Daylight Savings And Furnace Tune-up Time Is Here
The Daylight Savings change means we “fall back” to Standard Time on Sunday, November 7th at 2:00 a.m. It is also a “timely” safety reminder for homeowners to make sure their furnaces are running properly as temperatures drop.
Service Experts, North America’s furnace repair and maintenance leader, is encouraging consumers to take the extra hour gained with the time change to make their homes safer and more efficient. Consumers should have their furnaces checked and tuned-up each fall, just as they’ve grown accustomed to changing the batteries in their smoke detectors with the change of seasons.
“We can easily help to avoid inefficiency and safety problems in our homes,” says Ian McKeen, Vice President of Marketing for Service Experts. "It’s always better to take precautionary action, especially when it comes to heating and home appliances. Service Experts has been driving an educational outreach campaign to encourage a new homeowner habit of getting a furnace tune-up and taking other simple home safety steps each fall when the clock ‘falls back’.”
Here are 10 tips from Service Experts to help make your home safer this fall:
1. Change the filter in your furnace.
2. Have your heating and/or cooling equipment tuned-up by a professional each fall (and spring).
3. Clear the area around your furnace, heater and/or wood-burning stove.
4. Ensure your fireplace venting is unobstructed and the flue damper is open.
5. Wait until your garage is open to start your vehicle, lawn mower or snow blower.
6. Make sure your outside vents are clear of leaves, snow or other debris.
7. Clean your clothes dryer vent ductwork regularly.
8. Keep your propane tanks or gas grills stored safely outside.
9. Keep a fire extinguisher stored in your kitchen or other rooms with high risk of fire.
10. Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees.
“It is easy to forget about
maintaining your furnace, but it should be just like getting the oil changed on your car,” says McKeen. “There can be potential dangers in the home if your heating and cooling equipment are not properly maintained, such as carbon monoxide leaks and other
indoor air quality issues. Service Experts is well-known as a company that excels in certified service of home heating systems. We feel strongly that we can play an important public education role regarding home safety.”
Visit the Service Experts
Fire Safety Month website to learn more home safety tips and Service Experts.