Saving money during the winter months just isn’t easy. With the icy cold weather, the furnace is in full operation around the clock and some of us may find ourselves looking to alternative heating methods to save some money on the gas bill. Space heaters, stoves, and fireplaces seem like a good option for the homeowner trying to save money, but in actuality they drastically reduce your comfort and many are inefficient with the energy that they use. At Four Seasons, our biggest concern has nothing to do with comfort or energy efficiency. We are much more worried about your safety because these appliances are not nearly as safe to use as your forced air furnace.
The Problems Caused by Alternative Heating
The fire hazard that appliances like space heaters, fireplaces, and stoves pose is our major concern. When used properly, these appliances can be used safely, but one wrong move and you could cause irreversible damage.
- Space Heaters: Space heaters are often a big source of this problem. They can ignite a fire easily when placed too close to something flammable or left on unattended. They can burn the curious hands of a child. Some space heaters burn gas or kerosene and the gases created by the combustion could give you and your family carbon monoxide poisoning if they are not vented properly.
- Stoves: Cooking stoves should NEVER be used to heat a home. The open flame can easily start a fire and if the flame goes out unattended, gas could leak into the home and cause even more damage.
- Fireplaces: Fireplaces don’t have to be unsafe. However, when homeowners don’t have the chimney properly cleaned, burn improper materials, and don’t have the proper coverings, the fireplace can be a hazard.
There are Other Ways to Save
Your furnace isn’t a perfect system either, but it is much harder to use a furnace improperly than to use one of these alternative heating devises the wrong way. The furnace can generate carbon monoxide when it is not properly cared for or becomes damaged, but if you have the system maintained yearly by Four Seasons, it is much safer to swallow the extra cost and use this system than to resort to the alternative. There are other ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and Four Seasons can show you how. Don’t put your family at risk just to save a few bucks, and call us today!
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Tags: alternative heating, damage, fire hazard, fireplace, forced air, Four Seasons, Furnace, Heating, IL, Joliet, Morris, Plainfield, Safety, saving money, space heater, stove