SAN DIEGO, Oct. 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the arrival of fall, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is advising customers to inspect their home-heating appliances and perform any needed maintenance rather than waiting for the first cold snap.
"Now is the time to perform maintenance on home-heating appliances to ensure safe operation," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer services at SDG&E. "If customers think their heating appliances are not functioning properly, they should call a licensed heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E."
A clean and well-maintained furnace is a safe furnace and is more energy-efficient, helping customers save money on their monthly gas bills, Mueller added.
Failure to perform annual maintenance on your gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon monoxide, which can cause nausea, drowsiness, flu-like symptoms, and even death.
SDG&E offers customers the following tips to ensure the safe and efficient operation of their natural gas furnace:
-- Have gas furnaces checked at least once a year by a licensed
heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E.
-- Vacuum and clean regularly around the furnace, particularly around
the burner compartment, to prevent a build-up of dust and lint.
-- Never store items in, on or around the appliance that can obstruct
airflow.
-- Most forced-air units have a filter that cleans the air before
heating and circulating it throughout the home. The filter should
be checked monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use
and cleaned or replaced,
-- When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the
front panel door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly. Never
operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly in place
because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
-- Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame is yellow, large
and unsteady, the furnace needs to be inspected immediately by a
licensed heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E and the condition
corrected to ensure safety.
For more information on furnace safety, please visit SDG&E's Web site at www.sdge.com.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.2 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters. The company's service territory encompasses 4,100 square miles in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company.