BRATENAHL, Ohio — More than 25,000 fires a year are caused by space heaters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And more than 300 die in those fires.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning leads to about 50,000 emergency room visits, with deaths numbering over 400.
Many of these incidents are just from people trying to heat their homes.
Matt Townhill of Medina Heating and Air Conditioning described a close call he responded to, "We had situation with a with lady. She called the Fire Department because there was smoke in her house. It was coming from her electric furnace. It was just old. The wires were melted and it was never maintained.”
Townhill has been in the business for 23 years and says the furnace is where it all starts when it comes to keeping your home safe and warm. Keeping those filters clean is the first step. When they’re dirty, they block air flow which can wear out the furnace, cause the heat exchange to overheat, and damage parts.
Also, keep an eye out for any cracks, condensation, or leaks, which could mean you're headed for the ‘no heat zone.'
And in the Captain Obvious category, keep things that are flammable 3-5 feet away from the unit.
Townhill says, "You hear a lot about house fires or Carbon Monoxide poisoning because of furnaces." Which is why you need a CO detector downstairs and upstairs.
Before leaving the basement, make sure all the windows are closed or sealed with plastic if there’s a draft. Since people with unfinished basements don’t spend a lot of time down there, Townhill says they sometimes forget to close them.
Drafts under doors and around windows are another way to lose heat. You can tell if there’s an issue with your windows by putting the back of your hand near the frame. For doors, check for any light coming from underneath the ones leading to the outside.
You can fix door drafts with weather stripping. Windows can be sealed with caulk or plastic sheets.
If that cold air gets in, Townhill says, "You can lose a lot of temperature which would cause the thermostat to cycle on.” And that would lead to high heating bills.
Finally, make sure your furniture isn't covering your heat vents, because even if everything else is in order, it will be on you, if your home stays cold.