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December 20, 2001
Naperville, Ill. – Unseasonably warm weather delayed the 2001-2002 heating season, but Nicor Gas says there is no better time than the present to ensure your home is prepared for old man winter. Two areas requiring close attention during the colder months are furnaces and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
When it comes to furnace safety, regular inspections are key. This is the best way to ensure that your heating system will be ready to beat the winter chill. A qualified heating contractor is the official authority on whether your furnace working safely and efficiently, however the following are steps you can take on your own:
- Check the venting system – Soft, rusted or broken vent piping could become combustible. Have damaged piping replaced by a qualified contractor.
- Monitor air filters – To keep your furnace running efficiently, clean or replace air filters at least three times during the heating season.
- Check the furnace flame – Make sure your furnace's flame is mostly blue and steady. A pale yellow or wavy flame is a sign the furnace isn't working properly.
- Minimize buildup – Soot buildup around the burner access door and vents could signal a problem. Keep buildup low to prevent combustion.
- Keep furnace panels in place and keep fan compartment door closed when furnace is on – Leaving these doors open could cause carbon monoxide to accumulate in living areas.
Installing a CO detector is one of the most useful measures for notification of when your furnace, venting system and/or chimney may not be working properly. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas that is formed when fossil fuel is not burned completely. Fuels that produce CO include coal, charcoal, gasoline, natural gas, propane, wood or oil. Overexposure to CO can lead to serious illness or death. The symptoms of CO poisoning are flu-like and include headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing and an irregular heartbeat. If you feel the symptoms of CO poisoning, leave your house and call 911 or the fire department from a neighbor's home. The following are helpful tips to ensure the effectiveness of CO detectors:
- Place detectors near bedrooms – You're most vulnerable to CO poisoning while sleeping. If bedrooms are in different areas of the house, place a detector near each bedroom area.
- Keep chimney flues open when using your fireplace – This will reduce the accumulation of CO in living quarters.
- Don't ever use your gas range to heat your home – Self-explanatory: Gas ranges are not intended for home heating.
- Don't place CO detectors near kitchens, garages or furnace – Harmless levels of CO are often present in these rooms and could cause your detector to sound off incessantly, making it harder to discern a true emergency.
Your furnace will turn off and on about 9,000 times this winter. By following these simple safety rules, you can rest easy that old man winter won't get the best of you this heating season.
About Nicor Gas and Nicor Services
Nicor Gas serves two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. The company, a wholly owned entity of Nicor Inc. (NYSE:GAS), has provided reliable natural gas services for more than 45 years. Nicor Services is a non-regulated sister company of Nicor Gas. It offers CO detectors and preventive maintenance service plans for your furnace through approved, independent contractors. For more information, call Nicor Services at 1 800 373-1100.
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