Home Heating Safety: Tips for Cold Weather
Winter has officially arrived in Winnipeg, requiring you to run the heater at its highest setting to keep your home warm. Are you sure your furnace, space heater, fireplace and other heating equipment is safe? While essential for staying warm, heating equipment can pose a danger if not used and maintained correctly. Explore some essential heating system safety guidelines to ensure a comfortable and stress-free winter.
Knowing the Risks
Because households rely heavily on heating systems in the winter, home fires and heating-related accidents increase this time of year. Some common risks include:
Candles and holiday decorations: Winter festivities frequently include decorative lights and candles. Although these items make the long winter nights more cheerful, they can become safety risks if left unattended or set near flammable materials.
Generators: Relying on a generator during an electricity outage is a helpful backup plan. But, improper usage can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and fires. Make sure these appliances are set up outside and far from windows or doors.
Heating appliances: Space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces are among the many threats of home fires during the winter. While designed to operate safely, these devices can become dangerous if they are outdated, malfunctioning or misused.
Poor ventilation: Inadequate ventilation can cause dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, especially from natural gas, propane or oil heaters.
Old wiring: Older homes with obsolete electrical systems may face challenges when trying to meet the demands of modern heating appliances. When operated beyond its capacity, the wiring may overheat, increasing the possibility of electrical fires.
Wrong use of heating devices: Using equipment for unintended purposes, like running the oven to warm up your residence, or draping wet socks over a space heater, can be hazardous.
General Safety Measures
Follow these safety guidelines in the winter and throughout the year to keep your household and family safe:
Gas leaks: If you detect an inexplicable rotten egg smell, it might be a gas leak. For your well-being, act immediately—open windows and doors to ventilate the area, evacuate the area and call your local gas company and fire department.
Burnable items: Make sure to place anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating sources like furnaces, fireplaces and portable space heaters.
Children’s safety: Educate your youngest family members about the risks of matches, candles and heating devices. Then, establish a “kid-free zone” close to open flames and heaters to avoid accidents.
Electrical safety: Do not run heating equipment using extension cords or power strips. Also, plug only one high-power-draw device into an electrical outlet at a time. These strategies help prevent electrical overloads, which can cause overheating and fires.
Candle safety: Diligently watch lit candles and blow them out before exiting the room or going to sleep.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms: Use these products throughout your home, especially right outside sleeping areas and test them every 30 days.
Specific Heating Equipment Tips
Here are several heating system safety tips to follow this winter:
Professional HVAC service: Because a poor setup can increase the risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock, you should always leave furnace installation to a trained service pro. You’ll appreciate peace of mind for many years, knowing your equipment is working the way it ought to.
Routine maintenance: Yearly inspections of your heating equipment and chimneys by skilled professionals can uncover hidden issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye. These appointments can find worn-out parts, ventilation problems and potential gas leaks. Routine maintenance also ensures maximum efficiency and lengthens your system’s life span.
Space heaters: Never allow space heaters to run unattended or while you’re asleep. Position these items on a stable, non-flammable surface and keep anything that could catch fire away from the front, back and sides of the heater.
Fireplaces: Install a metal screen in front of the fireplace to keep sparks from escaping and igniting nearby materials. Blow out the flames before leaving home or sleeping. Once it has totally cooled, put the ashes in a metal container and store them outside a safe distance from your house.
Partner with Winnipeg Supply Service Experts for Heating Service in Winnipeg
As the cold weather gets worse, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts is ready to protect your comfort and security. Our certified technicians offer fast, long-lasting solutions for all your heating needs, with services backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not thrilled with our performance, you can count on us to make it right. Along with our technical expertise, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts is significantly involved in the local communities we serve and remain devoted to innovation and customer engagement. For help ensuring a worry-free winter, call 204-800-0613 today to schedule an appointment with Winnipeg Supply Service Experts.
