Your home is likely equipped with an HVAC system to keep you warm this winter, and you might supplement this heat with a fireplace or some portable space heaters. While you of course want to keep your family nice and cozy all winter long, you should also be mindful of the dangers that can come from various heating systems. Here's how to ensure you can keep your home heated while maintaining a safe environment all winter long.

Keep the Area Around Your Space Heaters and Vents Clear and Know When to Turn Things Off

If you are going to run a space heater, make sure that there is five feet of space that remains clear in front of the heater while it's in operation. In other words, don't go throwing your clothes on the floor in front of the heater vent in your bedroom when getting changed. It only takes one mistake to create a dangerous situation that could lead to a fire. If you are going to leave a room for a while, make sure you turn off any space heaters before you leave. If you have a room that you know will be vacant for an extended period of time, close the heating vent in the area so your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard.

Switch Out Your Air Filters to Avoid a Clog

A clogged HVAC system or boiler could become dangerous if the air filter is not cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. Usually, the most you have to fear in this situation is an inefficient heating system that will cause your heater or boiler to run non stop and this in turn will lead to a higher heating bill. But if you never change the air filter, a more extreme situation could eventually lead to a fire hazard. Change your air filters on a regular basis to avoid a clog that could develop into a larger problem.

Get a Professional Inspection

Your home HVAC system and your space heaters both likely have safety features built in that will shut things down if something goes wrong. But you should still get every source of heat in your home professionally inspected at least once a year. This will find any potential issues and allow you to fix them long before they turn into safety hazards that could harm your house or your family.

Contact a local heating contractor to schedule an inspection today.

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