Furnaces fail during cold snap; officials warn about alternative heat sources
Orange County Fire Coordinator Vini Tankasali told News 12 Thursday morning that local fire departments are already dealing with fires caused by alternative heat sources: usually space heaters and chimneys being used for the first time in a year or longer.
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The cold weather is paralyzing furnaces across the Hudson Valley, prompting an urgent warning from local officials and HVAC experts about alternative heat sources.
Orange County fire officials are asking the public to stay ahead of preventable problems through this recent cold snap and another stretch of cold next week.
Retired grandfather Mike LoFrese woke up freezing Thursday morning.
"I went down to check the furnace and the furnace was cold," he said.
Until an HVAC team arrived to clean and fix the furnace, LoFrese and his daughter kept warm with coffee, blankets and a space heater built into their entertainment center that they use carefully.
"The oil was expensive a couple years ago, so I got this electric fireplace to help out a little bit," he said, "and yes it did come in handy [today]."
Orange County Fire Coordinator Vini Tankasali told News 12 Thursday morning that local fire departments are already dealing with fires caused by alternative heat sources: usually space heaters and chimneys being used for the first time in a year or longer.
Tankasali is urging residents to maintain their alternative heat sources, and to only use space heaters that a have thermostats and auto-off safety functions.
"Fortunately, a lot of the chimney fires the departments have been able to get to quickly and handle before it gets to be a large-scale event," Tankasali said in Zoom interview, "but it could happen, so people need to be cognizant of it."
HVAC techs from Quality Heating and Cooling of Middletown told News 12 they received an influx of calls Thursday morning from area residents without heat.
They recommend thorough maintenance of furnaces once a year.
The Quality tech working on LoFrese's furnace removed debris from inside, replaced an oil filter and switched out a gasket.
Tankasali also hopes the risk and inconvenience to local volunteer firefighters motivates county residents to better maintain their heat sources.
