There’s no doubt that a gas furnace is one of the safest and most efficient ways to heat your southeast Michigan home. However, any time combustible fuel is burned inside the home, certain precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of your family. Follow these gas furnace safety tips to keep your system operating safely and efficiently this heating season.
Schedule a preventive tune-up
Preventive maintenance on your furnace is imperative for safe and efficient operation. A qualified HVAC professional will check the components of your system, including the motor, fan, gas and electrical connections and burner combustion.
Change your filter
Replace your furnace’s air filter every month. A dirty filter impedes the flow of air to your furnace, potentially causing it to overheat. Dust buildup on your fan and heat exchanger due to a dirty filter can cause damage, including cracks that may leak carbon monoxide.
Maintain your detectors
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries twice a year. CO detectors are vitally important to keeping your family safe from potentially deadly carbon monoxide leaks; there should be one on every floor in your home, including one near your main sleeping area. Place them as close to the ceiling as possible and avoid installing them in the kitchen or bathroom, where humidity can interfere with their operation.
Have a plan
- Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include nausea, headache, dizziness and unconsciousness. If you suspect CO poisoning, move to fresh air immediately and call 911.
- Know the location of your gas shutoff valve and keep it accessible in case of an emergency.
- Create an evacuation plan for your family. Stage a drill twice a year to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
- Keep the phone number for the gas company posted on your furnace and call immediately if you smell gas.
For more expert advice on safely operating a gas furnace, or to schedule a preventive tune-up of your HVAC system, please feel free to contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling, serving the Detroit area for over 65 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about gas furnace safety tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.
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