There’s no denying the fact that a residential furnace can be a significant monetary investment. Taking proper care of your heating system and staying safe while doing so are absolute necessities. Here are some essential safety tips for you to follow.
Annual Maintenance Is a Must
The first tip we have for you regarding furnace safety is that you need to schedule annual maintenance. Your furnace has a lot of moving parts that require regular attention to keep operating properly.
Having a professional perform maintenance on your system ensures that its components are taken care of and any foreseeable problems are addressed before they turn into unpleasant breakdowns. In addition, annual maintenance is a requirement for most furnace warranty contracts.
Change Your Air Filter Frequently
Your heating system’s air filter is there to remove harmful airborne debris from the air inside of your home. When a large amount of debris becomes trapped in the filter, it creates a barrier. This results in your furnace working harder to force air through that filter.
You should be checking your filter at least once a month. When you pull it out, you’ll want to hold it up to a light. If you can see through it, it still has some life left in it. If not, it will need to be replaced. Most homeowners find that their air filter needs to be replaced every two to three months.
Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms
While your furnace is ideal for keeping your home warm during those cold winter days, it can be dangerous if it malfunctions. If a fire breaks out or your furnace produces carbon monoxide because it doesn’t burn your fuel appropriately, it can turn deadly. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are your first line of defense against these unforeseen events.
You should schedule one day a month when you go around to all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to test them. Most come with a test button built in so that you can easily make sure they’re indeed active. It’s best to get into a routine of replacing the batteries in these alarms and detectors every six months. This way, you never risk having a nonfunctioning alarm or detector because of a dead battery.
Keep a Clean Space
Your furnace should be surrounded by open space. This allows it to have the airflow it needs to work optimally. If you overcrowd your furnace with other objects like boxes or storage containers, it can cause your furnace to have reduced airflow. This can result in overheating and potentially a fire.
Apart from keeping the area around your furnace clear, you’ll want to ensure that the area is clean as well. Lint, dust, pet hair and other debris can be the perfect fuel for a furnace fire. Therefore, it’s essential that you vacuum up the space around your furnace on a frequent basis. Every couple of weeks should suffice for most homeowners.
Locate Your Fuel Shut-Off Handle
Depending on the sort of furnace you have, it may run on natural gas, propane or oil. Whichever type it uses, it will have a shut-off handle that will allow you to stop the flow of fuel to your furnace. This is ideal for times when you locate a leak or have a fire in your furnace. It’s best to locate this handle and ensure that everyone in your household knows where it’s at.
Get a Fire Extinguisher
It’s also wise to be prepared in the event that your furnace catches fire. One of the best ways is to have a fire extinguisher in the same room as your furnace. You’ll want to think strategically when determining where to place the fire extinguisher. It should be in an area that is easy to access but one that won’t be inaccessible if there is ever a fire in your furnace.
Talk With Your Kids
If you have children, it’s important that you take the time to talk about furnace safety. While it may seem like common sense to you that the furnace can be dangerous, it may not be so clear to your children. Let them know the specific dangers of the furnace and make rules regarding their proximity to it. If need be, place a line on the floor around the area where you don’t want your children to be.
Outstanding Local Furnace Experts
Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. is your choice for furnace expertise in the Northglenn region. We offer a full range of quality installation, maintenance and repair of heating, cooling and indoor air quality equipment. Call us today for friendly guidance, conscientious workmanship and first-rate results.
