The Captain’s Corner

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Home Heating Safety

As we head into the Fall Season, nights are already beginning to feel cooler. During this time of the year many people rely on portable heaters, wood and pellet stoves, and fireplaces to reduce the chill prior to activating the central heating system.

However you heat your home, consider the following heating safety tips:

  • Have a 3 foot “Kid-Free Zone” around open flames and space heaters.
  • Supervise children whenever a wood, pellet or oil stove or other space heater is being used. Use a sturdy metal screen to prevent contact burns, which are actually more common than flame burns.
  • All heaters need to be kept 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
  • Use heating equipment that has been listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
  • Ovens and stoves are not designed to heat your home. Never use ovens and stoves to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, and/or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Assure that fuel burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon-monoxide is created when fuels burn incompletely. Carbon-monoxide cannot be seen and has no odor. Be sure that the exhaust venting is kept clear and unobstructed.
  • If your heat system is flame producing, insure that you have listed smoke detectors and carbon-monoxide detectors installed according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Always maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Main Fire Station: 860-668-3888.

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