When we move into the winter months and are using our furnaces to stay warm, it is always a good idea to refresh yourself on the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and how to detect it in your home. This can be a dangerous gas that can be deadly if there is enough of it in the air that you are breathing. Hal Mechanical is here to give you a small refresher course on what to look for to keep your home safe as you use your furnace to stay warm this winter.
What are Common Source of Carbon Monoxide in the Home?
Any gas appliances that are found in your home have the ability to produce carbon monoxide gas that can be dangerous. This is biproduct of combustion that can be found if you have any gas appliances in your home. When you maintain your appliances, including your furnace, properly, the limited amount of CO that is produced is promptly vented to the great outdoors and doesn’t make it to the air that you’re breathing. It is when you fail to maintain these appliances, that you run into issues. The biggest risk of CO in your home comes from your furnace.
Should I Be Worried about Carbon Monoxide in My Home?
When there are high levels of CO in the air you’re breathing at home, it can start to be extremely dangerous to your health. If you breathe in levels that are too high for too long, it can even lead to brain damage or even death. Some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Dizziness
– Difficulty Breathing
– Blurred Vision
– Loss of Consciousness
– Confusion
How Do You Check for Carbon Monoxide in Your Home?
The best way to detect unhealthy levels of CO in your home is with carbon monoxide detectors. They look similar to smoke detectors and will make a loud, alarming beep when the detect high CO levels. It is important that the batteries are replaced on a regular basis in these detectors and that they are tested regularly to make sure they are working properly. This is especially important in the winter months when the furnace is going to be running. There should be CO detectors on each level of your home to ensure your entire home is safe from this dangerous odorless, colorless gas. Make sure that you maintain your furnace to ensure there aren’t any cracks in the heat exchanger that could potentially be dangerous.
Furnace Maintenance, Repair, Replacement & More in Aliante, Desert Shores, Centennial, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Lone Mountain Village, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, Tuscany Village, Whitney, Winchester & Las Vegas Nevada
If you haven’t had your furnace tuned up this winter, it isn’t too late. The experts at Hal Mechanical will make sure your furnace is working properly and help to eliminate the potential risk that comes with your furnace and high CO levels in your home. Our technicians will not only make sure your furnace doesn’t pose a risk for CO leaks, but we will also fix any parts that have worn out and make your furnace work less efficiently. Call us today!
