Heater Safety During the Holidays

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, December 16, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Good Deals Heating & Cooling, a family-owned HVAC specialist company, wants families to stay safe this winter when heating the home by providing safety tips.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 48% of all U.S. home heating equipment fires happen in winter. The NFPA also noted home heating equipment is the third-leading cause of fire deaths and second-leading cause of fire injuries.

This season Good Deals Heating & Cooling want Philadelphia locals to stay safe by having their heating equipment cleaned and inspected by a professional. An HVAC inspection will reveal problems that could cause safety hazards such as fires, and they will reveal maintenance needed to avoid a breakdown in winter.

Fireplaces should also be inspected and cleaned. Without a cleaning, creosote (a black tar substance) builds up not allowing toxic gasses such as carbon monoxide to escape, thus poisoning the household. Creosote can also catch fire and create a chimney fire.

Place a non-flammable screen in front of fireplaces while they're lit. As wood burns, the combination of expanding gas and cellulose breaking down causes pockets of steam to burst. This is responsible for the crackling sound and embers flying out of the fireplace. They seem small, but they can burn up to 900°F. A metal screen will stop embers from flying into the room and setting floors, carpets, and other flammable objects on fire.

Keep flammable objects away from heating equipment. Objects such as comforters (and other bedding), aerosols, oxygen tanks, and combustibles catch fire and accelerate quickly causing house fires. Dryer lint is also flammable and neglect of cleaning it causes an average of 15,970 fires each year (NFPA).

Indicate a no children area with caution tape. Children horsing around open fires or HVAC equipment could cause burn injuries, equipment malfunctions, and a house fire at worse. Creating a zone around heating equipment and educating children on the dangers of it will keep them safe and your equipment in good condition.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors once a month. Carbon monoxide cannot be smelled, and using symptoms (headache, dizziness, stomach ache, confusion, and more) to detect it isn't reliable. Carbon monoxide can cause death in 5 minutes or less at high concentrations. Smoke can be smelled, and while your senses may be reliable, the smell of smoke does not always wake people up. Ensure you and your family are safe by testing your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.

If you smell smoke or another odd smell coming from your gas heater, do not light it. Instead, you should vacate your home and inform your local fire department and gas provider. There could be a leak which could cause poisoning or combustion.

Visit https://www.philadelphiahvac.co/ for your HVAC needs.

ABOUT GOOD DEALS HEATING & COOLING

Good Deals Heating & Cooling is family-owned and has been in the HVAC business since 1986. They serve Philadelphia with residential heating and AC service, commercial heating and AC service, HVAC repair service, installations and sales, and emergency service until 11pm. With competitive rates and a friendly demeanor, they provide excellent customer service.

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