It’s that time of year again: the time when the weather gets impossible to predict; when it’s sunny one day and it’s snowing the next day. These abrupt temperature changes, often called “cold snaps,” can actually be pretty dangerous for homeowners because they haven’t used their heating systems in a while, and they’ll turn the systems on full-blast when cold weather suddenly hits. The problem, though, is that heating and air units are more likely to overheat and/or malfunction, causing house fires, after being dormant for a long time.
So in order to make sure that your house isn’t one of the thousands of homes affected by fires during the fall-winter transitional season, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:
- It shouldn’t come as any surprise that wood-burning stoves and furnaces are more likely to cause fires, due to small sparks. If you choose to use one of these heating sources, make sure to have protective screens in place, and keep any flammable items (such as plants) at least three feet away.
- Space heaters can be very convenient for augmenting unreliable heating and air units by heating individual rooms, rather than a whole house. But, it’s important to remember that they can be dangerous if not monitored. Space heaters that run on gas, for example, should never be used in enclosed spaces, because the gas will emit toxic carbon monoxide fumes. Space heaters that are safe for indoor use can easily overheat, so it’s best if they’re plugged directly into wall sockets and they shouldn’t be left running when no one is around.
- And most importantly, make sure that your house has both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms that are in working order — the best way to ensure this is simply to change the batteries, and to make sure that the alarms are placed on every level of your house. This is especially important if you use alternative heating methods, like wood-burning stoves.
If you want to be extra-safe, it’s always a good idea to contact one of your local HVAC repair services and ask for an in-house maintenance service. They can handle everything from cleaning ducts to replacing entire heating and air units — and a heating and air conditioning system that works properly is one of the best ways to ensure a safer home environment overall. Visit here for more information: www.allseasonscomfortcontrol.com
