Heating Your Home

Heating your home safely. January is typically the coldest month. It is critical to stay warm at home. Homes throughout Alaska are heated differently.  Many homes have fuel tanks both above ground and buried underground. Other options for heating your home include pellet or wood stoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves. Maintaining your home’s heat source is important, so that your home’s heat does not fail in extreme temperatures.

Preparation and Ongoing Safety For Heating Your Home

Properly preparing the source for heating your home will keep you and your family safer and warmer during Alaska’s cold winter months. Children should not stand too closely or lay right next to a fire or stove. Keep children safe by speaking with them about the dangers of fire. Explain the importance of allowing plenty of room near a fire so that no one gets hurt.

Inspect your home heating fuel tank to help avoid costly cleanup and damage. Keep tanks and piping away from areas with high traffic. Check to make sure the vent line is clear of foreign matter. Ensure visible connections are clean and flexible, giving them space to move with the freeze/thaw cycles.

Discuss fire safety when using an open flame for heating your home. Clean up around the fireplace or gas stove before lighting anything. Some things can get too hot and catch fire unexpectedly. Avoid disaster with a little cleanup ahead of time.

Heating Your Home Using A Fuel Tank

If heating your home with a fuel tank, track the level of fuel, especially when temperatures drop below zero.  With a full tank, you won’t have to worry about the fuel level running low. Measure and monitor fuel usage and compare it to past seasons.

The fuel for heating your home is poured through a pipe leading into the tank. Clear path to your tank to ensure the company that fills your oil tank always has good access. Some Alaskans fill their own tank to save money.  Be cautious when filling up your own tank in extreme cold.  Protect yourself by wearing cold weather gear. At least wear heavy-duty gloves and a coat. 

Heating Your Home With A Pellet Or Wood Stove

Keep a surplus of wood or pellet fuel for heating your home.  If you use a wood burner, make sure to burn well dried wood in order to prevent condensation in the chimney. 

Condensation also occurs from a process through the exhaust gases. Exhaust gases contain water. The fire vaporizes the water which is carried through the smoke.  In extreme temperatures, the gases get so cold they freeze inside the chimney, preventing proper air flow.  Properly insulated stove pipes on your furnace help prevent the condensation from occurring.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces are a great way to warm up your home on cold winter days but there are several safety concerns with indoor fires. Ensure you are practicing good fire safety for not only open flame but gas fireplaces too.

Open the damper or flue on fireplaces before starting a fire. The smoke is drawn out of the house eliminating build up in the house. Use the proper type of wood for fireplaces. Use well-dried and well-aged wood for less smoke buildup. Finally, get your chimney cleaned by a professional each year to avoid build up on the chimney walls.

Gas Stoves

Do not fall into a lull with fire safety because you think gas stoves or gas-powered fireplaces are safer for heating your home. The gas stoves get really hot and increase safety hazards because people are often less careful with them. Never store items on gas stoves. Jackets, blankets, stuffed animals and other items can melt easily from the heat produced by a gas stove or fireplace.

This piece on Heating Your Home is the fourth of a nine-part winter safety series. See our safety tips for Outdoor Winter Walking Safety; Keeping Kids Safe and Warm; Cold Weather Vehicle Safety; Driving in Ice and Snow; Snowmachine Safety; Removing Ice and Snow Safely; and Surviving Extreme Cold.

Please call Johnson & Associates to discuss your case: (907)277-3090 or use our online contact form.

Johnson & Associates has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Sources: Cooperative Extension Service; SOA Prevention Preparedness

Image Source: Taylored Restoration Alaska