Gas Furnace Safety Tips from CSA International

TORONTO , Oct. 13 /CNW/ - Children are back in school, hockey season is in full swing and old Jack Frost will soon be nipping at our noses. As the days become shorter and cooler, furnaces across the country are being restarted for the first time. As these heating appliances switch on, we are reminded that Fall is prime time to conduct routine inspection and maintenance on gas furnaces to prepare them for the upcoming winter months.

CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following tips to help prepare gas furnaces for the heating season:

    
    Gas Furnace Maintenance
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    -  Keep warm air registers, return air openings, and space heaters or
       baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes to allow free air
       movement.
    -  Do not store combustible materials such as paper, chemicals, paint,
       rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace.
    -  Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapours and liquids in
       the vicinity of your gas furnace.
    -  Ensure that there is a free flow of air to the furnace.  Keep the area
       immediately around your furnace clear by removing any obstructions.
    -  Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating
       season.
    -  Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check
       of your furnace and venting system.
    -  Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and lethal gas that can
       occur any time there is incomplete combustion or poor venting. Any
       home that contains combustion appliances such as a gas furnace should
       have a CSA International-certified carbon monoxide alarm installed
       according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you intend to
       purchase a new carbon monoxide alarm, be sure to look for one bearing
       the CSA International Certification Flame mark and CSA 6.19-01
       reference mark.
    

About CSA International

CSA International is a provider of product testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products. Recognized in the U.S., Canada and around the world, CSA International certification marks appear on billions of products worldwide. CSA International is a division of CSA Group, which also includes CSA, a leading solutions based standards organization, providing standards development, application products, training and advisory services; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information, visit www.csa-international.org

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For further information: Marco A. Ouji, Media Relations Officer, CSA Group, T: [phone], E: [email protected]