With winter just around the corner, your oil burner will be working overtime to provide heat for your home or business. While modern oil furnaces typically run efficiently with little maintenance, the team at Andersen Oil Company in Ledyard, CThas compiled some safety tips to keep in mind for a safe winter season:

• Look Out For Leaks: If you notice a considerable increase in your heating oil consumption, you might have a leak. While a leak in oil pipes is a relatively easy and inexpensive fix, a leak in your oil tank can be very costly. If you have an outdoor oil tank and notice dead or dying vegetation in its vicinity, contact a professional immediately. For indoor residential oil tanks, an oily slickness in your basement's drainage areas might indicate a leak which should be promptly addressed.

• Protect Yourself With Detectors: While the smell of oil may mean a loss of system integrity, the real problem does not have a smell. Odorless carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can build up in today's nearly airtight homes. Protect your family by purchasing several CO detectors at your local hardware store and install them in the locations suggested by the manufacturer.
• Care For Your Chimney: Venting through your chimney, an oil burning furnace's exhaust gases have the potential to create soot, blocking the chimney’s passage. In addition to causing your furnace to run with less efficiency, a blocked chimney could force toxic gases back into your home. A periodic inspection and cleaning of your chimney will allow the furnace to breathe freer, saving you money in the process.
• Fire Safety Preparation: Luckily, heating oil is almost impossible to ignite at room temperatures. In fact, your oil furnace is designed to heat oil over 140 degrees and then vaporize it. Only then can fuel oil ignite. Still, having an up-to-date fire extinguisher in the home is recommended.

For over 45 years, Andersen Oil Company has proudly served the Groton, Mystic, and Norwich, CT community. For home heating oil delivery at competitive prices, call Andersen Oil Company today at (860) 464-7628 or visit them online.