A cold winter’s night is the perfect setting for a holiday tale – assuming you are snuggling inside your warm and comfortable home. The shorter days and cooler temperatures may inspire you to light a fire and burn your favorite candles. Don’t sacrifice safety for holiday ambiance, though. Ernst Heating & Cooling of Hamel, IL, has rounded up some heating safety tips for the holidays. Read on to capture warmth without sacrificing safety this holiday season.
What is plugged in?
‘Tis the season for electrical cords, whether leading to your space heater or powering the newest holiday toy. Keep an eye on your electrical demands over the holidays. Unplug the space heater when you’re not using it, and don’t connect more than three strings of lights. When you pull out the holiday decorations, take a few moments to inspect the cords. If you see loose connections or exposed wires, repair them or replace them.
Choose the right space heater
Do you rely on a space heater for a spare room or to supplement the home’s heat for your cold-blooded family member? Space heaters have come a long way when it comes to heating safely, but make sure you’re relying on one that’s been designed for indoor use. In other words, avoid being tempted to drag a patio heater into your garage.
Many new space heaters have built-in safety features like an automatic shutoff when it’s knocked over. You still want to use them only when someone is nearby. When you’re done, unplug the heater as an additional safety measure.
Don’t use the oven to heat your home
A marathon baking session may heat the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean your oven was meant to double as a space heater. Gas ovens can lead to accidental poisoning, and electric ovens will hike up your electricity bill if you try to use them as a heat source. If your home isn’t hot enough, call in an HVAC professional like Ernst Heating & Cooling.
Let your car heat up outside
Suppose you have a fancy remote control system that lets your car heat up before you venture out into the cold. Congratulations. You don’t have to suffer the shivers as you navigate the frozen roads. Never, ever, ever try to heat your car while it’s still in the garage. You run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Even when the garage door is open, you’re taking a chance. Pull the car out of the garage and close the garage door while it’s heating to protect those still inside the house.
Stay away from the fireplace
If you’re entertaining the idea of roasting chestnuts on an open fire, ensure you take the proper precautions. Designate a “kid-free zone” around the fireplace, and keep flammable items at least three feet away from the open flames. When the fire is out, let the ashes cool before you dispose of them in a sturdy metal container. You don’t want to wake up to a fire in your outside trash can because you threw away hot ashes.
Schedule a heating tune-up
There’s a reason why Ernst Heating & Cooling recommends regular HVAC maintenance. Our trained HVAC technicians can thoroughly clean and inspect your system, addressing problems before they leave you out in the cold. Our Ernst Comfort Plan keeps you on a regular maintenance schedule and offers additional repairs and air filter discounts.
Wrap your home in warmth with Ernst Heating & Cooling. Whether you’re looking for maintenance, repairs, or a new heating system, we offer answers that meet your needs and budget. Call us at 618.217.1836 to schedule an appointment, or set up your appointment online. Don’t toy with your HVAC system this holiday season. Trust it to Ernst Heating & Cooling.