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Old faithful - the furnace Grandpa had installed sometime after the war ended - may not keep your family safe and warm this winter without some ten- der loving care, say experts at Ontario's Don't neglect your furnace this winter anon gup- L' , poem . 'ir-tth' Inc. ' I l A AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER BROKER GROUP 844-5000 l ”031$ make a $174,000. Comfy & cosy semi backing onto greenbelt. Call Linda King Sales Representative, _825-2525 WELCOME HOME an An experienced Oakville Real Estate Sales Professional 844-5000 Linda King, Sa 825-2525 A1Nb * _,_i,ri,i,_s,,_,i,,r,liiir,i,:'zjtif noit'iikes GREAT FAM ILY NEIGHBOURHOOD Sales Representative IAN WYKES POWER OF SALE LINDA KING Sales Rep. es Hepresentat {EASE "Making sure your heating system is fully inspected every year is vital for home safety," says Bob Clendining, director of the ministry's Fuel's Safety Branch. Grandpa's old coal-changed-to-oil- converted-to-gas model is an extreme example of a system that needs care. However, consumers should remember that the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning exist with any type of fuel-buming heating systems. Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. Natural gas or oil furnaces. propane heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces - none is immune to problems that can have life-threatening consequences if they aren't cared for properly. Furnaces fueled by oil or natural gas generate the heat that keeps most Ontario homes warm on cold winter nights. Heat is produced by combining fuel with the oxygen in the ar, then igniting it in a fur- nace's combustion chamber. "Combustion always produces a small amount of carbon monoxide," explains Clendining. "It's a colorless, odorless gas that causes headaches, nausea and even death if allowed to collect in the house." Making sure the furnace is working properly - that enough air is available in the system to make the flame burn Sharpen up your pruning shears. clippers and saws before you sum your spring pruning chores and it will make the job a lot easier. If you've never pruned before. don't be shy. It's a very necessary and beneficial pen of gardening. Pruning will keep your yard looking neat and well-groomed. and it will "ciearily" - lets the small amount of car- bon monoxide produced to simply rise By MARK CULLEN Special to the Beaver Your first lesson for 1993: pruning SELECT/00M IS HERE NOW!! IS THERE A MOVE IN YOUR FUTURE? If so, please allow us to show you how the SELECT/COM concept may assist you A graduated real estate commission plan where you pay based on services rendered. River Oaks Realty Inc. 2163 SIXTH LINE, UNIT 12, OAKVILLE, ONTARIO L6H 3N7 Not intended to sullen property currently listed for sale up and away through the chimney. However. if the air supply is not ade- quate increasing amounts of carbon monoxide will result. Combined with a partially blocked chimney, the results could be disaster. "I can't encourage people enough to help protect their families by ensuring their heating system is in good order. Have it checked out by a qualified con- tractor, who is registered with the Fuels Safety Branch," says Clendining. Because lives are at stake, it is espe- cially important for do-it-yourselfers to recognize their limitations. Unqualified persons should never tamper with a heat- ing system. The branch also advises householders concerned about the safety of their systems to deal only with rep- utable heating contractors. "Ask your friends or fuel supplier for the name of a good contractor," Clendining says. "Avoid fly-by-night operators who may arrive at the door offering 'special deals'." When repairs are required find out if the costs are covered by a warranty or maintenance plan. If not, the branch advises consumers to get three written estimates before signing on the dotted line. These should outline the work to be done and will do it. as well as starting and completion dates. In addition to having a yearly inspec- tion of the furnace and chimney made. SELECT/COM 849-8892 improve flower and fruit production by improving the vigour and health of your plants. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you’ve learned you never forget. Make a list of the trees and shrubs in your yard and take it in to your garden centre, or refer to a good pruning book. Make some brief notes on the advice you receive or read. jot down some reminders on your calendar of when to prune what. The first thing to attend to is removing winterkilled or dam- (See RE 36) householders can help make sure their heating system continues to keep the chill out. - If you have a forced-air system, change furnace filters at least twice a heating season. - - Make sure warm-air outlets and cold-air returns aren't covered by carpets or blocked by furniture or debris. - Examine all systems from time to time for signs of corrosion, leakage or water stains. - Make sure the heating system's air supply isn't block by walls or any other obstructions when you renovate. - - Keep bleaches, paints, paint strip- pers, varnishes and water softeners away from your furnace. 7 _ . - Keep the area around the furnace free from dust, lint, rags, paint, drain cleaners and any other materials or chemicals that could catch fire or explode if they became too hot. Consumers interested in learning more about home heating safety can reserve a copy of a new ministry brochure by that title. To receive a free copy or information contact MCCR's Consumer Information Centre at 555 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2H6. Tel. (4160 326-8555 or toll free l[800- 268-1142. Ontario residents with an (807) area code may call the (416) line collect. The TDD line for the hearing impaired is (416) 326-8566.