Mom And Daughter Sitting On Couch

3 Safety Tips for Using Your Furnace During the Winter

January 19, 2021

Winter weather has arrived in Raleigh, NC, and you’ll rely on your furnace to keep your home cozy. Furnaces are usually an efficient and safe way to heat your home. Practice these three safety tips when using your furnace during the winter.

Maintain Adequate Clearance

Your furnace needs at least three feet of clearance in all directions. Avoid piling books, papers, boxes, bins or anything combustible near the furnace. The flue also requires adequate clearance. Make sure the furnace flue and vent aren’t blocked by ice or snow. Also, check the vents in each room of your home. Keep furniture, appliances and decor away from the vent openings.

Change the Air Filter

The Department of Energy recommends checking your furnace filter once per month. If it’s dirty, replace it. Avoid using the same filter for more than three months. Operating a furnace with a dirty filter increases the risk of overheating the heat exchanger. An overheated heat exchanger can crack. A cracked heat exchanger may allow poisonous carbon monoxide gas to mix with the air in your home. Once a month, peer through the window of your furnace. If you see dust or debris in the combustion chamber, you’ll need a furnace inspection.

Install and Test a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It’s a waste product of the combustion process. When the furnace burns gas, some carbon monoxide is produced. A problem with the combustion chamber’s seal, heat exchanger, flue or fan could allow this toxic gas to infiltrate your home. Because you can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide, the only way to know if it’s in your home is to use a carbon monoxide detector. Our furnace installation technicians can install one for you. Test the detector monthly.

For more safety tips on using your furnace during the winter, take a look at Cape Fear Air Conditioning, Heating, & Electrical Company, Inc.’s heating installation services, or get in touch with us today.

You May Also Like

Should My Ductless System Be Leaking Water in Anderson Creek, NC?

Should My Ductless System Be Leaking Water in Anderson Creek, NC?

Ductless HVAC systems should not leak water, and when they do, it's almost always because they are in some kind of trouble. To help homeowners in Anderson Creek, NC see their way through this trouble, we'd like to explain why water might drip from ductless...

Why Is My Heat Pump in St Pauls, NC Stuck in Cooling Mode?!

Why Is My Heat Pump in St Pauls, NC Stuck in Cooling Mode?!

Now that winter has hit St Pauls, NC, your heat pump should be in heating mode, keeping your home warm. If, despite the mode it's in, the heat pump sends out only cold air, you'll be in for a season of chills and discomfort. To help you avoid that, let us tell you a...

5 Signs of a Bad Furnace Blower Motor in Benson, NC

5 Signs of a Bad Furnace Blower Motor in Benson, NC

Your Benson, NC furnace can’t get anything done without its blower motor. That’s why you should quickly address any problems that develop with the motor. Here are five signs that you have a bad furnace blower motor. 1. Weak Airflow From the Vents Weak airflow occurs...

Why Choose Us

24/7 Emergency Service

NATE certified technicians

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Pin It on Pinterest

Compliance Settings
Increase Font Size
Grayscale
Simplified Font
Underline Links
Highlight Links
Reset
Close