Did you know that heating equipment is the cause of 16% of all residential fires and 19% of all deadly fires? This means that 1-2 deaths are caused by HVAC systems or heaters every day. The good news is that much of this risk can be easily mitigated by staying aware of home heating fire hazards and keeping your system up to par. Most of these terrible occurrences are due to homeowners running malfunctioning or poorly kept HVAC systems.
The experts at Galmiche & Sons Heating & Cooling have put this article together to help keep you aware of home heating fire hazards so that our customers can stay safe (and warm) during the cold seasons. To learn more or schedule an appointment with a St. Louis heating & air conditioning professional, contact us today.
1. Keep Fire Hazards Away from Your Heater
If you are like many homeowners, your furnace is located either in your attic or your basement – places often used for storage of various things. You should make sure that flammable items such as clothing, books, furniture, or paper are not stored near your heating unit. Crowding furnaces is a common deadly fire hazard, according to the NFPA, and is a contributor to combustion 56% of the time.
2. Keep Your Chimney Clean
When we talk about heating equipment, we are also talking about fireplaces. Failing to regularly clean your chimney will result in a buildup of a mixture of smoke, vapor, tar, gases, and ash with natural condensation called “creosote.” This buildup is highly combustible, and a huge fire hazard.
3. Do Not Leave Space Heaters Unattended
People often use space heaters to save money by warming a specific room vs. the whole house with their HVAC system. Unfortunately, space heaters are also a common fire hazard due to the fact that they are often left unattended. Make sure the area around your space heater is clear of flammable materials, and do not use one in rooms where no one is watching.
4. Look Out for HVAC Maintenance Problems
What start out as small maintenance issues can often turn into dangerous fire hazards. Like anything mechanical, your HVAC system will degrade over time – resulting in wiring issues and things like a cracked heat exchanger. Be especially vigilant for leaky gas fuel lines, which can be catastrophic fire hazards due to the potential for instant ignition.
Contact Us to Learn More About Preventing Fire Hazards When Heating Your Home
At Galmiche & Sons, we have been working with furnaces and other heating equipment for many years, and we are committed to the safety of our customers. Our heating & air conditioning professionals can look over your heating system and make sure there are no fire hazards or maintenance issues that could jeopardize your safety. Contact us today and one of our friendly representatives will gladly help you schedule an appointment with one of our technicians.
