Furnace Safety Tips

Heating your home in the winter is important – especially in our Canadian climate.  Equally important is maintaining your furnace (and chimney) at least yearly to make sure all is working to safety standards. Here are some tips to keep your home safe:

  • Clean or change furnace filters regularly. (Replace disposable filters. Wash, brush or vacuum permanent filters.)

  • Look for rust spots on or around your furnace – it could be a sign of an issue in need of repair.

  • Replace carpeting around and/or under the furnace with sheet metal or other fire proof material.

  • Clean out personal property and/or debris from the furnace area. You should never use your furnace closet for storage or drying clothes.

  • Furnaces and hot water heaters are powered by electricity or fuels like oil, propane or natural gas, so it’s important that there’s enough space for proper ventilation – as well as maintenance or emergency repair work.

  • Don’t lean anything against the furnace or water heater.

  • Don’t place kitty litter near your furnace – ammonia fumes from the litter can corrode the furnace heat exchanger and odours can circulate throughout your home.

  • In an emergency, or even for a regular inspection, burnt-out light bulbs and low lighting can make walking around your furnace room hazardous.  Keep a flashlight handy.

The recommendation(s), advice and contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. Clare Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“Clare Mutual”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein will make any premises, property or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. Under no circumstances should this material or your acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein be construed as establishing the existence or availability of any insurance coverage with Clare Mutual. By providing this information to you, Clare Mutual does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.