Furnace Safety Tips for Winter

Winter has officially arrived in Fort Lauderdale, requiring you to run the heater on full blast to keep your home comfortable. Are you confident your furnace, space heater, fireplace and other heating appliances are safe? While essential for staying warm, heating equipment can become a hazard if not used and maintained properly. Explore some vital heating system safety guidelines to ensure a cozy and safe winter.

Knowing 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 common risks include:

Candles and holiday decorations: Winter events often include decorative lights and candles. While these items make the long winter nights more inviting, they can become safety risks if left unattended or placed near flammable materials.

Generators: Using a generator during a power outage is a good backup plan. However, incorrect use can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Make sure these machines are located outside and far from windows or doors.

Heating appliances: Space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces play a crucial role in causing home fires during the colder months. Although crafted to run safely, these devices can become dangerous if they are outdated, malfunctioning or not operated safely.

Lack of ventilation: Inadequate ventilation can result in dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, especially from natural gas, propane or oil heaters.

Old wiring: Older homes with obsolete electrical systems may encounter difficulties from the demands of contemporary heating appliances. When overloaded, the wiring may overheat, increasing the possibility of electrical fires.

Wrong use of heating equipment: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like turning on the oven to heat your home, or draping wet socks over a space heater, can be hazardous.

General Precautions

Use these safety guidelines in the winter and through the year to keep your household and family safe:

Gas leaks: If you detect an inexplicable rotten egg smell, it could be a gas leak. For your well-being, act immediately—open windows and doors to air things out, evacuate the area and call your local gas company and fire department.

Flammable items: Make sure to place anything that can burn no less than 3 feet away from heating sources like furnaces, fireplaces and portable space heaters.

Children’s safety: Educate your kids about the dangers of matches, candles and heating products. Then, establish a “kid-free zone” near open flames and heaters to prevent accidents. 

Energy safety: Do not run heating equipment using extension cords or power strips. In addition, plug only one high-power-draw device into an electrical outlet at a time. These guidelines help prevent electrical overloads, which can cause overheating and fires.

Candle safety: Diligently watch lit candles and extinguish them before exiting the room or going to sleep.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms: Keep these accessories inside your home, especially right outside sleeping areas and test them monthly.

Specific Heating Equipment Tips

Here are the top heating system safety guidelines to keep in mind this winter:

Professional setup: Because a faulty setup can increase the risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, you should always leave furnace installation to a professional. You’ll enjoy peace of mind for many years, knowing your equipment is operating the way it is supposed to.

Regular maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by well-qualified professionals can expose hidden issues that might not be recognizable to the untrained eye. These inspections can detect worn-out parts, ventilation issues and potential gas leaks. Regular maintenance also ensures peak efficiency and extends your system’s life span.

Space heaters: Do not allow space heaters to run unattended or while you’re sleeping. Position these devices on a stable, non-flammable surface and keep anything that could catch fire away from the front, back and sides of the equipment.

Fireplaces: Put a metal screen in front of the fireplace to keep sparks from getting out and igniting nearby materials. Put out the flames before leaving your dwelling or nodding off to sleep. Once it has totally cooled, put the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your residence.

Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for Heating Service in Fort Lauderdale

As the winter season intensifies, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to maintain your comfort and security. Our ACE-certified technicians deliver fast, long-lasting solutions for all your heating needs, with services backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not pleased with our work, you can rely on us to make it right. Along with our technical expertise, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is deeply involved in the local communities we serve and remain devoted to innovation and customer engagement. For help ensuring a worry-free winter, call 954-736-4314 today to arrange an appointment with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.