By Tayleigh Davis - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Central heating units can pose a danger if they're not working properly. With cooler temperatures approaching, technicians are busy checking out heating systems.
Ricky Robinson with Safe Air Heating and Cooling says he's been slammed with people calling about heating problems all day.
"It has been rolling one phone call after the other all day long," Robinson said.
He says since the weather shifted from hot to cold so quickly, people have been cranking up the heat for the first time in several months. Condensation build-up in heat pipes and dust particles have been partly to blame.
Mary Carter turned on her heat today and started smelling smoke and called for service right away.
Safe Aire came out and Robinson found particles on air strips which he easily removed and says is very common.
"You never know what the problem may be, Carter said. "Something could be wrong or not wrong."
Robinson says people really need to be concerned if they have older units,especially gas units like the one at a home behind Lake Loretta. Flames were not rolling through proper heat pipes like they're supposed to which can cause a fire.
"Old heaters need to be checked every year. Otherwise it can be pretty deadly," Robinson said.
If unchecked, the units can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, risk of explosion, or fire hazards.
Robinson says, if people are concerned about their heating unit, they should call a specialist to have a thorough look inside the heater.
The Georgia Public Service Commission says another step to preparing for the winter heating season is weatherizng homes. For more information on weatherization and heat click here.
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