What happens when it is cold outside and you turn that dial, push that button or flip that switch and nothing happens? PANIC?!! What can you do to prevent this? Here are some HVAC safety tips to help.
1. Schedule your preventative maintenance check-up
It is important to me that your comfort needs are met and you have no cause to panic, but rather are secure with the heating or air conditioning system in your home. You can help prevent having a cold home during the winter by having your HVAC system checked out before its too late.
2. Install a carbon monoxide detector
By definition if you have a natural gas furnace in your home, you have a controlled open flame device. It is very important that you have this system checked every year for CO. Even if you do have a CO detector installed, you do not know that CO is leaking into your home until the CO levels are too high. Our technicians have CO detectors in their tools so you can know if your system is leaking CO or not.
3. Check the batteries for smoke and CO detectors
I know this sounds simple but your detectors should be checked every year. Also make sure you test the device after you replace the batteries or not. This will insure that if you do have smoke or CO in your home, you will know about it!
4. Replace your air filter
This is a very important tip because a clogged air filter can cause your heating system to not heat! This can happen because a clogged filter can restrict the air flowing through the system so much that air does not move through the heat exchanger like it should and will cause a safety switch inside the heating cabinet to open. In other words, the unit will try to heat but will shut off because the inside of the heat exchanger gets too hot. So change your filter if it is dirty!
I hope that these tips can help you stay warm and safe for the winter. If you have any tips you would like to add, please comment.