Safety Tips For Heating Systems

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Safety Tips For Heating Systems

Safety Tips For Heating Systems

27 May 2019
 Categories:
, Blog


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. 

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what services can an HVAC technician do for you

What can your HVAC technician do for you? Some HVAC contractors perform tasks beyond the heating and cooling system work that they do for you. In fact, my HVAC technician does plumbing and even some electrical work in my home. I had no idea that the company offered this type of service until he made a few suggestions about improving the plumbing system in my home as he inspected my HVAC system to get it ready for winter. Find out what your HVAC contractor can do for your home here on my blog. When you've reached the end, you will know very well what you can ask of your technician and avoid contacting a second contractor.

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