Home heating and your safety

Keeping home heating costs under control during our long, cold winters can be a challenge. There are ways you can help manage those costs as part of your overall home maintenance program. Many of these actions will also help keep your home and family safe, so follow these steps and you'll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your gas appliances are operating efficiently and safely.

Hire a licensed gas contractor

Have a licensed gas contractor check your gas appliances, chimney and venting systems at least once a year. Think of it as an investment that improves the efficiency of your heating system and provides a level of safety for your family. If you are considering installing any heat-saving devices, have your contractor ensure that they conform with the operation of your gas appliances. And, if it's time to replace a heating or gas appliance, your contractor can help you choose the right equipment and install it for you.

Do it yourself

There are a number of things you can do yourself as part of your home maintenance program, but do not attempt to repair gas appliances yourself. Leave that work for a licensed gas contractor.

One obvious step is to seal up your home to prevent expensive and drafty air leaks. Use caulking around windows and other openings to stop the cold air invasion. If you have a window air conditioner, make sure it is well sealed around the edges, and cover the unit to protect it and keep the cold air out. Be aware that if you make your house airtight, you will need to install a combustion air duct into the room containing your major gas heating appliances. This air duct supplies fresh outside air for burner operation and helps vent the products of combustion.

Once you've sealed the leaks, you can make your own visual checks of chimneys, venting systems and filters periodically during the heating season:

check furnace filters monthly, and clean or replace them when necessary;
remove any additional filters at floor registers and cold air return grills, as they restrict the air flow your furnace needs to operate properly;
ensure proper heat distribution by keeping registers, grills and heat radiators free of obstructions such as furniture or carpets; and
if your furnace has a fan belt, check it monthly and replace it when it shows signs of wear. After you've made your checks, make sure all panels and doors on your gas appliances are closed properly.

Here are some other tips that will help keep you and your family safe:

keep items away from ventilation openings on gas appliances and never store flammable liquids or materials near them;
do not use gas appliances such as a range or oven to heat your home;
have wood-burning fireplaces or appliances checked regularly and follow directions for their safe use;
open a window before lighting your fireplace or wood stove and keep it open until the fire is completely out;
understand the dangers and symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO), the silent killer, and consider installing a CO detector in your home; and
avoid carbon monoxide buildup by never running your vehicle or snow blower in the garage or other enclosed area for extended periods of time.
To conduct a free five-minute audit of your home's energy efficiency, go to homecheck

Propane safety tips for winter

Safe storage for your propane barbeque

For most of us winter means the end of the barbeque season. It also means taking time to prepare your gas grill for safe storage. It will take about an hour to clean your grill thoroughly, but some clean-up work now will make it much easier to start cooking outdoors again in the spring.

To get the job done you'll need warm, soapy water, a brass bristle brush, a soft cloth, toothpicks, sandpaper and the owner's manual for your grill.

Begin by turning over the briquettes so the greasy side faces the burner. Light the grill, close the lid and turn the burner to high for 15 minutes to burn the grease off the briquettes and cooking grids.
When the grill cools, remove the briquettes and grids. Use the brush and soapy water to remove any remaining grease from the grids, rinse and dry them. Then, set the briquettes and grids aside.
Turn the gas off at the cylinder. Follow instructions in your manual to unfasten the burner, slip the venturi tubes off the gas lines and remove the unit. Clean any dirt or grease on the unit using the soft cloth and warm water. Towel dry the unit and clear each gas port on the burner with a toothpick. Clean the venturi tubes with warm, soapy water and set the unit aside.
Cover the gas outlets under the grill with aluminum foil, and then clean any grease buildup inside and outside the grill housing using the brush and water. Rinse the grill and towel it dry. You can then remove the aluminum foil.
Examine the grill housing for paint chips or scrapes. Grills made of aluminum will not rust, but they can corrode if paint chips are not repaired. Sand the scraped or chipped paint until the metal is white and shiny. Apply primer and touchup paints designed for high heat to the sanded areas. When the paint is dry, reattach the burner, venturi tubes and igniter. Cover the gas line openings with a plastic bag over the ends to keep insects out. Put the briquettes and cooking grids back in place.
Check the condition of the propane cylinder. If it is dented or seriously rusted, replace it immediately. Stop any minor corrosion following the same procedures as with the grill housing.
Move the barbeque to its winter storage location. If the grill is stored outside, leave the propane cylinder in its normal position and cover the entire grill with a protective cover. If the grill is stored indoors, disconnect the cylinder and store it outdoors in an upright position, away from dryer or furnace vents, or children's play areas. Never store the cylinder in an enclosed space.

Using your barbeque

Do not use a barbeque indoors or in an enclosed space. Locate your barbeque away from the house and other buildings, keeping it away from doors and windows, and never place it under any surface that will burn, such as a carport.
Never use propane cylinders that appear to be damaged, leaking, excessively rusted or that have been exposed to fire.
To determine how full your cylinder is, pour hot water down the side, wait a second and then slide your hand up and down the cylinder. The point where the cylinder changes from hot to cold marks the liquid level.
Never ask a propane supplier to overfill the cylinder - there must be room inside for the liquid to expand. If you're filling a new or requalified cylinder for the first time, ask your propane supplier to purge it before filling. Remember, it's the law that cylinders be inspected and requalified every 10 years.
Always position the cylinder so the connections do not cause sharp bends in the hose.
Check for leaks at the beginning of the season and every time the regulator is connected to, or disconnected from, the cylinder. Use soapy water to check the gas line and all connections. If bubbles appear when you turn on the gas or you smell a rotten egg odor, turn off the gas and tighten the connections. Do the test again - if the bubbles or odor persist, close the valve immediately and have the unit checked and repaired by a licensed gas contractor or propane supplier. Never check for leaks using an open flame - one spark can turn an invisible stream of propane into a jet of flame.
Always open the barbeque lid before lighting the burners to avoid an explosion from gas build-up. When you've finished cooking, turn off the cylinder valve first, so the gas in the line can burn off. Turn the burner controls off after the gas is consumed.
Never move a barbeque or disconnect the cylinder when the barbeque is in use.
Be sure the cylinder is turned off when not in use.
Always store cylinders outdoors in an upright position. When you're transporting a cylinder, make sure it's capped and do not lift it by the valve - secure it in an upright position in a well-ventilated area and take it to your destination immediately.