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Whether you’re decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or your own holiday tradition, remember to follow these tips to keep your home and family safe, and your utility bill low.

When deciding on lights to decorate your home, there are mainly two choices (unless you’re going to start counting mini-bulbs): incandescent lights and LED lights. Research has shown that even though LED lights can be more costly upfront, at least $10-$15 more than incandescents, they are the best choice in the long run.

LED lights use less energy, which can mean savings of $1 to $11, depending on how many lights you are using and how often they are used. They are also more durable, even after 4,000 plus hours of use, however, incandescents generally lose their brilliance within 2,000 hours.

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Other benefits to using LED’s include the fact that they are better for the environment, they don’t have glass covers or filaments that can break, and they run much cooler, reducing risk of fire. The only way that incandescents stack up is in brightness, normally five to six times brighter than the LED’s.

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Safety rules to remember about lights:

According to Consumer Reports:

• Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires each year that result in 14 deaths.
• Make sure the lights’ wire has a holographic “UL Listed” tag.
• Discard any strings with broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
• Plug no more than three strings of lights into an extension cord.
• Turn off holiday lights when you leave home or go to bed.

A well kept water heater.

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 1.) Take note of the manufacture date and capacity. Make sure to post the information in an easy to see area for future inspections and potential emergencies.

2.) Is there any indication of rust or corrosion? If so, note the area that the rust occurs and contact a professional. If caught early enough, it can usually be repaired for minimal cost and time.

3.) Check to see that the main water line is leak free. If a leak is evident, note how large it is and see if you can’t repair it yourself. If you’re uncomfortable with messing around with the water lines, there’s no shame in contacting a someone with more experience.

4.) Check water temperature setting. If it appears too warm, then lowering it is probably a good idea, and vice versa. However, the temperature gauge should never be set above 130°F.

5) Identify any leaks. Leaks could spring virtually anywhere in the water heater, but the ones you, as a homeowner, should be concerned with are the visible ones.

Remember, you should never have to move your water heater to inspect it; leave that to the professionals. If you notice any abnormalities, leaks, dents, rusting, incorrect valve pressure, or cracks, be sure to contact a professional to have it checked out. The sooner you identify issues and get them fixed, the better. Leaving issues to the last minute can create big problems for your hot water situation, and could potentially cost you hundreds of dollars is left unchecked.

Frequent inspections can prevent this from happening.

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In addition to checking you water heater periodically, you should schedule to have a professional come in at least twice a year to look in the hard to reach places. Things like internal leaks, cracks, and other complications should be looked at by your local water heater specialist.

How to Prevent Heat-Related Illness

• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing (light colors reflect away some of the sun’s energy) and plenty of sunscreen. Wear a hat or use an umbrella to help shield you from the sun.
• Carry water or juice and drink frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Make sure to check on youth and elderly to make sure they have enough fluids.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increases metabolic heat.
• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed by a physician.
• Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do something physically demanding, try to do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m. Take regular breaks to cool off.
• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Be vigilant about water safety if headed to a pool or beach. Never leave a child unattended near water and keep lifesaving gear handy.
• Watch for signs of life-threatening heat stroke. The person’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
• Signals of heat stroke include hot, red, and usually dry skin, changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse and rapid, shallow breathing.
• If you or someone you know experience symptoms, call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim’s wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.
• Don’t forget to protect your pets.
• Limit exercise to the coolest part of the day, typically early in the morning. Even in the coolest part of the day, watch for signs of trouble. Glassy eyes and frantic panting indicate a dog needs help.
• Make sure your pet has constant access to shade and an endless supply of cool, clean water.
• Never leave a pet in a car – even for a few minutes.
• Be vigilant for signs of heat stroke, which is deadly for pets. Symptoms include sluggish and non-responsive demeanor, bright red and/or dry tongue and gums, vomiting or diarrhea and/or unusual breathing patter, heavy panting, or high heart rate.  If your pet displays these symptoms, get emergency medical attention.

Coming up later this week… Air Conditioning and whether it is right for you.

• Portable space heaters need to have a 36-inch clearance between them and anything that can burn.  They also need to be turned off every time you leave the room or go to bed.
• Only use a licensed heating contractor to install new furnaces or heat pumps in your home.  They will be able to install them with the correct ventilation according to code, which will prevent fires.
• Do not use your oven to heat your home
• Have your wood & coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnace or heat pump inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned as often as is suggested.
• If your power goes out, avoid using candles.  Use flashlights instead.
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly and install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside of each sleeping area.

While homeowners won’t have to necessarily worry about high levels of radon in their houses, this story does bring a message about the power of your furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.  A good filter on your system will collect dust and other allergens, and allow your family to breathe well.  We strongly recommend talking to a heating or cooling company about your filtration options to ensure that the air inside of your home is healthy for you and your family.  You can always call us at 253-630-9224 and we would be happy to answer any questions over the phone for you.

Glen J., AAA Heating & Air Conditioning Senior Technician

Question:  I just looked out my window and saw smoke coming from my heat pump!  I turned off power to my heat pump and put my thermostat into emergency heat in case something was wrong.  Help!  –Sarah F., Renton, WA

Answer:  Don’t worry, you can go ahead and turn your heat pump back on.  What you saw was probably steam that happens as a result of your heat pump’s defrost cycle.  Every hour or so when your system is in heating mode, it will blow hot air over its coils to keep it free from frost and ice.  This action can produce steam, sometimes quite a bit of it.  A little bit of frost can be completely normal to see on your heat pump coils, however, if you see a thicker ice building up, you will want to call us to schedule a service technician to take a look at it.  To fully ensure that your heat pump is in proper working order and is fully clean, you will also want to make sure that you have had a trained technician perform a Precision Tune Up twice a year for your heating & cooling system (once a year for a heating only system).

If you have a question for Glen, our knowledgeable Senior Technician, submit it using our communication form and you might just be featured on our blog!

What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CO poisoning can produce headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.  Inhaling high levels of the gas can lead to loss of consciousness and death.

How can you prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
The CDC recommends getting your furnace serviced by a qualified heating company every year.  This will ensure the unit is running properly and the technician will be able to check for any cracks in your heat exchanger.  You should also install a Carbon Monoxide detector on each level of your home to warn you if any leaks into your home.

If you would like more information from the Centers for Disease Control, you can click this link.

Give us a call at 253-630-9224 if you would like to have us inspect your gas furnace for your safety or if have any questions.