Maintain Safe and Comfortable Home Heating

Clean filters promote energy efficiency and cost saving. Replace disposable filters according to furnace use and the time of year. This could even mean monthly in the coldest part of winter. Schedule the cleaning of electrostatic filters similarly. Use the manufacturer's instructions as a guide. At the time of the filter change or cleaning, also check your venting for corrosion or obstructions.

The furnace needs sufficient air to work properly. A fresh air inlet into the furnace room is advisable. Lack of air or poor air circulation can cause improper combustion and production of dangerous carbon monoxide. Never upset the air circulation by running the furnace with the fan compartment cover removed.

A blue/red flame gives the right message. It indicates proper combustion. A yellow flame indicates soot and combustion problems that could eventually snuff out the pilot light. Adjustment by a qualified technician is indicated. This is one of the long list of checks made by Ram when servicing your system.

Inspect chimneys (metal vents) annually. Remove the bottom inspection plate. Check for blockages that could cause a downdraft. Make sure to replace the inspection plate.

Tidy the area around the furnace and water heater. Move combustible materials (such as paint, paper, and cardboard) well away. Also, for general safety, never store flammable liquids (such as gasoline, paint thinner, or paint remover) inside your home.

A humidifier can be a good investment. The air in Calgary is very dry. Air moistened by a good humidifier is easier and more economical to heat. Be warned though that the humidifier will have to be frequently cleaned to avoid the build-up of sediment that comes with Calgary's hard water.

Inspect and clean your brick chimney annually. Do it top to bottom. At the top, see if there are any cracks in the cap. Left unfilled, these could let water in to freeze and damage the bricks. Also look to see if there is any blockage, such as wedged-in debris, which could create a barrier of built-up ice or snow. At the base of the chimney, clear away accumulated soot, loose mortar, and whatever might obstruct the free passage of the products of combustion. Remember to replace the inspection plates after you have finished your check.

When the fire is burning allow a steady supply of fresh air into your home. This is very important. The reason is that the burning fire will continually pull air from your home. If this air is not replenished, the air pressure inside will drop, and outside air will be drawn in through your gas appliance chimney. Now, when the gas appliances come on, their combustion products can't exit by the appliance chimney and instead spread out into your home. As the cycle continues, incomplete combustion occurs. This in turn, produces carbon monoxide, and the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning becomes a serious hazard.

With the damper open ... open the window. Fresh air is the answer. When the fireplace damper is opened to allow the fire to draw well and burn properly, also open a window wide enough to bring in sufficient replacement air from outside. Keep the window open until the fire is completely out and the damper is closed. Be sure to tell everyone in the house why the window is open, and must remain open until the fire is cold and the damper is shut. When the fireplace is not in use, keep the damper closed to avoid losing your home's heat up the chimney.