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Caring for your furnace

Heating systems should be clean, properly vented and checked regularly by a qualified professional, including cleaning or replacing your furnace filter regularly and cleaning your chimney and flue.

Installing, repairing or replacing appliances

If you need to install, repair or replace an appliance, hire a qualified professional to make sure the work is properly done. Never attempt this yourself!

Set a safe water temperature

Water heaters should be set to operate according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid scalding.

Moving an appliance?

If you’re removing an appliance, you should hire a qualified professional to make sure the natural gas is turned off and the natural gas line is properly capped.

Be alert for carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, non-corrosive gas created when fuels burn incompletely. Know the symptoms of CO poisoning and ensure your home has properly installed CO detectors on every level of your property and in every room where someone sleeps.

Clogged sewer line? Call 811

Call 811 and hire a professional plumber to clear sewer lines safely. Your clog could be caused by a rare situation called a cross bore and can pose a safety risk.

Check gas appliance venting

Have a qualified professional inspect your natural gas appliances for proper venting, that the exhaust and vent are in good repair and are not clogged or blocked.

Smell gas? Stop. Leave. Call.

If you smell a rotten egg or sulfur-like odor, you could have a gas leak. STOP what you're doing, LEAVE the area immediately and CALL 911 and us. We'll send someone to check on the source of the odor at no cost to you, whether there is a leak or not.

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Never install a furnace where someone sleeps. Hire a qualified professional to ensure your equipment is properly vented and adjusted for an adequate supply of fresh air for safe and efficient combustion.

Flooding hazard

Flooding can damage your equipment, appliances and lines causing a safety hazard. A qualified professional should check, clean, repair and test all equipment, appliances and lines, before service is restored.

Protect natural gas lines and appliances

Natural gas lines and appliances should never be tampered with, hung on, or used for any purpose other than their intended use.

Safe use of plugs

Large and heat producing appliances should be plugged directly into individual outlets. Don’t use an extension cord.

Hire a qualified professional

Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have:

• Warm or discolored wall outlets
• A burning smell from an appliance
• Flickering lights
• Frequent problems with circuit breakers or blowing fuses

Don't overload

Replace or repair damaged electrical cords to keep your home safe. Do not overload electrical cords or outlets. Have a qualified electrician add more outlets if you need them.

Put safety first

Use GFCI outlets to reduce the risk of potential shock. GFCIs should be installed in all areas where water source is present. Test GFCIs once a month or per the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Red Tags, What do they mean?