Anyone use gas for heating?

[Mickey's sunshine]

How safe is it? What should know? I recently moved and the heating is gas and I have never used that before and I am very leary of using it. Luckily it does not get too terribly cold here in Florida but there are nights that are pretty cold. So if anyone can give some advice/opinions I would greatly appreciate! Thanks!

 

[Patrick IL.]

Do you mean natural gas? Its mainly what we use up North here, its very safe if you have your furnace cleaned and checked once a year by a profesional.

 

[Serena]

We've got it and I've never had a problem with it. It is less than 10 years old though.

Our new furnace and central air cost less each month that the heating bill before we put it in.

 

[BethR]

Mickey's Sunshine,

Are you talking about natural gas that comes in pipes into your home?
Or are you talking about propane that comes in a tank?

If you are talking about natural gas, it is what we have, and all that I have ever had my entire life, for heating our home.
We never have had a safety problem. Occasionally, you may notice the "odor of gas" because a pilot light has gone out ( we NEVER have had this on our furnace or gas dryer but only on our gas stove ) and the pilot light must be relit.

 

[pumba]

we own a three story apartment blds....and it is so energy efficient...it is also for the hot water and I cook on the gas stove....when we remodeled ...husband asked me what I wanted...and I SAID GAS.....my sister has the outdoor propane for her stove and hot water and she is very happy too....don't worry about it.....just relax

 

[Kermit]

I agree that gas is very safe. I had it in the house I grew up in, and we have it in the house we live in now. I do have a carbon monoxide detector. I'm not really sure what kinds of things make carbon monoxide, so I got one.

I guess you should probably make sure that the pilot lights are still going from time to time, but we've never had a problem. We have 2 furnaces (one for upstairs and one for down) in our attic, so if one of them went out, the house would blow up because of the flame from the other one. So far, that hasn't happened.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Well I believe it is natural gas - this is a trailer and I am renting so I am not for sure. It has central air but not heat. I have no clue when it was checked last, I have only been in there for a month. I really dont think that I should have to pay to get it checked - I think I will make the landlord do that!


Thanks for all info given so far though.

 

[PamOKW]

If it's a trailer, my guess is that it may be propane. Is there a big tank somewhere? Using propane is a whole different story than natural gas but I assume it is also safe. Any propane users out there that can give some first hand tips?

 

[Dan Murphy]

We have natural gas also, Christine. Natural comes into your home in a pipe which is underground till it gets to your house, then up to a meter and into the house. Propane gas would be in a large tank outside your home, and is refilled by truck typically, that comes to your house.

As said by Kermit, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector, it is a law here in Illinois, or at least Chicago and any suburb I am aware of, if a city ordinance. Also, a good safety measure is a gas detector, like this, which will detect leaking natural or propane gas. We have both of the above detectors, carbon monoxide and the gas.

 

[ahutton]

Hi Sunshine!! Here is another reminer to get a good carbon monoxide monitor. Put one in your bedroom and another in the "other" area people would usually be in. Check the batteries regularly, as they are your back up in a power failure. They are very reasonable... $20 at Bed Bath and Beyond (or Lowes, Home Depot etc. ) Our heating bills both in Phoenix (like you we didn't use it often there!) and in Texas are significantly less than others who have electric service. It's just more efficient.

 

[Nutsy]

Not me, but my friend Aksnopea up in Alaska does & it is great. Keeps the place so lovely & cosy. She actually works for a heating company.

 

[JasonLyons]

if I come home and my dogs dead, i assume there is a gas leak

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Thank you again everyone for your replies. I will have to walk around the place tomorrow to see if there is a tank on the side of the yard I never go on. I dont remember seeing one though so I am thinking that there is not one. I do know that there is a small thermostat thing on the wall that is just like the central air one - not sure if that makes a difference. I will definately install a carbon monoxide detector!! I really dont want to use space heaters, I think they are more dangerous.



Umm Jason Lyons - ummm I think that is a safe assumption.

 

[PamOKW]

I agree that the space heaters would be more dangerous than either natural gas or propane that is in a built-in system.