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By Danny Cain 

The use of home heating appliances rises dramatically in the cold winter months. Fireplaces can be cozy, warm, romantic, safe and trouble free. Unfortunately, these appliances can also be a serious threat to you and your family members if installed improperly or poorly maintained.

Whether you plan to light your fireplace, turn up the furnace, or pull out the space heater to combat the colder temperatures, you need to be aware of the basic safety features associated with these appliances in order to prevent unnecessary injuries.

This article will address the most frequent types of heating appliances used in homes and preventative measures that you can take to insure your safety. Information on the safe installation, proper use and required maintenance of these appliances will also be addressed.

With increasing fuel prices and the need to maximize the heating efficiencies of our homes many people supplement heating appliances through the installation of various types of "weatherizing" materials. These measures are intended to reduce outside drafts and to "lock in" warm air.

Unfortunately, these "air tight" homes can cause potential danger if the fumes generated from various heating appliances are not properly ventilated. It is important to remove these materials after the winter season, as homes can become extremely hot during the summer months creating an unsafe living environment.

Carbon Monoxide - Protecting Your Family

No matter what heat source you use in your home everyone needs to be aware of a silent and potentially fatal killer that can be pervading your home: carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisoning poses a serious risk to all of us but especially to small children and the elderly. In most cases involving carbon monoxide poisoning high and frequent use of home heating equipment is often the source of these incidents.

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and therefore can be extremely difficult to detect. Another danger is that the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning often mimic the flu. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. You should be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of these symptoms should they appear to go away once outside of your home.

Long term exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to neurological disorders, memory loss, personality changes, mild to severe forms of brain damage and even death.

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