With the recent fire related tragedies that have occurred in Chicago, we felt that now was a good time to remind the residents of this great city about fire prevention when using their heating systems. Space heaters, stoves, fireplaces, and central heating systems all have the potential to cause house fires, and these heating systems have consistently ranked among the top causes of house fires. However, heating fires are not something that you ever have to experience in your home!
Frugal Heating this Winter
Every winter, thousands of homes rely on systems other than the central furnace or boiler to heat their homes, and unfortunately, many do so without taking the necessary precautions. When using a fireplace, space heater, or stove, you should keep these tips in mind:
- Fireplace: Using the fireplace to heat the home won’t necessarily save you money when compared to using the furnace or boiler. But if you are going to use the fireplace at all, do not use to get the fire going, don’t leave the fire unattended, and always close the fire screen when the fire is lit. Also, if you have a wood burning fireplace, never burn garbage, newspaper, or plastic in the fireplace.
- Space Heater: Here at Four Seasons, we have given homeowners a lot of advice about space heaters, but here is a tip you may not have considered. Never run a space heater 24/7! Many homeowners rely on several space heaters to heat the home during the winter, and these units will run all of the time. This could cause the system to malfunction and cause a fire while the family is sleeping or not closely attending to the heater.
- Stove: Using a pellet stove that is designed for heating is a good way to stay warm and save money. Inspect the flue regularly to make sure that the stove is venting properly. Using a cooking stove or oven for heating is NEVER a good idea. The threat of carbon monoxide poisoning alone should scare you away from using the oven for heating.
The safest way to heat your home is to use the furnace or boiler, but any heating system is dangerous to use if not properly maintained by the professionals at Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning. You need to have your heating systems inspected annually to make sure that everything is running as it should be. Have a safe, happy, and fire-free New Year!
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Tags: Boiler, Bridgeview, Chicago, fire prevention, fireplace, Four Seasons, Furnace, heating systems, house fires, IL, maintenance, Oak Park, space heater, stove