MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — From wood pellets, to an oil furnace, kerosene or an electric space heater, there are plenty of heating options inside Steele’s Ace Hardware near Tannersville.
Many customers, including Kristen Vanwhy of Bushkill, are getting ready to flip on the heat.
”On Monday we just had our oil furnace cleaned, we do that twice a year just because it’s the right thing to do.” said Vanwhy.
But as the temperatures outside go down, the potential danger to your home goes up.
”Our call volume definitely increases. Everything in the winter becomes more dangerous, more icy more slick.” said Chief Geroge Dobson from the Coolbaugh Township Volunteer Fire Company.
Chief Dobson has some tips to make sure you’re safely heating your home this winter.
"People who don’t have their chimneys cleaned and inspected annually they don’t open the flue. lotta people come up in and have rental homes and they don’t know that they have to open the flue for a chimney when they were the fire so naturally smoke enters the home pretty rapidly. People either improperly heating home creating harmful gases in the residence are making people sick and ill. And also make sure that if you’re using space heaters, make sure that there’s a minimum of 3 feet from where the heater is there anything flammable.” said Dobson.
As we turn back the clocks this weekend for the end of Daylight Saving Time, Chief Dobson says one important tip is to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm is in working condition.
”Twice a year it’s a great time to remember, we need to replace our some detector batteries. Also check your smoke detectors. There always a manufacturing date on there approximately every 10 years is a good time to replace them.” said Dobson.
Chief Dobson says never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
If you cannot afford a smoke alarm and are in need on one you can visit either of the Coolbaugh Township Volunteer fire houses on Monday evening at 6:30.