Furnace Safety Tips for Your Home

When is the last time you thought about your home from a safety aspect? When it comes to safety in your home your HVAC system often gets overlooked as a potential issue. The furnace itself can cause a few hazards to you and your home. Here are some common issues that can be caused by furnaces and safety tips to go with for a safer home. One of these hazards furnaces can cause is a fire. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,600 reported U.S. home structure fires in 2011. Not only can a furnace fire destroy your home, it has the potential to cause loss of life. You should make sure you keep the area around your furnace clear of anything that can catch fire. The furnace needs space to breathe and operate so placing objects close by that can burn is a major hazard. The same goes with space heaters, you need to keep the space around them clear and never cover them. The furnace igniting objects too close to it was the leading cause of furnace fires. If you have any strange odors or gas smells coming out of the furnace shut it off right away and call a professional. Gas leaks can cause fires and other health related issues so that is something that should be taken care of right away. Every floor of your home needs to have at least one carbon monoxide and one smoke detector. Test the detectors every month and keep extra batteries for it on hand. Make sure to keep all aerosol cans and any other combustible items away from the furnace as this is a fire hazard. Never spray around a furnace because it can cause a fire. You should have your furnace maintained each year by a professional like the ones at Bartlett Heating and Air. This will make sure it is properly cleaned and looked over for any issues that it may have so you can address them right away. It will also check to make sure you don’t have a cracked heat exchanger that can leak carbon monoxide. You should be changing your filters each month to make sure the furnace doesn’t get clogged and overheat. It is a simple process that takes no time at all and helps your furnace function so much better. They will also make sure that your furnace is ventilated properly. Improperly vented HVAC systems can cause issues with pressure and your flue. All furnace repairs should be handled by a professional like the ones at Bartlett Heating and Air. Furnace repair can be very dangerous if it is not handled by a trained professional. Make sure your front furnace door is in place and secure before turning your furnace on. You risk carbon monoxide poisoning if you run it with the door off. Never close off more than 20% of your registers because this can cause excess pressure build up for your furnace. These are all simple things you can do to make sure you and your family are safe during furnace season. If you have not yet gotten your furnace cleaned and checked call Bartlett Heating and Air today!