Safety Tips For The Holidays

1.       Keep warm air registers, return air openings, space heaters and baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes to allow free air movement.

2.       Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating season.

3.       Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked or broken. These glass panels and frame assemblies should only be replaced by a qualified service person.

4.       Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.

5.       Do not store combustible materials such as paper, chemicals, paint, rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace.

6.       Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of your gas furnace or gas water heater.

7.       Ensure that there is a free flow of air to the furnace. Keep the area immediately around your furnace clear by removing any obstructions.

8.       Before reusing indoor and outdoor light strings check and discard if they have frayed cords, cracks in lamp holders or loose connections.

9.       Unplug the light string before replacing a bulb. Also, check that the replacement bulb matches the voltage and wattage of the original light.

10.   Always turn off indoor holiday lighting before going to bed or leaving your
home.

11.   Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach to the outlet without stretching.

12.   Avoid using a cord that is too long for the job because a coiled or tangled cord can overheat and can also be a tripping hazard.

13.   Never run an electrical cord through a doorway. If the door closes on the cord, the insulation could be damaged. Similarly, never run an electrical cord under a carpet or rug. When people walk over the rug the weight and friction could damage the cord, increasing the risk of fire or electric shock.

For more holiday safety tips for your children & entire family click on HOLIDAY SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY

Save Money: Keep Your Car in Shape

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 %.

Also, just think how much oil our Country could save if everyone in the United States had their cars running at peak efficiency.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gas Savings: $0.16/gallon

For more car care information see CarCare.Org