Since their inception, electric furnaces have been rapidly gaining popularity among their users. Today, many people admit that electric furnaces are their preferred home warming options. However, like all electronic devices and equipment, electric furnaces come with their fair share of risks, particularly if mishandled.
Some furnaces may even be faulty as a result of the manufacturer’s negligence. Accidents resulting from electric furnaces can be severe and even life-changing. It is therefore essential to pay extra caution when dealing with furnaces to avoid any injuries.
Here are five safety tips when using a furnace.
Safety Tips When Using an Electric Heat Source
1. Understand Your Furnace
If you want to be safe from any furnace accidents and malfunctions, you will have to understand your furnace and how it works. All the parts of your furnace are essential and should be given the proper care required to function correctly. This includes the most basic details, such as regularly changing your filter and keeping flammable objects away from the furnace.
2. Maintain Fireplace Safety
Although having a fireplace at your home may be very beneficial during winters, fireplaces also have a great propensity to be fire hazards. You, therefore, need to learn all that you can concerning fireplace safety.
Maintaining a safety measure by the fireplace is one of the most foolproof safety tips you can practice. If you have little children in the home, it is wise to keep a watchful eye on them as they move around the house. Do not let them too close to the fireplace, mainly if they are toddlers.
3. Be on the Lookout for Alternative Heating Fire Risks
One of the most common causes of home fires is heating. They are significantly more rampant in cases where alternative heating methods such as space heaters are used. For you to mitigate this risk, it is advisable to ensure proper spacing in your house. Maintain a minimum of three feet distance from the source of heat.
This also applies to your furniture, home appliances, children, and pets. If you put any flammable objects within three feet of an alternative source of heat, there is a high risk that the item may catch fire.
4. Maintain Consistent House Temperature
As much as you can, try to keep a constant temperature in your house. In situations where you cannot achieve this, slowly increase your heater’s temperature to avoid damaging the heater. It is essential to know that suddenly turning your heater to the highest levels will do nothing to make your house warm up faster. Instead, it will only damage your heater.
5. Ensure Your Smoke Detectors are Functional
One of the most important safety tips is to ensure that your smoke detectors are well functioning before you set out to use your furnace. This will help you detect fires as soon as they occur and combat them before becoming very destructive. You should note that smoke detectors need to be replaced every ten years. To be on the safe side, check yours today for its expiration date. Also, ensure that you replace their batteries as regularly as necessary.
What to do if You Get Injuries from Faulty Heat Sources
You may do all you are required to do to maintain your safety and avoid furnace accidents yet end up with one. In some cases, the casualties are a result of the manufacturer’s negligence. In this case, if you sustained injuries or losses from the accident, the manufacturers will be liable for all the damages you have incurred. With the help of a Boise personal injury attorney, you will receive all the compensation you deserve for your suffering and loss.
