With several inches of snowfall this winter season, sometimes it is easy to forget to do a couple of maintenance items.

Jefferson Fire Chief Jack Williams reminds homeowners to clear snow about two feet from the exhaust and intake vents for the furnace. He explains what can happen if this precaution isn’t taken.

“If the intake isn’t cleared your furnace won’t run properly and may shut down. If your exhaust isn’t cleared, again it may not run properly or shut down, and you’re also going to be backfeeding the CO (carbon monoxide) back into the house.”    

Williams also reminds property owners that have fire hydrants on their easements to clear a two foot space around the hydrant to better help fire departments get access to that water source if they need it when responding to a fire.