Home Heating Safety Tips

How to Heat Your Home Safely

With the past few winters see-sawing between unusually mild temperatures and bouts of extreme cold, it’s hard to know whether you’ll be cranking the heat one day and enjoying the outdoors in just a fleece the next. That means you may be running your home heating system, or adding supplemental heat such as from a portable heater or a fireplace depending on the temperatures. Knowing how to heat your home safely can be the difference between life and death—with carbon monoxide poisoning and fire being the main dangers. Here’s how to keep your home and family warm – and safe – this winter.

CO Safety

Carbon monoxide (also known by its chemical formula, “CO”) is an odorless, colorless gas that’s produced whether you’re burning propane, wood, coal, or heating oil. When CO accumulates in enclosed spaces, it can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal.

Preventing buildup of carbon monoxide gas is easy with proper venting and regular maintenance. Here’s how to prevent carbon monoxide from building up in your home:

• Don’t skip your tune-up. Annual maintenance makes sure your equipment is running correctly, and safely. Our expert technicians will spot and fix issues before they pose risks to your family.
• Install CO detectors on every floor of your home. Replace batteries once a year and replace the detector itself every five years.
• Clear your vents. Blocked exhaust vents can cause a dangerous buildup inside your home. Be sure to clear exhaust vents, flues, and other lines from debris and snow after all storms. Using a broom rather than a shovel will prevent damage your equipment.
• Never use outdoor equipment indoors. Barbecue grills, portable generators, and outdoor space heaters are not equipped for indoor use; they don’t have the hardware to safely vent carbon monoxide.

Make sure you know the signs of CO poisoning: Continued exposure leads to severe headaches, drowsiness, and disorientation, followed by unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, and death. Remember that animals can be victims of CO poisoning too. If your pet seems sick or unusually slow to awaken, take him or her outside, open windows, and check your CO detectors.

If you suspect CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Leave the house and call 911. Then, get a professional inspection for your appliances and home heating equipment before using them again.

Fireplace Safety

Many homes in our area have woodburning or propane fireplaces. They add cozy charm—and can add real warmth as well. Still, there are some simple but important safety tips to follow when dealing with fire—or gas—in your home:

• Always use safety screens to prevent sparks and embers from escaping from the hearth. Even if there’s glass between you and the flame, that glass can get hot—up to 500°F!
• Keep newspapers, books, blankets, draperies, and anything flammable or combustible at least 3 feet from the hearth.
• Don’t leave a fire unsupervised, and don’t leave children or pets alone in a room with a fire. Keeping the remote for a gas hearth out of reach when you aren’t using it.
• With a gas hearth, if the flames don’t look normal, or your hearth doesn’t light, turn it off and call for service right away. If you smell rotten eggs, or suspect a leak, leave the house immediately.
• Have an annual inspection and cleaning of your fireplace, chimney and flues or vents. Schedule yearly maintenance for late summer or early fall to ensure you’re ready to go on that first crisp night.

Space Heater Safety

Plenty of homes have rooms that are hard to heat, and a portable space heater is a great way to keep the chill under control. But it’s important to use it safely! Used incorrectly, you risk fire or even explosion, as well as CO poisoning depending on the type of heater you use.

• Choose a heater with an automatic shut-off feature that turns the unit off if it begins to overheat or if it tips over or is on an uneven surface.
• Always check the unit for damage before you use it the first time each season.
• If you use a propane space heater, be sure it’s specified for indoor use. NEVER use an outdoor propane heater for an indoor space.
• Keep heaters at least 3 feet away from drapes and furniture, as well as papers, pillows and bedding, and flammable materials like paint, solvents and matches.
• Don’t leave the heater on if you leave the room. Children and pets can knock it over.
• Don’t use it while you sleep. Use an extra blanket or quilt.

Helping You Stay Warm

Over three generations, the team at Casey Energy is always looking for ways to make sure it’s worth it to be our customer. We go above and beyond to make sure you’re comfortable and help you save money. Our team of trained and certified pros is standing by to perform your home heating system tune-up to make sure your equipment is operating efficiently and safely. And, we can help you replace outdated systems with high-efficiency equipment—helping you save money no matter what winter brings.

Contact us for more information today.