Safety Tips For Heating Systems
Heating systems are necessary during the cold seasons, but these systems are also dangerous if you don't take care of them or use them properly. The following are a few measures to ensure your heating system is not a danger to your household.
Maintain the System
Every heating system requires regular maintenance for efficiency and safety. The exact maintenance services depend on the system, but cleaning, lubricating moving parts, and ensuring all electrical connections are intact are generally universal requirements. For example, running a dirty furnace increases the risk of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. Therefore, whichever system you are using, make sure you service it regularly.
Avoid Improvisation
Improvisation may be useful in other areas of life, but not when it comes to heating. Ensure you only use purpose-made heating systems in your home. For example, don't be tempted to use an oven as a source of heat. If you do that, something may fall into the oven (and trigger a fire outbreak), a child or pet may touch the oven, and CO might accumulate in your house.
Don't Leave Open Flames Unattended
Heat sources that don't rely on open flames are relatively safer compared to those that involve open flames. If you have to use an open flame, say a wood fire, make sure you don't leave it unattended even for a minute. Embers may jump out of the fire, a child or pet may fall into the fire, or an inflammable substance near the fire may ignite. When you attend your open flames all the time, you can extinguish such dangers before they become disastrous.
Sweep the Chimney Regularly
If you have a chimney, make sure you clean it regularly to rid it of creosote buildup. Creosote is a byproduct of wood combustion that is mostly tar. The more you use your chimney, the more creosote builds up in it. Inadequate ventilation increases the rate of creosote formation. Unfortunately, the substance is highly flammable and can trigger serious fires. The best way to avoid the danger is to sweep the chimney regularly to get rid of the creosote deposits.
Install Smoke and CO Alarms
Despite your best efforts, you cannot be entirely sure that nothing will go wrong with your heating systems. Since the main dangers of heating systems have to do with CO exposure and fire outbreaks, sensors that can detect the two dangers can enhance your safety a great deal. A smoke detector will alert you to a fire outbreak, and a CO detector will alert you if the CO accumulates beyond a dangerous point. Check out emergency heating repair if you need more information.