As cold weather rolls around, it’s more important than ever to make sure your heating is secure. Keeping your heating secure means that you don’t have to worry about your system suddenly failing or causing a safety issue. In order to keep your furnace secure this year, you have to schedule regular maintenance and ensure that all proper safety precautions have been put in place.
To schedule regular maintenance with a reliable HVAC company in Desoto, Texas, call Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating at 469-557-2703.
Continue reading for information on why you should schedule regular maintenance and how to implement safety precautions.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
When you schedule regular maintenance for your heating system, you are ensuring that it can keep up with your heating needs. If you don’t get maintenance for your furnace, you may wake up one morning to a lack of heat.
Scheduling regular maintenance can provide you many benefits such as a longer lasting system and a reduced risk of unexpected damage. Not to mention that maintenance substantially increases the efficiency of a system and lowers monthly energy costs.
It is highly recommended that you schedule maintenance at least twice a year. The best times of year to do this are in the spring and fall. These times of year are less busy for HVAC technicians and may result in lower prices.
Implement Safety Precautions
Just as important as it is to schedule maintenance, it is equally important to implement proper safety precautions. This includes installing carbon monoxide detectors and checking for electrical issues. While furnaces and heating systems are not inherently dangerous, they can become so if they are not taken care of.
The heat generated from the system, the fuel type that is used and the fumes from the output can all create safety issues. Be sure to always follow safety guidelines when using or fixing your furnace. Take a look at some safety precautions you should implement to secure your system:
Fire Safety
Because furnaces and heating systems generate so much heat, they can spark a fire if not properly monitored. The first thing that you should do to avoid a fire is to keep objects and debris at least two feet away from furnaces. Flammable objects should be at least three feet away from furnaces. Here are some more furnace fire safety tips:
- Test smoke alarms every 30 days.
- Replace smoke detectors every 10 years, preferably with a hardwired smoke detector.
- If you have a fireplace and chimney, get it inspected once a year. Purchase a glass screen for your fireplace and only remove ashes once completely cooled. Be sure to properly discard the ashes far away from your home.
- Turn off portable space heaters and blow out candles before going to bed. Use heated blankets carefully.
- Don’t plug any heating appliances (heated blankets, portable heaters, etc.) into extension cords, only grounded outlets.
- Inspect electrical heating appliances for damage before plugging them in. Frayed or exposed wires are a sign that the appliance needs to be replaced.
- If you celebrate the holidays with a live tree, be sure to water it everyday and keep it far from your fireplace.
Following these simple guidelines can help you prevent an unwanted disaster.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Most gas furnaces have a part called a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is responsible for transferring heat from one spot to another. The metal of the heat exchanger is constantly contracting and expanding as it heats and cools. This can lead to cracks in the part. A cracked heat exchanger is incredibly dangerous because it can leak carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide has no taste or smell, making it very hard to identify once it begins leaking. Breathing in carbon monoxide can lead to headaches, nausea and even death. Be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector inside your home with one on every level. You should also install a detector directly above or next to your furnace. This way you can be notified before the carbon monoxide even makes it into your home.
Hot Water Leakage Safety
Hydronic furnaces often develop water leaks in the piping if not used for a very long time. You should call an HVAC technician as soon as possible if you start to notice puddles around your furnace. A furnace leak can become dangerous, causing structural damage as well as severe burns on the body.
Radiators should also be properly taken care of. The best thing that you can do to make your radiator more safe is to install insulation on the body and valve. This will ensure that anyone who touches these parts does not get burned.
Electrical Safety
If you have an electric heating system, always leave repairs to a professional technician. The only electrical part you should be touching is the breaker switch. Other than this, if you believe your system has an electrical problem you need to leave it alone to prevent shocks and other damage. If you attempt to repair your furnace, turn the power completely off first to safely work on the system.
Gas Leaks
Most furnaces run on natural gas. While most homeowners go their whole lives without having any issues, others may experience gas leaks. Gas companies add the smell of sulfur to the gas so that homeowners know when there is a leak.
If you smell this, you need to call 911 and leave your home immediately. If possible, try to open as many doors and windows as you can. The dispatcher will have the fire department turn off your gas and send a fire truck to your home.
If severe, a gas leak can be ignited with just a light switch. Gas leaks can also come from stovetops, so be sure to double check that your stove is completely off before using it. Once the threat of gas has dissipated, be sure to call for heating repair.
Heating Repair Desoto, TX
For exemplary heating repair in Desoto, Texas, you need Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating. Our highly trained team is ready to take on any challenge from cracked heat exchangers to furnace water leaks. We provide maintenance, installations, repairs and replacements for all kinds of heating, cooling and plumbing systems.
To schedule an appointment with our team, give us a call at 469-557-2703 or contact us online.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.