How to prepare your home for colder weather to avoid a furnace fires. 

In colder climates the furnace is a necessary piece of equipment that must be maintained. This is not just to save money on heating bills, but to save lives in the event of a malfunction and impending fire hazards. Fire safety dictates a necessary maintenance check every 12 months or so. But this is only the basics. It is a good idea to book this check up in the off season. HVAC technicians are less likely to be swamped with customers and can handle the job completely without having to cut corners or needing to rush to the next appointment.

Fire safety is important, but everyone is busy. If it is absolutely impossible to call during the off season, then calling during September or October is the better time. When these arrangements are made they technician may also be able to point out potential problems with fire cleanup. Contacting the utility company is a good idea as well. They can do a routine inspection on the furnace and pipes. Scheduling the HVAC and the utility company the same date is good for scheduling for the homeowner to plan around. The pipes and other connections can be tested for leaks and other issues.

Fire safety checks should be extensive. They should go through all the possible problems in the pipes and the furnace. Carbon monoxide detectors should be used and if there are none in the house, they should be installed. Also pilot lights should be lit by the professionals if the homeowner is unsure of the safety involved with it. The furnace should be clear of all fire hazards as should the vents and ducts. There is no guarantee even a clear furnace will not have potential sparks coming up and could catch on dust or paper fallen into the vents.

If the homeowner is dedicated to do it yourself fire safety they should be as thorough if not more thorough in their inspections. Checking every single aspect of the pipes and vents is the utmost importance. Knowing how to use the tools the professionals use will help in these do it yourself inspections and save money, but if a professional can be afforded they should be hired.

Annual inspections should be scheduled no matter how old the furnace is or how good of condition they are in. There is no telling what kinds of problems occur and having these inspections means the problems are less likely to happen.