Hi everyone, Olive here! The holiday season is finally here and so is the cooler weather. As you decorate and prepare for your guests to arrive, it is easy to get busy and overlook the importance of home heating safety. I’m going to give you a few of my safety tips to help ensure everyone, including your furry family members, will be warm, cozy, and safe this holiday season.
- Burn-Proof the Fireplace: Fireplaces can add warmth and ambiance to your holiday celebration when used safely. Keep flammable materials away from the flames and be sure to use a protective barrier to keep small fingers and curious canines at a safe distance.
- Be Mindful of Space Heaters: Space heaters can keep your rooms cozy and warm, but they get really hot! With the extra guests and excitement of the holiday celebration, these hot heaters can get in the way, so try to choose one with a safety feature that will turn it off if it tips over. Another safety tip is to ensure that flammable materials such as blankets and window drapes, along with curious pups, don’t get too close to something that hot.
- Keep an Eye on Candles: Burning candles are festive, but those flickering flames can be mesmerizing to pups and small children. Opt for flameless candles to capture the ambiance without the risk. If you do decide to burn real candles, place them away from anything flammable and where they can’t be accidentally knocked over by children or excited wagging tails.
- Cord Organization and Safety: Holiday decorations often mean extra lights and cords. For those of you who have seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, let me remind you that cords can be a temptation to us furry family members who like to chew. A little cord organization can go a long way in keeping those tempting wires out of reach to avoid any unplanned holiday shocks.
- Have Your Furnace Checked by Professionals: I love laying on a warm furnace vent just as much as the next pup so be sure to contact my friends at Russell & Abbott Heating and Cooling to ensure your holiday celebration is not ruined by an unexpected breakdown. This is especially true for those of you who have gas furnaces. Their professional technicians will do a Combustion Analysis to make sure that harmful combustion gases are ventilating properly so you can have a safe and worry-free holiday.
So, to you and all my canine friends out there, following just a few of my heating safety tips can ensure that you have a safe and happy time during this holiday season. Don’t forget to schedule a check of your furnace with my friends at Russell and Abbott Heating and Cooling so they can provide you with the peace of mind you deserve as you celebrate the holidays.
Stay warm & safe,
Olive