by Joe Brooks

Created on: September 11, 2010   Last Updated: September 12, 2010

Keeping your home warm in winter is important for your comfort. However, home heating systems cause harm when they do not function properly. For greatest safety and maximum efficiency, you should have your heating system inspected annually. This can not only save you money on heating bills, it can save your life.

Every year there are home fires caused by faulty heating systems, resulting in loss of life as well as property damage. Carbon monoxide poising from faulty or improperly used heating sources is a serious hazard. Government sources from the Center for Disease Control estimate that there are 15,000 instances of CO poisoning each year in the USA, resulting in as many as 500 deaths.

It is possible to inspect your home system yourself. You will need to use careful safety practices, of course. You should shut of the power to any system before you get into it. With power off, you can clean blower or fan motors and blades. You should look for soot buildup while you are in there, as that is a sign that fuel is not being burned completely. Any soot buildup must be considered a warning sign and a professional should be called in.

Really, it is best to call on a professional to do your annual heating system inspection. A qualified expert can clean and test the function of such vital furnace parts as the heat exchanger, burners, pilots and regulators. The fuel source and supply lines need inspection and checking for leaks. The expert can also run the system through a complete cycle to test function and efficiency.

When your local expert has finished their inspection, they will be ready to advise on any problems that require correction. It is also possible that it is time for a new system. An old heating system may be wasting money and endangering your health and safety as well. An established local professional with a good reputation in the community can be trusted to give you sound advice as well as to perform the services required promptly and properly.

As part of your yearly safety check before the cool weather sets in, you should make sure that CO detectors and smoke detectors are present, properly located and are functioning properly. You can check your local ordinances for location and number of detectors required. These small devices save lives. Never neglect them.

Your professional system inspector will check your filters, and urge you to replace them regularly. This is one preventive measure that most of us can manage ourselves. Clean filters save money on heating and air conditioning and prolong the life of the systems.

When thinking about calling your HVAC pro out for an inspection, you can also make the rounds of your home, looking for things you can do to help. Clear away obstructions from vents and intakes. Check doors and windows for drafts. You can seal with weather-stripping or caulk. You may also want to consider installing modern windows for greatest energy-efficiency. Until you do so, you may wish to put up some heavy window treatments. That will help keep the cold out as well.

By all means, do everything you can to inspect your home and your heating system before winter arrives. But do not forget that a professional inspection is needed. Both government agencies responsible for our safety, and the insurance companies that protect us from damages, recommend and may require annual home heating system inspection by a qualified and licensed professional. The time to schedule this inspection is early, before the cold weather arrives. You will have plenty of time to act on the advice of your home heating system expert, to provide a safe and warm home for your family this winter.

Learn more about this author, Joe Brooks.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.