Top Safety Tips For Heating Your Home
By using certain devices and technologies, you can heat your home safely and efficiently throughout the winter. The most popular heating tools are space heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, radiators, and boilers.
Safety Advice for Heaters
Traditional space heaters cause nearly 20,000 fires each year in the United States. Most fires ignite because homeowners keep flammable objects close to the heating element. If you’re interested in buying a space heater, you can prevent a house fire by keeping your furniture three feet away from the heat source. You shouldn’t use an extension cord to accomplish this task because the light-duty rubber material won’t distribute the unit’s wattage safely. If you’d like to purchase a kerosene space heater instead, ensure that the unit has been tested. You can gather this information by checking various online resources. Any devices that haven’t been inspected by independent sources are risky because they may have poor components, which could cause a house fire.
Safety Advice for Fireplaces and Stoves
A fireplace isn’t an ideal heating device for a large space because it won’t distribute the heat evenly throughout the environment. You should only install a fireplace if you need a focal point in a compact space. To use a fireplace safely, you must have it cleaned and inspected annually. Throughout the winter, you’ll have to implement other procedures to prevent accidental fire damage after you use your fireplace. Although the fire may seem like it’s totally extinguished, some of the embers may still be burning below the ash. This is why you must put all of the ashes inside of a metal bin to increase safety.
Safety Guide for Furnaces
Furnaces heat homes by blasting warm air into various spaces through a ventilation system. The problem is that a typical furnace loses efficiency over time. However, there are easy ways to keep a furnace in optimum condition. For example, if you have a big home, you should upgrade key components within the system annually. Throughout the winter, you must inspect your furnace regularly if a technician recently performed any minor or excessive repairs. Begin the inspection process by carefully examining the interior components; the surfaces shouldn’t be rusted, frayed, or cracked. Next, check the color of the flame because it can help you detect operational problems. The flickering flame should be blue; if the flame is yellow, a repair technician must readjust the burner.
Safety Advice for a Radiator
Because a radiator generates intense heat, you should rearrange your furniture strategically so that the fabrics and materials won’t absorb a lot of heat. If kids spend time in your home, you may want to buy a radiator cover to prevent accidental burns. Finally, ensure that the insulation that surrounds the pipe near the radiator is in great condition. A technician must install new insulation if it’s unraveling or severely damaged.
Safety Advice for Boiler
While in use, water shouldn’t leak around the boiler. When this happens, the system has a pressure problem. To solve this problem, you’ll have to hire a plumber who specializes in boiler repairs.
