KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They’ve been sitting dormant all summer and now furnances and heaters are again on the verge of firing up all over the metro as the weather grows cooler.
But before you crank up the heat, there are some safety steps to keep in mind.
Don’t be alarmed when you turn on your system and smell a strange odor. Experts say that’s normal and harmless.
Also, you can clean up all the lint buildup by vacuuming your furnance and the area around it.
“The first thing is your air filter — that’s the biggest thing to prevent the dust and smell. Make sure you keep flammable liquids or any type of flammable device away from the furnance for obvious reasons,” said Jared Stowers, a technician with Anthony Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Also if you have a floor furnance, remember to avoid fires. Do not place rugs, furniture or combustible items over or near the grill and do not block the air flow.
