Stay Safe from Furnace Fires

At Family Danz Heating & Cooling, all of our customers are a part of our family. And as family, we want to make sure everyone has a home that offers them the solitude of safety and security.

Winter has returned throughout the Capital District of New York State as it does this time every year. Yes, we know that‘s not news; you‘ve probably already noticed the snow on the ground and had to turn up the furnace. But it’s because of that winter cold that area residents have now created a situation that causes concern for safety.

It’s that furnace, sometimes running constantly on those really cold days, that is suddenly not only a major boon to personal comfort but a possible threat to the family at the same time. Creating that heat takes considerable combustion on the part of the furnace, and that poses the possibility of accidental fire. But don’t fret — with the encouragement of your friendly Family Danz technician, you can rest assured you are as safe as can be in your home.

We’ll assume you already had your fall tune-up by our experienced crew to make sure the furnace was in perfect working order. If you didn’t, however, it certainly isn’t too late to give us a call for a check of the system … we can do those any time, and the peace of mind is worth it.

When you first turn on the furnace in the fall, you will smell the unmistakable aroma of burning dust inside the ductwork. That’s normal and happens every year on that first time. It burns away quickly and will be fresh the rest of the cold season, hopefully. But if that smell comes back later, then there is a problem. That’s the time to give us a call.

If you smell gas, on the other hand, we don’t want you to call us — immediately call your local gas company’s emergency number or 911 if you don’t know it because that is a serious problem. Gas leaks are toxic and can cause explosions, so they need to be addressed immediately by emergency personnel.

Be prepared for any heating system emergency this winter. Know where your shut off switch or valve is to the furnace in advance of any problem, because when you are in a stressful situation it will not be a good time to play “find the shut off.”

Always make sure both your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector have fresh batteries in them and are working properly.

Keep combustible items and chemicals away from the furnace, and make sure you don’t use the furnace area for catch-all storage of laundry, garbage, toys, or any other clutter that will make it hard to get to in an emergency.

The simplest but one of the most effective ways to keep the furnace safe is to change the filter regularly. Keep it clean and keep all of that dust and dirt from entering the furnace, and it will add years to its life at the same time.

If you are worried about your furnace not functioning as safely as it should, give us a call. We will inspect the filter, electrical components, thermostat, air flow, air fuel mixture and heater exchanger, making sure everything is running right without fear of fire nor cracks for nasty gas or carbon monoxide to be released into your home.

Family Danz Heating & Cooling is a full-service heating and air conditioning contractor, offering sales and service all through the Capital District of New York State. If you would like more information on any of our services, call us today at 518-427-8685.