Tips On Natural Gas Appliance Safety (NAPSA)—AII major forms of energy used in U.S. homes have excellent safety records. But—just as people should drive carefully and maintain their vehicles’ brakes and engines—consumers must maintain their home appliances and operate them properly. The American Gas Association offers these tips for safe use of natural gas appliances: Gas Appliance Tips People with natural gas appliances should use common sense and take precautions: * Do not use flammable liquids around appliances. * Do not attempt to bypass safety devices. If you have a natural gas furnace or boiler, be sure to have it regularly serviced by a qualified contractor who: Inspects the furnace vent system * Removes any leaves, nests or obstructions from the chimney Replaces or cleans theair filter and lubricates the blower motor Cleans pilots and burner chambers Removes dust and lint from furnace vents, registers and baseboard heaters Cleans thermostats. Carbon Monoxide Smokeinhalation related to a fire is the most common form of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and motor vehicle exhaust causes nearly two-thirds of the unintentional deaths from CO not related to fires, according to It’s important for homeowners to have chimneys and heating vents cleaned regularly. the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CO is a poisonous gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless, so it’s important to know the symptoms of exposure. They include dizziness, headache, nausea and sudden sleepiness. A small number of CO-related incidents involve fuel-burning appliances. To help prevent COrelated problems: * Do not idle cars in garages attached to a home. Schedule periodic inspections of fuel-burning equipment. Install CO detectors in your house. Be certain all vents and chimneys in your homeareclear of debris. * Do not use ovens to heat rooms and never use portable gas grills in enclosed areas. For more information, visit www.aga.org.
