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Video Transcript:

Health and safety action steps you can recommend when reviewing the home’s heating systems include first, that all heating systems are vented outside to prevent combustion gases and excess moisture from building up in the home.

If fireplaces are used, they:

• should be properly vented to the outdoors to ensure smoke escapes through the chimney, and
• the chimney is in good, working order.

If the home uses a wood-burning stove:

• the doors need to be tight fitting.

Homes using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces should:

• burn only clean, untreated dry wood, and
• store moist wood outside the home because it can be a significant source of moisture.

The use of unvented kerosene or gas space heaters is not recommended for people with asthma.

• If one of these heaters is necessary, follow manufacturer’s instructions and keep the heater properly adjusted.

A gas cooking stove should never be used to heat a home.

Finally, all the heating equipment needs to be working properly.

• Use a good quality filter that is compatible with the furnace or other ventilation equipment, and
• change the furnace filters periodically.