Scioto Home Maintenance Pro Tip: Heating Equipment

For many of us, winter’s chill is an unwelcome visitor. However, we are fortunate to live in when modern heating and cooling equipment can easily moderate the cold winter or extreme heat of summer. But using the furnace or air conditioner can pose a fire risk if they are not properly used or serviced.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home-heating fires occur during the winter months. In fact, heating equipment is involved in most cases. While this is frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable. You can reduce the number of home heating fires by servicing your home heating equipment, and scheduling a tune-up maintenance call. Take these additional simple precautions:

• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• If you have electric baseboards or wall heaters, vacuum out any lint or dust and wipe down the grills.
• Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room. Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.
• Drain trapped air in your radiator.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room and burn only dry, seasoned wood. Allow ashes to cool before disposing of in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from the home.
• Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside of your house to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning.
• Test smoke alarms at least monthly.
• If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.

Heating systems are vital for a comfortable winter season. Help ease the stress from unexpected repairs and do the yearly maintenance, to keep you warm and cozy all winter long.

Download the Scioto Properties Home Heating Maintenance Tips PDF