Take some tips from SaskEnergy before you get that furnace into high gear. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Furnace Tips

SaskEnergy offers safety, cost-cutting tips as furnaces fire up

Oct 25, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Winter hasn’t fully set in yet, but the cold weather has started to arrive, and that means many people are waking up their furnaces after several dormant months.

SaskEnergy is providing tips for both safety and cost reduction as people get their furnaces running.

The first thing SaskEnergy wants people to be aware of when firing up their furnace is the danger of carbon monoxide. Every year, they designate the first week of November as carbon monoxide awareness week, and that will be the case this year again.

“It’s known as the silent killer,” said Brian Miller, manager of government and media relations for SaskEnergy. “It’s an odorless, tasteless, invisible, poisonous gas that’s formed by incomplete combustion of fuels. Excess amounts of carbon monoxide will form when there isn’t proper ventilation or adequate air supply.”

Everything from fire places to gas stoves to water heaters to furnaces can cause buildups of the gas, so making sure your vents are clear, especially those that lead outside and may be crammed with snow and ice, is critical. Carbon monoxide detectors are now mandatory in Saskatchewan as well.

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“Those carbon monoxide detectors are the best way to know if there is carbon monoxide in your home before any problems or symptoms occur from that buildup from carbon monoxide,” Miller said.

Even if you never have an issue with a buildup of carbon monoxide, there are some things to keep in mind as the furnaces start up for the cooler season. Keeping your furnace maintained and inspected regularly is a good way to keep it running efficiently.

“We also recommend regular changing of your furnace filter, every month or two,” said Miller. “That’s a good idea to allow your furnace to run as efficiently as it can.”

Keeping the furnace running efficiently is a good way not to be caught off guard by a massive energy bill at the end of the month. Miller had other tips for helping keep those costs from climbing too high.

“If you lower the temperature of your home at night or when you’re not in the house, you can save about two per cent on your energy bill for every degree you turn down the thermostat,” Miller said. “We also suggest washing your laundry using cold water or washing full loads.”

Miller added people should keep their meters as free of ice or snow as possible, but be careful not to kick or scrape the meter to get it off.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP