The summer weather isn’t done with us yet. That may make it difficult for you to think about winter safety, but at Carolina Climate Control, we think it’s always wise to keep our clients informed about seasonal safety before the season arrives. You’re going to need to start thinking about your heating system soon, and many of the safety tips we’re about to list have to do with your heater.
Schedule Professional Heater Maintenance
This is the most critical safety step of all because it ensures the safest possible performance for your heating system. It’s especially critical if you use a gas-burning heating system, which the majority of local homes do. Arrange with us for a technician to come to your home and give your heater a thorough inspection and tune-up. The inspection will spot any potential safety concerns so you can have them addressed before the winter and before they can become actually hazardous.
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If your house burns natural gas, propane, or any other heating oil in any capacity, you must have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors installed around your house. CO leaks are a major cause of fatalities in homes during winter, but detectors make it easy for you and your family to receive an early warning of CO leaks.
Check Smoke/CO Detectors & Alarms
Already have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in place? That’s good—but you’ll need to make sure they’re working. Go to each one and test it by pressing its test button. For battery-powered units that aren’t hardwired into the home, you may need to replace the batteries, and in some cases, the detector may need to be replaced.
Clear Heating Vents and Air Registers
Before your heating system comes on for the first time during the season, go through all the rooms and check each heating vent and air register. Remove any obstructions like furniture, rugs, or other obstructions. Blocked vents not only reduce heater efficiency, they may also cause the objects obstructing them to catch fire.
Keep Combustibles Away From the Heater
Please make sure that the area around the heater cabinet is clear of obstructions for about a foot, and see that any combustible materials (such as paint thinner and stored gas) are kept far away. Heat from the cabinet or a stray spark can cause these to ignite.
Never Leave Heating Devices Unattended
If you do use space heaters in your home (something we don’t recommend), never leave them unattended, and always shut them off before you leave a room or go to bed. Your fireplace also counts as a “heating device,” so make sure it’s properly extinguished before you leave the house or go to sleep.
If you need professional heating repair in Charleston, SC, remember to contact our technicians as soon as you notice anything wrong. And please arrange for heating maintenance as soon as you can so you’ll get a convenient spot on the schedule. Stay warm and stay safe this winter!
