Never operate the furnace without the front panel door properly in place because doing so may risk personal injury or death. Check for signs of improper venting, which may include soot around the appliance or moisture on the inside of windows when the appliance is on. Vacuum regularly around the furnace, particularly around the burner compartment, to prevent a buildup of dust and lint. Do not use a portable barbecue or hibachi as a home heater. They produce carbon monoxide, are not properly insulated and may be overturned easily.
EMFs are present wherever electricity flows, and come from appliances, home wiring and power lines.
Hundreds of studies on this subject have been done throughout the world, with results that are often hard to interpret and sometimes conflicting. The most recent major evaluation of EMF research was published by the National Research Council in 1997. While no one has proven that exposure to EMFs is harmful, many questions remain about how these fields, especially magnetic fields, might affect the human body. It is particularly important that people who work outside take the proper precautions when in the vicinity of power lines. These precautions include using the right equipment, being aware of where power lines are, and staying a safe distance from them to avoid contact.