Each year over 20,000 people end up in the ER due to carbon monoxide poisoning. This colorless, odorless gas is referred to as the silent killer because it’s practically undetectable without a carbon monoxide detector.
Carbon monoxide, according to the CDC, is produced by fireplaces, boilers, furnaces, stoves, and gas ranges so it only makes sense that carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter months when people are trying to warm their homes. To help keep your family safe, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here with a few tips to safety keep your home heated.
- Install a CO detector on each floor of your home and change the batteries annually.
- Keep all potential sources of combustion, such as clothing, rugs, or bedding, at least three feet away from fireplaces, furnaces, stoves, or space heaters.
- Before lighting a fire in the fireplace, always check to verify the chimney damper is open and unblocked.
- Do not leave portable heaters or fireplaces neglected. Power off space heaters and confirm all embers in the fireplace are completely extinguished before leaving either heating source unattended.
- Space heaters should always be positioned on the floor, and on a hard, fire-resistant surface, like porcelain tile. Keep kids and pets away from space heaters.
- When purchasing a new space heater, buy a model that powers off automatically if the heater falls over.
- Don’t use a oven to increase the temperature in your home.
- Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and gas or oil furnaces professionally checked and cleaned every year.
The best thing you can do for your furnace is to make sure it’s not only ready to keep your home warm all winter but also safe, is to schedule your furnace tune-up. During your furnace tune-up, Service Experts will check to be sure your heating equipment is operating safely with a full multi-point inspection and cleaning. Call 318-588-8163 today and find out how you can save on a furnace tune-up through November 25th.