When temperatures hit rock bottom, home owners try out everything possible to stay warm and at the same time save energy.
From heating systems to fire places and space heaters, these are used to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home. HVAC experts feel that home owners should exercise precaution while heating up their homes during winters so as to ensure the safety of their family. Quite often, we come across cases of home fires in winters. Surprisingly, 36 percent of these fires are heating related.
There are various aspects of HVAC systems that can malfunction and cause a fire. Some irresponsible acts on the part of the residents may also lead to a fire and other health hazards. In order to ensure complete safety of our customers during cold weather, we have compiled a list of some tips to stay warm and safe.
The Heating System
Your heating furnace should be in perfect condition if you want to keep all hazards at bay. It is important that you get a professional HVAC company to conduct a complete inspection of the furnace to see if any repairs are required. Routine maintenance should be done well before the onset of winter.
The Fire Place
Many home fires in the United States are caused by build-up in chimneys and fireplaces. You should get a complete maintenance done to check if the chimneys and fireplaces are in perfect order. In this case too, the maintenance should be carried out well before winter starts. When you start lighting up the fireplace, you should bear some important things in mind. Do not keep any combustible substances close to the fireplace (not even by mistake), and ensure that the fire has been completely extinguished when you go off to bed.
Air Pollution
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause serious and long lasting health problems. A faulty heating system, or overuse of fireplaces and other heating sources can lead to carbon monoxide build-up. You should invest in a carbon monoxide detector to ensure that any build-up is quickly detected and checked. Apart from this, excessively dry inside air during winters can cause several respiratory problems. So, you should ensure that the air in your house is humidified. A whole house humidifier can be a great investment if there are low humidity levels in your house.
Space Heaters
In sub-zero winter temperatures when the heating system of the house does not seem to be sufficient to fight biting cold, people often use space heaters. However, it is important that you purchase space heaters that are approved by underwriting laboratories and have an auto shut-off feature.
Just in case you are suspecting any problems in your heating system, call Engineered Solutions at (314) 394-0802, and get necessary repairs done before it causes damage to health or property.
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