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Heating safety
How to keep your home safe, and warm, during the winter months
By RYAN PFEIL
H&N Staff Writer
Matt Johnson has seen bird’s nests, beehives and squirrels plugging flues in home furnaces. One culprit was a plastic Easter egg, found resting comfortably in the flue.
“That was hard to find,” said the owner of Seasons Change Heating and Air Conditioning.
None of these situations caused severe or permanent damage, but they emphasize the importance of inspections and maintenance to help keep furnaces running efficiently and safely, preventing potential fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the home, officials said.
“Half of our maintenance procedures are designed to be safety procedures more than anything else,” Johnson said.
Fireplaces and chimneys
Klamath County Fire District No. 1 officials said a chimney should be inspected every three months. Carbon particles from fire smoke collect on the sides of the chimney. With enough buildup, a fire could potentially re-ignite the carbon layers, resulting in a flue fire.
“It’s kind of like plaque in our arteries,” said Scott Rice, deputy fire marshal for Klamath County Fire District No. 1. “You could have inches of it.”
Additional cracks in the chimney could make the fires worse from the outside air. Flue fires can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees.
Professionals use a brush and vacuum to clean dirty chimneys.
Gas heaters
Professionals inspecting gas furnaces test for safety, inspect for efficiency and clean all areas. Furnace inspections should happen annually. Furnace filters should be changed every 30 days to make sure ventilation is adequate, officials said.
“It makes your equipment last longer and helps keep your bills down,” said Jeff Daniel, Klamath Falls construction manager for Avista Utilities.
These inspections also help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
The heat exchanger — responsible for transmitting heat from the furnace to the home — can become cracked. Carbon monoxide can leak through this crack. The gas is odorless and only detectable through a carbon monoxide detector. They should also be inspected annually, officials said.
“You really want to have (one) in your home to protect your family,” Johnson said.
To prevent potential fires near gas heaters, keep flammable materials at least 30 inches away.
Keeping the gas meter clear of debris also is important, Daniel said. During the winter months, snow and debris can cover the meters.
Electric heat, candles
During the summer, unused electric heaters in home baseboards can collect dust. If enough dust collects, gradual onset of heat can start a fire.
“Some of the particles can actually ignite,” Rice said.
Furniture and piles of clothes near the electric heater also could ignite if heated long enough.
As with gas heaters, homeowners should know the heater’s location, and keep combustibles at least 30 inches away.
One of the most common causes of house fires during the winter is portable halogen heat lamps.
“They give great light, but the halogen bulb itself gets extremely hot,” Rice said.
Rice has responded to fires started by heat lamps where homeowners covered the lamp with clothes or towels to dim the light.
Basic candle safety includes blowing them out when leaving a room, even if it’s just for a minute. Rice said he sees at least two fires a year involving candles.
“That was hard to find,” said the owner of Seasons Change Heating and Air Conditioning.
None of these situations caused severe or permanent damage, but they emphasize the importance of inspections and maintenance to help keep furnaces running efficiently and safely, preventing potential fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the home, officials said.
“Half of our maintenance procedures are designed to be safety procedures more than anything else,” Johnson said.
Fireplaces and chimneys
Klamath County Fire District No. 1 officials said a chimney should be inspected every three months. Carbon particles from fire smoke collect on the sides of the chimney. With enough buildup, a fire could potentially re-ignite the carbon layers, resulting in a flue fire.
“It’s kind of like plaque in our arteries,” said Scott Rice, deputy fire marshal for Klamath County Fire District No. 1. “You could have inches of it.”
Additional cracks in the chimney could make the fires worse from the outside air. Flue fires can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees.
Professionals use a brush and vacuum to clean dirty chimneys.
Gas heaters
Professionals inspecting gas furnaces test for safety, inspect for efficiency and clean all areas. Furnace inspections should happen annually. Furnace filters should be changed every 30 days to make sure ventilation is adequate, officials said.
“It makes your equipment last longer and helps keep your bills down,” said Jeff Daniel, Klamath Falls construction manager for Avista Utilities.
These inspections also help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
The heat exchanger — responsible for transmitting heat from the furnace to the home — can become cracked. Carbon monoxide can leak through this crack. The gas is odorless and only detectable through a carbon monoxide detector. They should also be inspected annually, officials said.
“You really want to have (one) in your home to protect your family,” Johnson said.
To prevent potential fires near gas heaters, keep flammable materials at least 30 inches away.
Keeping the gas meter clear of debris also is important, Daniel said. During the winter months, snow and debris can cover the meters.
Electric heat, candles
During the summer, unused electric heaters in home baseboards can collect dust. If enough dust collects, gradual onset of heat can start a fire.
“Some of the particles can actually ignite,” Rice said.
Furniture and piles of clothes near the electric heater also could ignite if heated long enough.
As with gas heaters, homeowners should know the heater’s location, and keep combustibles at least 30 inches away.
One of the most common causes of house fires during the winter is portable halogen heat lamps.
“They give great light, but the halogen bulb itself gets extremely hot,” Rice said.
Rice has responded to fires started by heat lamps where homeowners covered the lamp with clothes or towels to dim the light.
Basic candle safety includes blowing them out when leaving a room, even if it’s just for a minute. Rice said he sees at least two fires a year involving candles.
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