Excerpts from Winnipeg Real Estate News Publication, October 9, 2009
Children are back in school, hockey season is in full swing and old Jack Frost will soon be nipping at our noses. As the days become shorter and cooler, furnaces across the country are being restarted for the first time. As these heating appliances switch on, we are reminded that fall is prime time to conduct routine inspection and maintenance on gas furnaces to prepare them for the upcoming winter months.
CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following
tips to help prepare gas furnaces forthe heating season:
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Keep warm-air registers, return-air openings, and space heaters or baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes allow free air movement.
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Do not store combustible materials such as paper, chemicals, paint rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace.
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Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapours and liquids in the vicinity of your gas furnace.
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Ensure that there is a free flow of air to the furnace. Keep the area immediately around your furnace clear by removing any obstructions.
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Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating season.
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Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and lethal gas that can occur any time there is incomplete combustion or poor venting. Any home that contains combustion appliances such as a gas furnace should have a CSA International certified carbon monoxide alarm installed according to the manufacturer s instructions. If you intend to purchase a new carbon monoxide alarm be sure to look for one bearing the CSA International Certification Flame mark and CSA 6 19-01 reference mark.
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