Fire safety is always at the top of every homeowner’s list no matter what time of year it is. But, given the fact that we’re heading into the colder months of the year, we thought it would be fitting to discuss the dangers of storage in mechanical room areas, such as the room where your furnace resides.

The Need for Additional Storage

If you’re like most people, you own many items that require storage throughout the year. Perhaps you have a collection of family mementos that you want to hold on to or maybe you have boxes full of Christmas ornaments and decorations. Point is, you have more than enough stuff and are always looking for the best place to store your belongings.

Why You Should Never Use a Furnace Room for Storage

While many homes have multiple places where you can store various items, your furnace room should never be one of these places. Personal belongings often include items that are either flammable or susceptible to fire. Some have even been known to house dangerous elements like solvents and cleaning supplies. If your furnace malfunctions or an accident occurs, a fire could erupt very quickly. This is why you should never use a furnace room for storage, no matter the situation.

How to Prevent a Fire in the Furnace Room

Keeping your family and friends safe from the dangers of a fire in the furnace room can be accomplished by following these tips:

• Schedule an annual maintenance inspection of the furnace with a qualified technician.
• Do not store any cardboard boxes, cleaning materials, or chemicals anywhere in the room.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Purchase at least one fire extinguisher and make it easy to locate.
• Do not block the entrance to the room or the areas surrounding the furnace.

To learn more about the dangers of storage in mechanical room areas, or if you have other home comfort concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the friendly professionals at Powers Heating & Air. We’ve been serving the HVAC needs of Peachtree City and the surrounding areas since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.