Heating and Venting

To ensure your heating and venting system is operating safely and efficiently, have a qualified contractor inspect the furnace, venting system and chimney annually.

Signs that your heating system needs attention:

• Gas flames that are pale yellow or wavy
• Gas appliances that are not vented to the outdoors
• Rust, corrosion or excessive dust on gas appliances
• Excessively dirty, clogged or missing furnace air filters
• Gas appliance valves that are missing or not properly installed
• Blocked, broken, rusted, disconnected, corroded or unsealed appliance vent piping
• Soot near burners or appliance venting
• Venting not approved by the appliance manufacturer or not venting to the proper place outdoors
• Evidence of discoloration at the appliance burner, burner access door or vent area
• Gas appliances installed in a garage less than 18 inches above the garage floor
• Gas appliances that are missing a fire door

Regular maintenance is required:

• Clean air filters regularly and replace as needed.
• Ensure furnace panels and grills are in place and that the fan compartment door is closed when the furnace is on. Leaving these doors open can cause carbon monoxide to build up.
• Check to see that the furnace or boiler is free of dust, rust or corrosion.
• Keep the space around the furnace clean and clear.

Other important heating tips:

• Never use a gas range as a space heater. Doing so can cause carbon monoxide to build-up.
• Put space heaters on a level surface and keep them away from curtains and other flammable objects.
• If you use a natural gas or kerosene space heater, be sure it is vented to the outside.