It’s that time of year again. The weather is changing and the temperature is dropping with the upcoming winter months. Staying warm – and safe – during the winter months is easily obtainable and practicing indoor heating device safety is the best way to keep you and your family protected all winter long while staying cozy at the same time.
Read on to learn more about services and procedures that can help with weatherizing your home.
Use A Programmable Thermostat For Optimum Efficiency
You may run the risk of succumbing to frozen pipes. Frozen pipes that burst can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Leaving your heat on even when you are not at home will keep the temperature from dropping too low in your home, lowering the chances that your pipes may freeze. If you opt to leave the heat off all day, the temperature can drop so low that when you do get home and turn your heat on, your heater could take a longer amount of time to reach your desired comfort zone, costing you more in the long run.
Portable Space Heaters
Built-in utilities already installed in your home can be expensive when it comes to heating your home. This causes people to use other resources in order to warm their home, such as portable space heaters. Space heaters are a good way to keep your home warm, especially if you want to limit the heat to specific rooms in your home. A correlation to the increasing use of space heaters is the increasing number of fires in private homes throughout the months of December through February. There are steps you can take in order to get the most out of all your heating devices this winter and ensure safety is first and foremost. Some things to keep in mind when using space heaters are:
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Avoid putting the heater in high traffic areas where it will be easy to get knocked over
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Make sure you have a model that comes with a turn off feature when the unit is knocked over or not on a level plane
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Make sure your heater is kept away from flammable items, such as curtains, bedding, etc.
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Avoid rooms where the space heater can come in contact with water, such as bathrooms
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Always be sure to turn off the heater when you leave the home, and even consider turning it off when you go to bed in case the unit malfunctions in any way
Kerosene Heaters
This is a great way to warm your home, but there are more factors to take into consideration when it comes to kerosene heat fireplace safety. You can only use certain kerosene that is manufactured for your specific unit and you have to constantly check for carbon build up within the exhaust components. Your unit must also only be used in areas that are properly ventilated so that you eliminate exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fireplaces
This is by far the most glamorous of all winter heating options. There is nothing better than throwing another log onto the fire to keep your home warm and it has a certain appeal to it. But, fireplace safety is extremely important so that you keep the flames where they need to be and out of a danger zone. Some helpful tips for your fireplace are:
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Always use a screen in order to prevent any stray sparks that might jump out and ignite something close by.
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Never use charcoal in your fireplace, as this can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Only burn wood or appropriate synthetic logs to heat your home.
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Be sure to remove any flammable items form the mantle or nearby before lighting the actual fire.
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Before you go to sleep or leave the home, make sure all flames are extinguished completely and never leave a fire unattended.
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Schedule an annual cleaning that is done by a professional chimney sweep in order to remove any soot that has accumulated.
Weather-strip Your Home
Something as simple as your feet feeling cold can be a sign that your home is not weatherized properly. You will most commonly feel drafts along the floor and can easily remedy this by weather-stripping, caulking, and sealing any cracks you can find. Adding rugs to marble, tile or hardwood floors and making sure your heating vents aren’t blocked by beds, furniture, or any other objects will help to keep a steady flow of warmth throughout those cold wintry nights. Of course, you could always just wear socks or slippers if your feet are still cold.
Heat device safety is one of the most important tools you can use when it comes time to decide what works best for warming your home. If you are looking for a qualified professional for help with any of you heating needs, contact Snyder Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electric.
