Tips to Safely Heat Your Home This Winter

Each year over 20,000 people end up in the emergency room due to carbon monoxide poisoning. This colorless, odorless gas is referred to as the silent killer because it’s virtually undetectable without a carbon monoxide detector. 

Carbon monoxide, according to the CDC, is produced by stoves, gas ranges, boilers, furnaces, and fireplaces so it only makes sense that carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter months when people are trying to keep their homes heated. To help keep you safe, Atmostemp Service Experts is here with some tips to safety warm your home. 

• Install a CO detector on all floors of your home and replace the batteries annually. 
• Keep all possible sources of combustion, such as paper, clothing, bedding, or rugs, at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, furnaces or fireplaces. 

• Before starting a fire in the fireplace, be sure to check to ensure the chimney damper is open and unobstructed. 
• Do not leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Shut off space heaters and make sure all embers in the fireplace are completely extinguished before leaving either heating source unattended. 
• Space heaters should always be situated on the floor, and on a hard, nonflammable surface, like ceramic tile. Keep children and pets away from space heaters. 
• When buying a new space heater, buy a model that turns off automatically if the heater tips over. 
• Do not use a cooking range to increase the temperature in your home. 

• Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and gas or oil furnaces professionally checked and cleaned every year. 

The ultimate thing you can do for your furnace is to be sure it’s not only all set to keep you warm all winter but also safe, is to schedule your heating tune-up. During your heating tune-up, Atmostemp Service Experts will check to be sure your furnace is operating safely with a full multi-point inspection and cleaning. Call 856-310-4824 today and find out how you can save on a furnace tune-up through November 25th.