules for the home. Afterwards, you can post these rules somewhere visible for all to see, like on your refrigerator, along with emergency information. With family members living together in a home, establishing a clear set of safety rules and emergency plans everyone understands should not be overlooked. One of these rules would be to make sure your children understand they aren’t to go anywhere near the heater or furnace, or play around it. The other part of this is making sure everyone in the household knows what to do in case of an emergency and everyone applicable also knows where the gas shutoff valve is located if you have a gas furnace, in case of a gas leak.
Contact Us Immediately If You Have Any Issues
We urge homeowners: Don’t take any chances with any sort of fuel-burning appliance or home heating devices. If you suspect any issues, don’t hesitate to give us a call immediately. When it comes to home heating safety, it’s always best to stay on the safe side. You call our friendly professional team at any time here at Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning if you suspect something going awry with your system. If you have any questions about these furnace safety tips, or if you’d like a heating system serviced, maintained, or installed in your home, give us a call at (740) 625-2320 or click here to Schedule An Appointment Now!
