Stay Warm and Safe This Winter

January 12, 2017

With the winter weather we all tend to spend the majority of our time indoors trying to stay warm. While sometimes snuggling in bed and drinking hot cocoa will do the trick, Church Services is here with a few tips on how to stay warm (and safe!) this winter.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Make sure you have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors installed on each floor of your home, specifically near bedrooms, and test them to make sure they are functioning. Since CO is an odorless gas and cannot be detected, it’s vital that you have working CO detectors to make sure your family is safe.

Get Your Chimney Inspection

This is the perfect time of year to get the fireplace going, but before you do, make sure you have your chimney cleaned and examined by a specialist. The fireplace may be a source of CO if you don’t keep it regularly cleaned and maintained.

Be Careful with Space Heaters

Space heaters are normally safe, energy efficient, and a successful way to heat small rooms of your home, but make sure it has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory and contains an automatic shut-off feature. Obey all manufacturer’s instructions and make sure it is placed on a hard, level surface at least 3 feet away from any flammable items.

Furnace Tune-Up

With a furnace tune-up from Church Services in Houston, we will perform a safety check of your furnace to make sure there are no leaks or CO issues. Along with a heating tune-up, confirm your heating vents are not obstructed and that you’re replacing your air filter each month. This will avoid the air flow from becoming restricted and help avoid allergens from aggravating respiratory issues.


If You Need Help Staying Warm, Ask

There are appropriate ways and wrong ways to heat your home – using the oven, a grill, or a camp stove are all wrong ways. Using these appliances to heat your home could cause a fire or a dangerous reserve of carbon monoxide. If you need support paying your utility bills, visit NeedHelpPayingBills.com to find a service near you.

To be sure your home is ready to keep you safe and warm all winter long, call Church Services at 713-396-3760 today.