Heating safety during the winter months is crucial. When it gets cold outside it is only natural for people to want to heat up their homes. That is typically done through the use of furnaces, space heaters, and other heating sources. According to the American Red Cross, they respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year, yet people fail to realize that a large percentage of those that are home fires.
They further inform readers that “heating sources are the second leading cause of home fire deaths, and fatal home fires increase during the winter months.” Not only do these fires result in deaths, but also thousands of injuries and millions of dollars in property damage.
According to an expert in Your Home article, there are several common mistakes that people make when it comes to heating their home:
Neglecting Annual Furnace Maintenance. Many people forget or simply do not schedule their annual furnace tuneup appointment. These appointments are necessary because it allows your furnace to run cleanly and reliably. It also gives technicians the chance to correct minor glitches before they turn into more severe issues.
Using space heaters instead of central heat. The purpose of space heaters is to create additional heat in areas where you feel is necessary-not to get rid of central heat altogether. Central heat is less expensive and much safer anyway.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms. It is often believed that