Furnaces keep our homes warm and comfortable, even during the coldest weather. However, if you don’t maintain your furnace properly or use it safely, it can become hazardous. 

No matter what type of furnace you have, you can prepare it for use if you follow a few safety measures. The measures help prevent furnace fires, high energy bills, and constant repairs.

The following are easy furnace safety tips to keep your home safe.

1. Keep Flammables Away

Your furnace room may serve multiple purposes, so keep it as organized as possible. Don’t place items close to the furnace or use the top as a shelf. 

The minimum clear space around a furnace should be about three feet. Keeping the area around your furnace open and free will reduce your chances of starting a house fire, especially with flammable materials.

2. Clean Your Furnace

Over time, lint and dust can accumulate around your furnace. Unless you clean the furnace regularly, dirt will accumulate.

You can prevent dust build-up if you clean around and inside your furnace. Eliminating dust will prevent fires and relieve allergies. 

If you would like more information about how to clean your furnace you can refer to the furnace’s maintenance instructions. Alternatively, you can contact a heating company for more details.

3. Replace Air Filter Regularly

Your furnace filter captures dust particles and debris, which allows you to breathe clean air in your home. Filters that are dirty or old reduce the quality of air in your home. A dirty filter also makes the furnace work harder, which increases energy consumption. 

Make sure you change your furnace’s filter every three months to avoid breathing in dust particles. If you use your furnace frequently, have pets, or suffer from allergies, you may need to change your filters more often.

4. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The combustion of fuel produces carbon monoxide, which is toxic to inhale. A properly working furnace channels carbon monoxide and other fumes outside where they can’t harm you. Even so, carbon monoxide leaks may still occur as a result of furnace malfunctions.

A person cannot detect carbon monoxide by scent or taste, as it has no odor. You should therefore install carbon monoxide detectors. The carbon monoxide detector will alert you of a leak, which will allow you to take appropriate action. You can place the device in the same room as the furnace for early warning. 

Check your carbon monoxide detectors before the winter season to ensure they work properly.

5. Check Smoke Alarms

Furnace fires are one of the leading causes of home fires. Hence, smoke detectors are an important component of protecting your family from potential danger.

You should check and test all smoke detectors every month to ensure they work properly. For further precaution, replace the smoke detector’s batteries annually.

6. Get Regular Maintenance

Once a year, get your furnace serviced by a professional to keep it in tip-top shape and your home safe. You should schedule the service just before winter or anytime you intend to start using the furnace. 

Proactive furnace maintenance is more cost-effective than reactive maintenance. When a furnace breaks down, a repair or replacement can be costly. Furthermore, annual furnace maintenance helps you save money because it ensures your heating runs as efficiently as possible. 

In maintenance, the technician cleans, lubricates, and tightens up the furnace. As part of the furnace maintenance, the expert will also check for any operational problems and fix them if necessary.

You only need one gas furnace incident in the past to change your thinking about furnace safety. Furnaces pose grave risks, so it’s always a good idea to be safe. Therefore, if you have any concerns about your home heating system, you should consult a professional.

To learn more or to book an appointment with an expert technician from IMS Heating & Air Inc., call us today.