Safety tips when cranking up the heat

STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Fall is in full swing and when the temperatures get cooler your house gets warmer by cranking up the heat.

28/22 News spoke to a heating business in Monroe County and has more on how you can keep your home safe in the colder months.

Work starts before the sun rises at r.j. Groner in Stroudsburg, especially when a chill is in the air.

“This time of year we see a spike in phone calls as soon as the temperature drops,” said Karen Zacharias, inside salesperson, R.J. Groner.

Zacharias has worked for the plumbing, heating, and cooling company for more than a decade. She explains how they urge everyone to run through a safety checklist before turning on their home's heat.

“Make sure, you know nothing's sooted up or all the electronics are working properly and the heat exchangers, make sure there’s no breachers or anything like that, that could potentially cause a carbon monoxide issue,” said Zacharias.

Ensure no items are cluttered around your heaters and that your system’s maintenance is up to date. Something you can do before calling in the experts is keep an eye on your furnace filters.

“Check the filters regularly, you know you want to make sure you’re checking them at least monthly and if it needs to be replaced, replace it,” said Zacharias.

If your heat won’t turn on, space heaters are good in a pinch, but could be a fire hazard without taking proper precautions such as checking the conditions of cords and outlets.

“One small issue could potentially be harmful. It could be harmful to your family, it could be harmful to your home with starting a fire, anything like that,” said Zacharias.

Although many people are turning their heat on and off due to fluctuating temperatures, officials at R.J. Groner say it’s better to leave your heat on low or auto to prevent damage to your system.