Winter Heating Safety Pointers for the House

Here are some pointers from Heating Repair Olive Branch MS to remember as you heat your house.
Safety is essential when making use of any type of heating tool.
Heating equipment is the most significant source of fires from December through January, and the 3rd
leading reason of fire deaths in American homes. he heating equipment itself is normally not the
concern! rather human error is in"ol"ed in nearly all house heating fires in the #.S.
$orrect setup, maintenance, fueling and operation of portable and space heaters, along with safely
organi%ing household items around them, greatly decreases your risk of house heating fires. $ommon
errors that too frequently turn deadly include failing to clean chimneys! putting portable or other space
heaters too near to furnishings, bed linen, or clothing! and improper fueling and "enting of fueled
heating equipment.
Tips for Southaven and Olive Branch Alternative Home Heating
Kerosene Heaters
&f you are considering getting a portable kerosene heating system, make certain to check with your
local building di"ision first to find out if it is legal in your area. 'e"er e"er utili%e fuel or other
replacement fuel in a portable kerosene heating unit, the wrong fuel could burn hotter than the
equipment(s design limits and trigger a ma)or fire. #se the appropriate grade of the correct fuel for your
liquid*fueled space heater. 'e"er utili%e gasoline in any heating unit not authori%ed for fuel use. +nly
refuel cooled de"ices in a well "entilated location.
ireplaces and Wood Stoves
&f your home has a fireplace or wood sto"e, the chimney must be e,amined by an e,pert for proper
installation, fractures, blockages, leaks, or creosote de"elopment prior to the start of e"ery heating
season. $reosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, de"elops in chimneys and could
trigger a chimney fire if not gotten rid of with cleaning. -ith this in mind, ha"e actually the chimney
cleaned if needed and always make sure to open the flue for sufficient air flow when utili%ing the
fireplace.
&n your fireplace or wood sto"e, make use of only dry, seasoned wood to stay clear of the accumulation
of creosote. 'e"er burn paper or pine branches, due to the fact that there embers can drift out the
chimney and ignite your roofing or a neighboring house. #se only paper or kindling wood, not a
combustible liquid, to begin the fire. See to it your fireplace has a strong screen to pre"ent sparks from
flying into the space. Allow fireplace and wood sto"e ashes to cool entirely prior to disposing of them
in a metal container far from your residence.
.ake certain that your wood or coal sto"e bears the tag of an acknowledged screening lab and meets
neighborhood fire codes. /ollow the producer(s suggestions for appropriate installation, use, and
maintenance. $himney connections and chimney flues need to be inspected at the beginning of each
heating period and cleaned periodically. /ollow the same safety guidelines for wood sto"es as you
would for space heaters. 0e sure the wood sto"e is put on an appro"ed sto"e board to secure the
flooring from heat and hot coals. 1et in touch with your regional fire department and neighborhood
code authorities before ha"ing your wood sto"e set up.
-ith fireplaces, safeguard your house from sparks by using a fire screen made from strong metal or
heat*tempered glass. .ake certain that dampers are in working order and ne"er lea"e fires ignored,
especially in a location used by children or pets.
Space Heaters
2eep e,plosi"e materials away from portable and space heaters. 3ut all space heaters a minimum of
three feet away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything else that burns. urn off space heaters when
you lea"e house or go to sleep.
3lace the heating system on a le"el surface away from areas where somebody may bump it and knock it
o"er. Do not utili%e an e,tension cord. 3lug your electric*powered space heater into an outlet with
adequate capacity. 4"aluate cords for fractures or "arious other damage and ha"e an electrician change
frayed, split, or damaged cords. &f the cord o"erheats while the unit is in use, ha"e the heating unit
e,amined and ser"iced.
2eep electric heating systems away from water and ne"er use them near a sink or in the bathroom.
-hen purchasing a heating unit, seek one that has been tested and identified by a nationally recogni%ed
testing company, like the #nderwriter(s 5aboratories &nc. 6#57.
!ents and "himneys
All fuel heaters need to be "ented to pre"ent ha%ardous carbon mono,ide accumulation in your house.
$reosote and carbon deposits, triggered by inefficient combustion in fireplaces and wood sto"es, could
coat chimney flues and pose a fire threat. #ncommonly high concentrations of chimney deposits might
indicate your fireplace or wood sto"e is not burning efficiently and need to be e,amined for safety.
hink about setting up a spark arrester on top of any chimney that "ents a solid*fuel sto"e or fireplace
as well.
Heating Repair Southaven MS#s final tip is to make sure you ha"e a carbon mono,ide detector in the
house in addition to running smoke alarms located on all floors. $arbon mono,ide gas is a colorless,
odorless, possibly lethal gas produced by fuel burning de"ices, such as furnaces or kerosene heaters.
Source8
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