It’s that time of year — frost collecting on pumpkins and snow blanketing the higher peaks. With the colder weather, you can smell the woodsmoke from stoves and boilers outside and the heat registers inside now that furnaces have been kicking on.

This week, the state Department of Environmental Conservation reminded property owners about heating safety now that the colder weather is upon us. This weekend and early next week, when daytime temperatures will return to the 60s, may be a good time for heating safety inspections.

Homeowners should contact their fuel oil service provider if they see any of the items below for above-ground heating fuel oil storage tanks:

– Bent, rusty or wobbly tank legs or tank located on an unstable foundation;

– Signs of rust, weeps, wet spots or many dents on the tank’s surface;

– Drips or any signs of leaks around the oil filter or valves;

– Fuel oil lines not covered in a protective casing — even if under concrete;

– Overhanging eaves where snow and ice could fall onto the tank;

– Stains on the ground or strong oil odor around the tank;

– Browning, dying or loss of vegetation around the tank;

– Silent overfill whistle while tank is being filled — ask fuel delivery person;

– Fully or partially blocked tank vent from snow, ice or insect nests;

– Signs of spills around fill pipe or vent pipe;

– Improperly sized vent pipes — ask fuel delivery person; and

– Cracked, stuck or frozen fuel level gauges or signs of fuel around them.

For more information on heating safety, visit https://tinyurl.com/mr4w9u8s.