New Home - Heating Your Home Safely

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In this article we're going to discuss the options for heating your new home. And the debate between oil and gas goes on.

Probably one of the biggest decisions you will face when building your new home is heating. Do you go with oil or gas? There are pluses and minuses to each and the argument about which one is better will go on, most likely, until the end of time.

Oil heat is unquestionably more safe. That is the big argument supporters of oil heat will give you. The problem with oil heat is that with the rising costs of fuel oil, it costs a fortune, especially if you live in a cold climate. On top of that, oil heat is clearly not as convenient. You need to get constantly supplied and if the truck doesn't come you freeze. It happens.

Gas heat is cheaper, it's cleaner but it can also be dangerous. Gas explodes. Oil doesn't. But let's for argument sake say you decide to go with gas heat because the pluses far outweigh the minuses. What can you do to make sure your gas heat system is as safe as possible?  

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For starters, make sure the system itself is installed by a professional. Don't do this yourself. Make sure the system itself is top quality. Don't skimp in this area. Natural gas is nothing to fool around with. The last thing you want is to have your home blow up on you. After the system is installed make sure it is inspected for any gas leaks.

After installation is complete there are things that you can and should do to make sure that your system remains safe. Neglect in any of these areas can be disastrous.

The first thing you need to know is that your gas heat system does have a built in safeguard. It's that gas smell. Natural gas is actually odorless. That smell is a chemical added to the gas to let you know that there is a problem. So if you smell something that should be like a red flag in front of your face. There is definitely a problem.

If you have a gas leak it can come from a number of places like faulty appliances, loose connections, service lines inside or outside your home, or from the gas main itself. If you smell a gas leak you should take the following precautions.

1. Do not light any matches or switch on any electrical switches. One tiny spark can blow your house into next Sunday.

2. Ventilate the house by opening up all the windows and doors that you can. The gas itself can kill you even if it doesn't explode.

3. If the odor is very strong or if you hear a hissing sound, get out of the house as fast as you can. Call the police or fire department from your cell phone if you have one or from a neighbor's house.

To keep you unit running properly make sure you keep the unit free of dust and corrosion, check the filter regularly and replace when you have to, check the blower for excessive wear and inspect all gas appliances regularly.

By following the above procedures you can help reduce the risk of your home turning into a disaster area.