I know it's probably the last thing you want to do after shoveling or snow blowing anywhere from 8 inches to over a foot of snow on Christmas Day and this morning, but did you remember to clean out the area around your dryer vent?

If the dryer vent is blocked, you can cause a fire in your dryer.

If you have a gas fire place  be sure the vent outside is cleared.

If you have a heat pump make sure it is clear of ice and snow. Homeowners should clear the top, sides, bottom and around the heat pump. If you cannot get to the unit to clear it off, heating contractors say turn your thermostat to emergency heat or off.

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