Heaters and furnaces can keep a home toasty warm during a cold winter.
They also can cause fires and, with gas models, carbon monoxide fumes. Both situations can result in tragedy.
By following a few safety rules and keeping heaters in good working order, such incidents are preventable.
“Really, what it all amounts to is pay attention to what you’re doing,” said Waco fire marshal Kent Hodges.
Here are some things you can check to make sure heaters are operating safely:
– Getting serviced: This could save money-and your life.
“We recommend that all our customers have their heating equipment checked by an authorized heating and air conditioning contractor,” said Howard Matson, of Lone Star Gas Co.
“Make sure the filters are clean,” Hodges said. “The heater has to move a certain amount of air through there.”
“Even over one season, the heater needs some attention,” said Tim Jander, general manager of Star Tex Propane.
Simply dusting a space heater is part of the process. It also is recommended that any dust on the inside be blown out with compressed air.
Hodges said the flexible metal hose running from the gas jet to a space heater isn’t flexible enough to stand being moved a lot. It also can become corroded or deteriorate from the gas running through it. After a number of years it should be replaced.
No rubber hoses
Never use rubber hoses to hook up a gas heater. They’re illegal and dangerous, Hodges said.
Jander warned against slip-on hoses. They can slip off-and leak. Threaded connectors are best.
To check for pin-sized leaks on metal couplings on gas heaters, Hodges said, make a solution of soapy water, mixing a quarter cup of water with 25 to 50 percent dishwashing detergent. Using a small paint brush, coat the hose and connectors. Bubbles indicate the connection should be tightened or the hose replaced.
Never on a carpet
– Placement: Never set a space heater directly on a carpet, Jander said. He recommends a piece of metal or special board.
Air must circulate all around a heater. Placed too close to drapes, bedding or furniture, a heater can heat up the item and cause a fire.
If the heater touches the wall or is too close, the wall can heat up and catch fire.
Be careful if you warm yourself in front of a heater. Your clothes can get too hot and start to burn.
– Furnace closets: The closet, equipment room or utility area in which a furnace is located is for the furnace. Period. It’s not for storage.
The area around the furnace must be clear so air can circulate around it.
Never store flammable liquids, such as cleaning solvent or paint, or combustible items such as old newspapers, around a furnace or heater, Matson said.
Check flame color
– Gas flames: The color of the flame indicates whether the gas appliance is working properly. You want a blue flame for natural gas and propane-fueled appliances. You should check the open fire in a space heater and the pilot light in the furnace if you can.
Beware of a lot of white, yellow, orange or red on the top of the flame. If this happens, shut off the fire immediately and call the gas company, Matson said.
“Orange or red with a lot of white on the top means it’s not getting enough oxygen,” Hodges said. “This means there’s incomplete combustion, and it may be putting out carbon monoxide.”
Breathing small amounts of carbon monoxide over several hours can kill, he said.
Not too close
– Electric heaters: Just because a heater doesn’t have a flame per se doesn’t mean that it can’t catch on fire.
Hodges said to watch out for small, portable electric heaters. “The sheer portability of them makes them dangerous.”
Often, such heaters have long cords, and a shivering user may pull the heater too close to a chair or other piece of furniture, he said. They get warm and cozy and leave without shutting the heater off or moving it away. The heater keeps working, and the item gets too hot and catches fire.
The electrical cord is another hazard, Hodges said. “It will get extremely hot.”
Don’t run the cord under carpeting, and never put objects on top of it. That could cause a fire.
Venting the room
– Air supply: This means yours as well as the heater’s. If you’re using a gas heater, make sure it’s well vented.
“As gas burns, it uses oxygen,” Matson said. “Some real old space heaters don’t have an oxygen cutoff switch. You need to vent the room a little bit by cracking a window open.”
Otherwise, he said, the heater will keep burning even if it uses up all the oxygen in a closed room, leaving none for people to breathe.
– Gas leaks: Smell gas? Get out immediately. Don’t turn on or off any lights or appliances. That could cause a spark, igniting the gas.
“Don’t even use the phone, especially if it’s a rotary dial phone,” Matson said. “Open a window or door and leave. Go next door and call the gas company.”
“Anytime you smell gas, you need to be concerned,” Hodges said.
Get a professional
– Smoke detectors: “The very best thing you can have is a working smoke detector in your home,” Hodges said. “If it goes off, get out immediately if there’s smoke in the air.”
– Proper service: If you’re not trained in servicing a gas appliance, leave that to the pros.
“The most important thing is to have a reputable dealer,” Jander said. “Try not to do it yourself.”
The gas company “strongly suggests” hiring a professional.
“There are things that a professional can look for that someone who’s not a professional can’t,” Matson said. “Professionals can look at the way a flame is burning and tell if the heat exchanger is operating properly.”
