LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For the first time in a while, it's been getting cold enough to turn the heat on.
When the temperatures drop and you reach for the thermostat— that's when heating experts say you should also reach for the phone to call someone in.
"Really it needs to be checked. Because most people think that well, it's working, so it's fine. But that's not really the case. Have them come out, make sure your system is running safe, and you're not gonna have any issues with it," said Keith Wortsmith, President of Dash Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing.
For homes that were damaged by the tornado in March or other recent storms, Worthsmith said it's especially important to get those checked.
"Some of the things that have been damaged during the tornadoes and hail and wind storms. And you need to make sure that these are right," he added.
If you use a fireplace to heat your home, the Little Rock Fire Department said homeowners should get that checked too.
"Call out a licensed chimney expert and that way they can like make sure. They'll typically need to be clean, and make sure that they're inspected as well," Captain Doug Coffman said.
Some of the most heating-related issues that LRFD sees in colder months are with from space heaters.
"Every year, we typically will have several house fires from space heaters. Nationally, there's usually about 1,700 a year, resulting in about 80 deaths a year from space heaters," Coffman described.
However, he did explain that there are some ways to use them safely, like only keeping them on when you're awake.
"We wanted to make sure you put them on a flat ground, flat surface. One of the biggest rules is keeping three feet away from anything flammable, especially things like curtains," he added.
He also stressed that if something goes wrong, an alarm could save your life.
"You know people don't realize it until it's too late. So again, make sure you have working in carbon dioxide as well smoke detector," Coffman said.
To get a smoke detector installed in your home for free, please contact the Little Rock Fire Department at (501) 918-3700.