Heating your home safely this winter

If you have a space heater, make sure you keep it within 3 feet of anything that could catch fire.

Thank you.

New on daybreak.

Now is the time when we start switching from air conditioning, to turning on the heat.

So as we head into the colder months... we want to make sure your home is safe and ready for frigid temperatures.

Kimt news 3's madelyne watkins joins us live this morning to remind us of what we should do.

Madelyne./// tyler.

Space heaters ?

"* ?

"* as this one i have in my home ?

"*?

"* obviously do wonders a keeping you warm and your home heated.

The most important thing to keep in mind though is to never have it on when you're not home and always unplug it.

If you're using a space heater... it's also important you don't keep it within 3 feet of anything that could catch fire ?

"*?

"* that includes your bed, a dresser or even clothes.

If your source of heat is a furnace or boiler... rochester firefighter, chad kuhlman recommends calling a reputable company to do a service check.

And same thing for a fireplace.

Having smoke and carbon monoxide ?

"*?

"* or c?* detectors are crucial to have in your home... especially when you're home all day.

But they will only work if they have working batteries so make sure you're checking them often.

Kuhlman says when it comes to warming up your car before heading out... "we suggest to not warm your car up in your garage at all, not even leave the garage door open.

Back it all the way out.

Even if you start your vehicle and you leave it in your garage with the garage door up, carbon monoxide can build up and enter the home.

So it's best to bring your car completely out of the garage, shut the garage door and let it warm up in the driveway."

And if you're anything like myself... then you have many candles sitting around your home.

If that's the case, make sure you're never leaving them unattended because it is an open flame.

Sounds like common sense... but we can all forget things from time to time.

Live in rochester.

Madelyne thank you madelyne.

The rochester fire department recently responded to a house fire that was able to be put out quicker than expected because the homeowners had working fire extinguishers that controlled the flames before firefighters got there.

So if you don't already, make sure