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Show Page 16 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue XX October 15, 2000 Heating Systems: What You Should Know (NAPSI)—Experts from North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE) answer some frequently asked questions about heating systems. Q. How often should I have a certified technician check my heating system? A. Plan to have your heating system checked annually. Schedule the inspection before the cold weather season. Routine maintenance will increase the lifetime of your system and help ensure that it operates efficiently during the winter. Q. What are the warning signs that my heating system may not be working properly? A. If the heating unit simply won’t turn on, chances are that the unit’s built-in safety features have detected a mechanical problem. Or if the system runs for an unusually long cycle, there may be debris in the flue, blocking the airflow. Q. What can I do to make my heating system more efficient even though it’s running correctly? A. Make sure that your home is properly insulated. Apply caulking around windows and add weather stripping to possible sources of drafts. Make sure your heating filters are clean. Q. How can we keep indoor air properly humidified? A. To improve indoor air quality, prevent drying out of furniture and cabinetry, and reduce the spread of germs and contaminants related to the flu, consider installing a humidifier. A whole-house unit can work in partnership with the heating system to distribute moisture to every room. Q. What criteria should I use when setting the temperature on my heating system? A. “Ideal temperature” varies from home to home and is a matter of personal choice. Keep in mind that the thermostat should be turned down five degrees during extreme temperature fluctuations. However, lowering the temperature setting significantly could cause plumbing pipes to freeze and burst. Q. What do I need to prepare my heating system for the winter? A. Schedule an annual service check with a NATE-certified technician to ensure that your heating system is ready for the winter. He or she can evaluate the heating system’s components to make sure they’re all in safe working order. For more information on NATE, call 877-420-NATE or visit the website at www.natex.org. Carbon Monoxide—The Silent Killer: Is It In Your Home? There is a “silent killer” quietly invading many American homes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly and invisible poisonous gas produced as a natural by-product of the combustion of common household appliances that run on fossil fuel—from stoves and cook tops to space heaters, water heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers and fireplaces. CO is so deadly that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the Journal of the American Medical Association, it claims more lives in the U.S. yearly than any other poison. An estimated 2,100 to 6,000 people die from CO poisoning each year, with another 40,000 emergency room visits resulting from exposure to the toxic gas. CO is particularly dangerous because it is invisible to the human senses—it is odorless, colorless, tasteless and non-irritating. Yet, many individuals, especially babies, young children and the elderly, as well as anyone with cardiac or respiratory problems, can succumb so rapidly to even minute levels of the gas, that in a matter of minutes they face coma, permanent brain damage and death. Healthy adults are similarly affected, although the levels of CO in the blood at which they succumb to the poison may vary from individual to individual. CO, also known as “The Great Imitator,” at early, low-level exposure produces symptoms that often exactly “mimic” the flu or food poisoning. Victims—and even some health professionals—do not recognize the problem and thus may ignore the danger. These early symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, tightness in the chest, and diarrhea. The only way to detect insidious CO in your home is through the installation and proper maintenance of a UL listed CO alarm. First Alert, a leading manufacturer of home safety products, advises that you to never ignore your alarm if it sounds a warning. It is essential, in an alarm Situation, not to assume there’s no problem because everything seems O.K., and you don’t feel sick. The early warning is just that—early. Without knowing how serious the leak is or how fast the gas is accumulating, you should never ignore the alarm. Never. For more information on the carbon monoxide hazard and how to protect your family, log on to www.firstalert.com or call 1-800-3239005. For a free brochure, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: First Alert, Carbon Monoxide Brochure Offer, 3145 MacArthur Blvd., Suite C, Northbrook, Il 60062. Source: NAPSI |