{"id":5375,"date":"2025-02-04T13:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T17:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/non-classe\/how-to-stay-warm-safely-this-winter\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:05:36","slug":"how-to-stay-warm-safely-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/useful-tools\/how-to-stay-warm-safely-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stay warm safely this winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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February 4, 2025<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n

When temperatures drop, it\u2019s nice to stay warm and cozy at home. However, it\u2019s important to be careful: a poorly maintained heating system can quickly turn your haven into a risk zone! <\/p>\n

Here are a few tips for using your heating systems safely\u2014whether wood, electric, oil, or gas\u2014to avoid finding yourself… in a hot situation!<\/p>\n

Efficient and safe heating: general tips<\/h2>\n

Whatever your heating system, regular maintenance is the best way to avoid a lot of trouble!<\/p>\n

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  • Have your furnace, boiler, or fireplace inspected annually by a certified expert. This way, you can be sure all components are in good condition. <\/li>\n
  • In the fall, clean or replace your heating system\u2019s filter, and be sure to dust your baseboard heaters.<\/li>\n
  • Clear air intakes and exhaust vents to promote proper airflow. Also allow enough space around your unit to ensure adequate ventilation. <\/li>\n
  • If needed, clear snow from the outdoor components of your heating system during the winter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Aim for efficiency!<\/h2>\n

    According to the Government of Canada, heating accounts for nearly two-thirds (63.6%) of the energy consumed in an average Canadian home. Beyond regular system maintenance, here are three simple ways to reduce your energy use: <\/p>\n

      \n
    • Improve insulation by detecting and eliminating air leaks. Install weatherstripping and caulk windows and doors that let air through. <\/li>\n
    • Optimize your thermostat during the winter: lowering it by just one degree Celsius can save 5 to 7% on your annual heating bill.<\/li>\n
    • Invest in energy-efficient equipment when replacing your heating system. See this page to choose the most efficient appliances. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Specific tips by heating type<\/h2>\n

      1. Wood heating<\/h3>\n

      Do you enjoy the sight of flames and the smell of a fireplace? Stay vigilant, because improper installation of wood-heating appliances (stoves and fireplaces) causes multiple fires every year. <\/p>\n

      Wood: allowed or not?<\/h4>\n

      Before purchasing a new wood-heating appliance, make sure it bears the seal of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US\/EPA). Appliances certified by these organizations emit fewer toxic particles and use up to 20% less fuel than conventional models. Learn more. <\/p>\n

      Also, check the standards in effect in your city or province. For example, since October 1, 2018, the most polluting wood-burning fireplaces have been banned in Montr\u00e9al. <\/p>\n

      Measures for safe and efficient heating<\/h4>\n

      Have your chimney swept by a professional every year to remove creosote (a deposit formed by smoke). It builds up on the chimney walls and is highly flammable. Only proper sweeping can remove it. Also: <\/p>\n

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      • Let enough air into the chimney so the flames burn brightly. This promotes complete combustion and reduces smoke. <\/li>\n
      • Firewood and other combustible materials must be stored at least 1.5 m from the heating appliance.<\/li>\n
      • Store cords of wood outside, away from the house, and cover them to protect them from the elements. Wet wood burns poorly and increases creosote buildup. <\/li>\n
      • Burn only paper and wood in your fireplace. Any other substance may produce toxic fumes. <\/li>\n
      • Place ashes in a metal container with a raised bottom and store it outside, away from combustible materials, for at least 72 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        2. Electric heating<\/h3>\n

        Electric heating is the most common in Qu\u00e9bec, but you still need to be careful when using it.<\/p>\n

        Good habits to adopt for electric heating<\/h4>\n
          \n
        • Use electrical appliances bearing the seal of an accredited approval organization.<\/li>\n
        • Do not place anything on electric baseboard heaters (such as mittens or socks to dry), as items in direct contact with the heat source may melt or even catch fire.<\/li>\n
        • For the same reason, keep furniture and curtains at least 10 cm away from baseboard heaters. For curtains, there are curtain guards: rods installed on the baseboard that push curtains away to prevent overheating. They can be found in hardware stores or home d\u00e9cor shops. <\/li>\n
        • If you need to repaint a baseboard heater, make sure to use only high-heat-resistant paint (spray or liquid).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          3. Precautions for space heaters<\/h3>\n
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          1. Plug the space heater directly into an electrical outlet. Avoid using an extension cord. <\/li>\n
          2. Place the portable heater out of reach of children and pets.<\/li>\n
          3. Do not leave a portable heater running unattended.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            4. Oil or gas heating<\/h3>\n

            If you have a gas furnace, boiler, or fireplace, here are the key points to watch for.<\/p>\n

            Check that the glass doors are sealed before using a fireplace.
            \nDon\u2019t forget to turn off the fireplace when you leave the house or when you go to bed.<\/p>\n

            Aim for efficiency!<\/h2>\n

            Gas or oil heating emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. If you can, choose a cleaner heating solution. Otherwise, here are a few tips to reduce the amount of fuel needed to heat your home, thereby also limiting polluting emissions: <\/p>\n

              \n
            • Insulate your pipes to prevent heat loss.<\/li>\n
            • Replace your aging gas or oil boiler with a newer, more efficient unit.<\/li>\n
            • Install smart thermostats that let you control the temperature more precisely and avoid overheating rooms that are used less often.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Don\u2019t forget!<\/h2>\n

              The time change is the perfect time to check and, if needed, replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.<\/p>\n

                \n
              • Each floor of your house or apartment must have at least one smoke alarm, including the basement. They must be installed in hallways and bedrooms. <\/li>\n
              • A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed in any room where there is a gas or oil heating appliance.<\/li>\n
              • Keep a portable fire extinguisher in an accessible place and, above all, make sure you know how to use it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                A well-maintained heating system is essential for a comfortable and safe winter. But remember: prevention is the best protection against heating-related incidents. <\/p>\n

                Enjoy peace of mind this winter and contact your broker to learn more about the best home insurance tailored to your needs.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"class_list":["post-5375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-useful-tools"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5375"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5377,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5375\/revisions\/5377"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assuranciagt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}