Fire Safety : Heater Tips
These fire safety tips will provide your family with valuable life saving information
Heater Tips
Furnace Tips
- Have your furnace inspected once a year by a qualified heating contractor.
- If your furnace isn't providing heat, check to see if the circuit breaker is on. Replace any worn fuses. If a fuse blows
after replacement, call a licensed electrician. You could have a short in the wiring.
Important maintenance checks:
- Check for rust and corrosion on the vent pipe connected to the chimney. Make sure it's secure at both ends. Also,
make sure the chimney and vent pipe are free of obstructions, such as leaves or nests.
- To test for blocked vents or chimneys, turn on your furnace for 10 minutes. Hold your hand under the vent hood (see
your owner's manual). If hot air comes out, it could be a sign of blockage.
- Replace vents and flue pipes that have weak spots, rust or cracks. Even small openings can allow dangerous levels of
carbon monoxide to collect in your home.
- Check the filter once a month. A dirty filter blocks the flow of warm air and wastes energy.
- Replace worn belts. Lubricate the blower, fan bearings and pumps unless the model you have doesn't require
lubrication - be sure to check your manual.
- Remove lint, dust and debris from air ducts and registers.
- Make sure the furnace door is closed when the furnace is operating.
Space Heater Tips
- Never use fuel burning appliances without proper ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, for example) produces deadly fumes.
- Be sure your space heater is in good working condition. All space heaters need frequent checkups and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard.
- Use only the proper fuel for each heater. Never introduce a fuel into a heating unit not designed for that unit.
- Store kerosene, gasoline or other flammable liquids outside the home at all times.
- Maintain adequate clearance in all directions around space heaters. Give the heater adequate clearance - 3 feet is the
minimum - from walls and combustibles, such as clothes, curtains, beds or other furniture.
- Never leave children unsupervised in a room with a space heater.
- Keep young children away from space heaters, particularly when they are wearing nightgowns which can be drawn
into the heater by a draft and ignited.
- If you use an electric heater, be sure your house wiring is adequate. Avoid overloading the circuit. Avoid using
extension cords. Use an approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker.
- Avoid using electric space heaters in the bathroom. Never touch an electric heater when you are wet.
- When refueling a kerosene heater, avoid overfilling it. If cold kerosene is used, it will expand as it warms up inside
your home and may cause burner flooding. This could cause flare ups.
- Never fill your kerosene heater while it is burning.
- Turn off your heater or turn it on low before going to bed.
- Use only UL listed equipment.
Water Heater Tips
- Set the temperature on your water heater at 120 degrees or lower. Water that's too hot can cause severe burns.
- Don't use or store flammable paints, chemicals, gasoline and aerosol sprays near your water heater. The vapors could
ignite and cause a fire.When installing a water heater wrap, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Cut out access to the controls, thermostat, drain and pilot light.
- Make sure the water heater wrap doesn't block air supply areas, including the bottom of the heater and vent
connections.