Although a fresh Christmas tree brings beauty and fragrance indoors, it also brings with it some special considerations related to your Westminster, MD heating system. Find out how proper positioning and essential care tips can help your Christmas tree coexist with your home’s heating system this holiday season.
Keep Freshness in Mind & Reduce Excessive Dry Needles
If you’re not cutting your own Christmas tree, choose a freshly cut tree that has not started to dry out. To check for freshness, hold a branch between your thumb and forefinger, several inches from the tip. Pull your hand toward the end of the branch. The branch should not lose many needles.
Once you get your tree home, make a fresh cut about 1/2 inch above the base to remove any dried sap that can prevent the tree from absorbing water. This will ensure your tree doesn’t create an excessive amount of dry needles, which can find their way into vents and ductwork.
Display Your Tree Away from Heat Sources & Vents
Placing the tree near a heating and ventilation source such as a heating vent can cause the tree to dry out. When Christmas trees get dry, they can present a significant fire risk in the home. Always keep Christmas trees at least three feet away from any heat sources.
When setting the tree in a tree stand, make sure the bottom of the tree trunk is always immersed in water. Check the water level in the stand daily, even if the tree stand is deep and holds a lot of water. Also, if possible, ensure the tree stand is positioned so that the tree isn’t near any of your heating system’s supply or return vents.
Minimize Allergens & Use Indoor Air Quality Products
Biological growth, dust, and pollen can all settle on the needles and branches of trees when they’re out in the field or in a Christmas tree lot. When you bring a tree indoors, you also bring these allergens inside where they can circulate through the air and enter your home’s HVAC system. Using an air cleaner can help minimize the amount of allergens in your home’s indoor air.
Let the HVAC professionals at Griffith Energy Services keep your home heating system functioning properly this holiday season and throughout the winter. Schedule a maintenance checkup by calling 888-474-3391.
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