by April Boettcher

Created on: October 23, 2009   Last Updated: October 24, 2009

With the bone chilling winds sweeping in from the north, and the temperatures dropping lower and lower at night, more people are turning to their gas furnaces to get the chill out of the air and warmth back into their bones. Our furnace is something we use everyday for a couple of months a year for most and for some 6 months out of the year. Do you know as much as you should know about your furnace and how to keep you and your family safe this winter? If you would like to know more, please read on.

There are many things that you can do to insure that your furnace runs safely through the cold fall/winter season. First thing you should do before turning on your furnace and about once a month there after is to change or clean the furnace filter. If you don't do this your filter can get clogged with dust and other airborne bacteria causing your furnace to work harder than it is suppose to. A clean filter will make your furnace run more efficient. When cleaning a reusable filter, always make sure the filter is dry before putting it back into the furnace.

Next you may want to look around your furnace. If your furnace is in a closest, do you have clothes, shoes or other things that could become hot leaning on or close to the furnace? Many house holds are short on storage I understand, but never use the area around your furnace for storage. It is just too big of a risk to your family. Clothes, shoes, and other debris can catch on fire if they are too close to the furnace. It is always better to be safe then sorry when it comes to your families protection. If your furnace is in your basement, make sure you clean the dust and other debris away from the furnace. This is such an easy task that most people overlook. Do not push boxes, tubs, or anything else up against your furnace. Always keep the area surrounding your furnace clear.

Keep all warm air vents and return air vents free of objects to ensure an even air flow. Move furniture away from these vents so that the warm air does not heat up these pieces instead of your house. Make sure there is a good air flow through out your house so the furnace does not have to work as long or as hard to keep your home heated.

If you don't have a carbon monoxide detector, get one. This small device looks a lot like a smoke detector. These detectors should be placed on each level of your home that someone may sleep in and also close to the furnace or any other appliance that can give off carbon monoxide. The small price you pay for this device could be the difference between life and death for your family. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that is a byproduct of combustion. Carbon Monoxide is deadly if not detected in time.

Most people are not comfortable in trying to maintain the flue on your furnace. If you are one of these people, call your furnace maintenance man. This is the safest thing to do for your family. The maintenance man will be able to check the flue, make sure it is in good working order and can fix it if it is not. Having your furnace checked over once a year before you start it up is a smart thing to do. The maintenance men are trained to get everything in working order.

Following these simple safety tips will give you piece of mind this cold winter season. You will know that you went one step farther to keep your family safe and warm.

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