• Floor furnace -     Avoid lint build-up by vacuuming the floor furnace and the area around it regularly.    Keep children away from the grill, as it gets very hot.    Avoid fires - don't place rugs, furniture or combustible items over or near the grill, and do not block the airflow.
• Wall furnace - Clean inside the burner compartment of built-in, vented wall furnaces once a month during the heating season to prevent lint build-up.

• Lint and dust hazards - Many natural gas furnaces use air from the room to operate. Lint and dust carried by air can block airflow. In order to operate safely and efficiently, your natural gas furnace must be free of dust and lint build-up.
• Keep filters clean - Most forced-air furnaces have a filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout your home. Inspect your filter monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use. Clean or replace the filter if necessary.
• Install filters correctly - When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to reinstall the front-door panel of the furnace properly so it fits snugly.
• Ensure front door is in place - Never use your furnace without the front-door panel in place because you may risk carbon monoxide poisoning. Most newer forced-air furnaces have a furnace safety switch that prevents furnace operation when the filter compartment door/panel is not in place.
  Some older forced-air furnaces do not have a safety switch and can be operated with the filter compartment door/panel off or not properly in place. These older furnaces, when installed in a closet and operated with the door/panel not in place, may circulate carbon monoxide throughout the house.

Using an unvented natural gas heater in your home is dangerous and a violation of the Ontario Health and Safety Code. These heaters aren't approved for use in homes for the following reasons:

• Poor operation can result in an accumulation of hazardous fumes.
• Unless a room heater has enough air from an outside vent or an open window, all of the oxygen in a room can be used up, resulting in serious illness or death.
• The flames in these heaters may not be fully covered, which could result in burn injuries or fires.

All natural gas appliances have a main burner flame and many also have a pilot flame. Follow these tips to reduce the risk of flammable vapours being ignited by these flames.

• Storing Flammable Products - Never store or use flammable products such as gasoline, paint, thinner or cleaning products near or in the same room as your water heater.
• Elevate Garage Water Heaters - Water heaters installed in garages must be elevated so the pilot or other source of ignition is a minimum of 18 inches above the floor or installed per local building codes and the manufacturers’ installation instructions. 
  Note: Manufacturers’ labels and/or instruction manuals for new Flammable Vapour Ignition Resistant (FVIR) tank water heaters may not indicate the 18-inch elevation requirement for garage installations. This is because applicable codes have been updated to exempt FVIR water heaters in garages from the elevation requirement.
• Secure Heaters for Earthquakes - Earthquakes can cause improperly secured water heaters to move or topple.To help prevent this, strap it firmly to the wall studs in two places – the upper and lower one-third of the tank – with heavy bolts and metal strapping.Be sure to place the lower strap at least four inches above the thermostat controls.
  Kits are often available at your local hardware store and we recommend having a qualified professional install it for you.
• Lower Your Temperature Setting - Lowering your temperature setting can prevent scalding accidents and lower your energy costs. Water temperatures above 125° F can cause severe burns or even death. If you live with small children, or disabled or elderly persons, you may require a 120° F or lower thermostat setting to prevent contact with"HOT" water. Please refer to your water heater manufacturer's recommendation for safe temperature settings.
  If you need to replace your water heater, check our available rebates on qualifying high-efficiency models.

Follow these safety precautions to reduce the risk of a fire or injury:

• Always vent your natural gas dryer outdoors.
• Don't exhaust natural gas dryers into an attic, chimney, wall, ceiling or concealed space of a building.
• Use only approved metal vent ducting material. Plastic and vinyl materials are not approved for natural gas dryers.
• Inspect the exhaust duct regularly to ensure that it hasn't become crushed, kinked or otherwise restricted.
• Periodically clear the interior of the exhaust duct. This work should be performed by a qualified professional.
• Never store or use flammable products such as gasoline, paint, thinner or cleaning products near or in the same room as your dryer.

To help avoid serious accidents, the damper must be kept open on a permanent basis. Use the damper lock included with the natural gas log assembly kit.

Although attic insulation can help lower your energy bills, improperly installed insulation can create a fire hazard. Be sure to use the following tips for new and existing attic insulation:

• Keep insulation away from all heat sources, furnaces, water heaters, recessed light fixtures, fan motors, doorbell transformers, chimneys, flues and vents.
• Install a barrier made of approved non-combustible material around the above heat sources.
• Keep insulation away from all bare wires or “knob and tube” wiring.
• Keep the air supply openings to the forced-air furnace free of any insulation.
• Leave your attic or eave vents uncovered.
• Periodically check your attic for insulation movement.