Cold Weather Is Coming. Is Your Home Ready?
SECAUCUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Don't let the mild temperatures fool you. Experts say now is the time to get your home heating system ready for winter.
As CBS 2's Elise Finch reported, there are a few simple steps every homeowner should take to keep their houses warm.
Steve Cruz, owner of Dependable Plumbing & Heating in Secaucus, said people with steam systems should start by flushing their radiators.
"You want to purge your system," Cruz said. "Make sure all the air is out of your heating system and have a full stream of steady water. This way, your system is running at its optimal efficiency. Check the vents, the little silver vents on the radiators, to make sure they're actually pushing steam out of them."
Cruz said everyone should have their boilers serviced by a licensed professional to make sure all systems are working properly. "Circulating pumps, expansion tank, your relief valves, pressure trolls, your pilot assembly you want to check, of course your thermostats, your burner switches," Cruz said.
Cruz also recommends that homeowners check their chimneys or exhaust systems to make sure they are clear of debris, leaves and small animals. Blockages can lead to a backup of carbon monoxide in the home, a fire hazard.
"All the hot exhaust will actually ignite the small leaves and twigs that the birds bring in," Cruz said.
Firefighters say it happens all the time during the cold weather months, which is why they're encouraging people to invest in the latest smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Lt. Antonio Velez with the Fire Safety Education Unit said that homeowners, regardless of what kind of heating system they have, should install "new smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that have working 10-year lithium batteries."
"Just remember to test the battery," he said. "You're supposed to test the battery once a week."
Experts also say that now is the time to change filters if you have a hot air heating system, and also check thermostats to make sure they're working properly.
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