As the temperatures drop in Glen Ridge and throughout Northern New Jersey, it’s crucial to have a well-operating heating system. This isn’t just to ensure your family’s comfort on the coldest nights; it’s also about making sure your home is safe.
While heating oil itself has an excellent safety record, any heating system requires regular attention to operate correctly. Here are four key tips from the experts at JW Pierson to ensure your heating equipment runs safely all winter long.
Heating oil can only combust when vaporized at high temperatures, meaning it won’t explode in its liquid state. However, preventing oil tank leaks is essential, and that begins with your heating oil tank.
You should visually inspect your tank periodically for any signs of potential failure. Look out for:
If you notice any of these issues, contact JW Pierson right away. A prompt professional inspection is the best way to catch these problems before they lead to a significant fuel spill.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a natural byproduct of your heating system’s combustion process. A properly functioning furnace or boiler will vent this odorless, colorless gas safely outside. However, a damaged or dirty system can cause CO to leak into your home.
This buildup can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, a serious health risk that results in thousands of hospitalizations each year.
The best defense is installing CO detectors. You should have them on every level of your home, including the basement and outside all sleeping areas. Test your detectors and change their batteries twice a year — an easy way to remember is to do it when you change your clocks. Detectors should be replaced every five years; if you don’t know how old yours is, it’s safest to replace it immediately.
A significant part of home safety during winter is simply ensuring you never run out of heating oil. An empty tank can cause your system to shut down, leaving your home vulnerable to freezing pipes and other cold-weather damage.
The easiest way to prevent a run-out is by enrolling in automatic delivery with JW Pierson. Our system tracks your historical usage and local weather patterns to schedule your deliveries before you run low. It’s a free service that provides invaluable peace of mind, ensuring a continuous and reliable fuel supply all season long.
The single most effective way to ensure your heating system operates safely and efficiently is to schedule an annual professional tune-up. Our certified technicians at JW Pierson perform a comprehensive inspection, cleaning and tune-up that addresses all aspects of your equipment. During a tune-up, we carefully inspect your system to spot and fix problems.
A yearly tune-up not only protects your family but also improves your system’s efficiency—potentially lowering your heating costs by up to 10% — and extends the life of your equipment.
Need to schedule a tune-up before winter arrives in full force? Contact the team at JW Pierson today, and we’ll be happy to help.