Heating season safety checklist for older Rochester homes
Before the furnace kicks on for the season, a quick walk through the house covers alarms, space heaters and the one law every New York homeowner should know.
Rochester has a lot of beautiful older homes, and many of them still have original wiring, older furnaces and bedrooms tucked up under the roof. Before the heat comes on for the season, a twenty minute walk through the house is worth the effort.
1. Test every alarm
Press the test button on every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm. New York's Amanda's Law requires carbon monoxide alarms in most one and two family homes that have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage. A combination smoke and CO alarm covers both risks in one unit. Put one on every level and outside each sleeping area.
2. Give space heaters room
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away, including curtains, bedding and laundry.
- Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.
- Choose a model with tip-over and overheat shutoff, like our compact ceramic heater.
- Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
3. Keep a fire blanket in the kitchen
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. A fire blanket mounted near the kitchen exit, not right above the stove, lets you smother a small pan fire without reaching across the flames.
4. Watch the wiring
Warm outlets, flickering lights and a faint burning smell are all warning signs. Have an electrician take a look, and consider a Ting sensor, which watches the electrical system for small arcs and sends an alert to your phone.
5. Plan two ways out
Every bedroom should have a second exit. For second-floor rooms that usually means a window and an escape ladder. Practice once in daylight so everyone knows how it works.
Have your furnace or boiler serviced by a licensed technician before the heating season. This checklist is general guidance, not a replacement for a professional inspection.
