Home Heating Safety

Your natural gas heating system is designed to give you many years of service at low operating costs. A simple maintenance program and proper use will ensure the safety and efficiency of your heating system.

Furnaces and vents should be checked and serviced once each year.

Make sure your furnace gets sufficient air for proper operation. The best way is to install a ventilation air and combustion air ducts into the furnace room. It’s normal to feel a cool draft coming into your furnace room through a combustion air vent. Do not plug this vent with rags or other materials as it could result in improper combustion that may lead to the production of carbon monoxide.

Don’t run the furnace with the fan compartment door removed.

Check your furnace filter once a month and change or clean when dirty, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Dirty filters reduce airflow and force your home’s heating system to work harder.

When checking filters, examine the vent structure for corrosion or obstruction problems.

If your gas burners produce a yellow flame, a qualified technician should make an adjustment. A properly adjusted furnace will have a blue flame. Orange or red streaks in the flame are normal.

Chimneys should be checked annually. Inspect brick chimneys to ensure they are free from blockage. Metal chimneys should be checked by removing the bottom inspection plates and checking for blockage.

The area around your furnace should be kept clear of combustible material such as paper, cardboard or paint cans.

Only do the maintenance you are comfortable with. If you are unsure how to clean filters and humidifiers or change fan belts, call a professional heating contractor to do it for you.

Know the danger signals of CO exposure and what to do. Remember, the first line of defense against CO is an annual inspection of all your fuel-burning appliances. The second line of defense is a properly installed CO detector.

Alternative Heating Sources

When heating your home with any approved fuel-burning appliance, you need adequate ventilation for safe operation. Have a convenient fresh air supply – such as a nearby open window – to assist with complete combustion and to protect yourself from carbon monoxide.

Many wood-burning fireplaces are not designed to heat your home, and some fireplaces draw more heat from a home than they contribute. It is unsafe to have a full roaring fire burning for extended periods of time.

Some electric and kerosene space heaters are rated for indoor use. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and store your fuel outside. Never heat your home with a gas range, oven, clothes dryer or any unvented space heater. As well, a charcoal barbecue grill, portable gas grill, camping heater or ordinary kerosene heater should not be used inside a home, trailer, garage or any enclosed area.

Learn more about how your home works as a system when it comes to natural gas.  Click here for our brochure  A Balancing Act.

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