| 5 ways to Avoid Home Heating Fires |
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Have a professional check your furnace before you turn it on. Keeping it properly cleaned and maintained will ensure it’s running safely and giving you the best efficiency for your dollar. |
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Turn on your furnace on a warm day. The first time you turn on the furnace this winter, open the windows. Whether it’s gas or electric, the heating element may have collected dust or dirt that produces a non-harmful smell or haze. However, if the smoke turns black or the furnace starts to rumble, leave immediately and call 911. |
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Clean your chimney. Cozy up to the fireplace this year, but only after opening the flue and checking for obstructions which can cause carbon monoxide to back into your home. Also, hire a chimney sweep to check for creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns. Creosote buildup can cause a fire in connectors or chimney flues. |
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Use electric heaters sparingly. Space heaters aren’t designed
to run for hours on end. Use them for limited amounts of time, and always turn them off when you sleep or leave the room. View space heaters as short-term solutions only if it seems you’ll need one all season, call an electrician or furnace expert to explore other options. Move furniture, bedding and clothing – anything that could catch fire – at least three (3) feet away from the heater. Don’t leave kids and pets unattended near a space heater. Do
put a unit that has the mark of an independent testing lab – CSA or ULC, for example – and automatic shutoff feature. |
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Store propane cylinders outside. Handle all propane-powered equipment carefully, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. if you smell a strong gas odour, call 911 from outside the house.
Source: National Fire Prevention Association. |
