A good furnace is indispensable when you live in Grayslake, IL, but home heating isn’t entirely without risks. This winter, follow these essential furnace safety tips to enjoy consistent warmth, comfort, and peace of mind all season long.
Practice Preventive Housekeeping
If your furnace is surrounded by clutter, it could burn more than just gas or oil. To minimize fire risks, clear the area around your heater and keep all flammable materials at least three feet away. Remove any dust that’s settled around your equipment with a vacuum. To prevent poor airflow, periodically check the vents and registers throughout your home and make sure they aren’t blocked by dirt or obstructions. During winter storms, don’t forget to keep snow away from the outdoor vent as well.
Have Your Furnace Professionally Serviced
Keeping up with basic maintenance tasks is a great way to enhance the reliability and efficiency of your furnace. However, scheduling more in-depth professional maintenance before each season is still important. Expert technicians are trained to painstakingly inspect and service your entire system during these tune-ups. This helps them identify potential safety and performance issues before they occur, ensuring safe, effective, trouble-free heating throughout the winter months.
Be Proactive About Furnace Safety
Modern furnaces are among the safest and most dependable home heating solutions when properly installed and maintained. Nonetheless, you should never ignore your heating system when it’s behaving strangely. Contact your HVAC company right away if your furnace is producing loud noises, unpleasant odors, soot stains, or yellow, flickering burner flames. In addition, learn the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and leave your home immediately if you ever suspect a leak. Finally, regularly test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they always have fresh batteries.
These furnace safety tips can help prepare you for the frigid Chicagoland winter, but they’re no substitute for professional service. Call Herchenbach Mechanical Inc. today for all your home heating needs, including expert furnace maintenance, equipment repairs, system upgrades, and more.
Image provided by iStock
