One of the leading causes of fires or injury during the winter is improper use of heating equipment. However, the home inspection professionals from I.C. IT Home Inspection in San Antonio, TX, want you to know that by following a few simple safety tips, it’s easy to stay safe while heating your home.

Here are five home heating “DOs and DON’Ts” that will help you avoid injuries and costly home repairs this winter:

• DO Keep Items Away From Heaters: No matter what kind of heating equipment you use to warm up your home, it’s always a good idea to keep items at least three feet away from such equipment.
• DON’T Use Oven As A Heater: Using your oven as a heater might seem like a good idea in an emergency, but it can be extremely dangerous. It carries the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and is extremely inefficient.
• DON’T Leave Heaters On All Night: Space heaters aren’t meant to be used 24/7 and can overheat or cause dangerous problems with your electrical outlet if you’re not careful; never leave your heater on all night.
• DO Perform A Yearly Inspection: Before the cold sets in, it’s always a good idea to invest in a professional home inspection of your heating equipment to identify areas in need of cleaning or preventative maintenance.
• DO Use Proper Fuel: When using your heating equipment, it’s always prudent to use the type of fuel specified by the manufacturer; not doing so can result in fire or other harmful scenarios.

For more helpful heating tips, contact the home inspection professionals from I.C. IT Home Inspection today at (210) 473-5212. They also specialize in foundation inspection and other home buying services, so be sure to visit them online for a closer look at what they do.