Now is the time to make sure your home heating system is working properly

Minnesota Department of Public Safety

It’s winter in Minnesota, and that means stay inside to stay safe and warm. But are you sure you’ll be safe or warm? It depends on the condition of your home’s heating system. 

If you heat with any carbon-based fuel, natural gas, LP gas, heating oil, wood or other, your system generates carbon monoxide (CO). CO is part of the normal operation of burning fossil fuels, but it can also be deadly.  

CO has no odor, is invisible, and is slightly lighter than air, so it floats. It is dangerous because it displaces oxygen in the air and is more easily absorbed by red blood cells than oxygen. Even low levels of CO can cause serious health effects over time. High or low levels of CO can even lead to death.

But CO is not the only hazard in home heating. According to the National Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association, each year there are around 50,000 fires involving heating equipment in the U.S. These fires result in approximately 500 deaths and 1,300 injuries. Heating equipment causes about 14% of all home fires each year, and about half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February.

What does this mean for you? It means you might want to contact a qualified, insured home heating specialist to inspect and test your furnace, wood burner and chimney, or other heating systems (including your hot water heater). Landlords, consider the same for your tenants. 

Along with a safety inspection of the heating appliances in your home or apartment complex, here are some other tips for home heating safety:

·         Install smoke detectors:

o   On each floor of a dwelling

o   In hallways or corridors that provide access to bedrooms

o   Inside bedrooms

·         Install carbon monoxide detectors (when carbon-based heating devices are installed):

o   On each floor of a dwelling

o   Within 10 feet of each sleeping room

·         Avoid space heaters, if possible

·         If space heaters must be used, be sure they are:

o   UL listed

o   In good working order

o   Equipped with an automatic shut off for tip-over safety

o   Turned off while sleeping or when you leave the room

o   At least 3 feet away from any flammable items such as clothing, bedding, or paper

·         Never use kerosene or LP gas space heaters indoors

·         Test the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO detectors every month

·         Teach everyone in your home how to properly use a fire extinguisher

·         Practice fire drills and know your escape route and reunification area (drills are not just for   school kids!)

Be safe this winter! Whether in your own home or in city-owned rentals and apartments, follow these safety precautions to save lives and property.

I encourage you to reach out to your League of Minnesota Cities loss control consultant if you have any questions about fire prevention and safety or if you would like additional resources.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

·         National Fire Protection Association Fire Safety Toolkit

·         U.S. Fire Administration FEMA Heating Fire Safety

·         CenterPoint Energy Natural Gas Appliance Safety

·         First Alert

 Stay safe — and help someone else stay safe, too!

 

Submitted by Marc Dunker, Loss Control Consultant