I almost hate to bring this up, but summer is officially over and daily temperatures are dipping. While we certainly have many beautiful fall days ahead, it’s not too early to prepare for winter’s icy grip. One of the most important steps in winterizing your home is inspecting and, if necessary, servicing your furnace.
Poorly functioning furnaces (and, for that matter, other fuel-burning heat sources) can cause carbon monoxide (CO) to build up in a home’s living space. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can quickly overwhelm unsuspecting victims. In fact, carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common form of accidental poisoning death in the United States. Changing your furnace’s filter and having it inspected regularly by a qualified technician can minimize this risk. Of course, you should also adequately equip your home with carbon monoxide detectors.
Another hazard of malfunctioning furnaces may be somewhat obvious: your house will get chilly. In some cases, your home can get dangerously cold. Deaths from hypothermia are not unheard of in residential settings. As is often the case, the very young and the very old are particularly vulnerable.
Don’t wait until the icicles start forming to get your furnace checked out. Spend a few minutes today to ensure your safety all winter.
Growing up in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, Nolan Erickson began working at Church Wyble PC in 2007 as a law clerk. Now as an attorney with Grewal Law, Mr. Erickson has developed extensive experience with all phases of trial and pre-trial resolution of personal injury matters, including major auto accident, medical malpractice, and other serious injury cases.
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