SAN DIEGO, Oct. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the arrival of fall and projections for record high winter heating bills nationwide, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is advising customers to inspect their home-heating appliances and perform any needed maintenance to help ensure safe and energy-efficient operation.
"Now is the time to perform maintenance on home-heating appliances to ensure safe operation," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer service at SDG&E. "If customers think their heating appliances are not functioning properly, they should call a licensed heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E."
This winter, home energy bills are projected to be 20 percent to 30 percent higher than last winter due to increased natural gas costs nationwide. By ensuring gas appliances are operating efficiently and safely, customers can also help keep their winter energy bills lower, Mueller added.
Failure to perform annual maintenance on gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon monoxide, which can cause nausea, drowsiness, flu-like symptoms, and even death.
SDG&E offers customers the following tips to ensure the safe and efficient operation of their natural gas furnace:
-- Have gas furnaces checked at least once a year by a licensed
heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E.
-- Vacuum and clean regularly around the furnace, particularly
around the burner compartment, to prevent a build-up of
dust and lint.
-- Never store items in, on or around the appliance that can
obstruct airflow.
-- Most forced-air units have a filter that cleans the air before
heating and circulating it throughout the home. The filter
should be checked monthly for lint build-up during periods
of furnace use and cleaned or replaced, if necessary.
-- When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install
the front panel door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly.
Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly
in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
-- Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame is yellow, large
and unsteady, the furnace needs to be inspected immediately by
a licensed heating contractor or plumber or SDG&E and the
condition corrected to ensure safety.
For more information on furnace safety, please visit SDG&E's Web site at www.sdge.com.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.