Carbon Monoxide is a major concern for any home owner with a gas furnace. It cannot be detected in the home by sight, smell, or taste. This makes it extremely dangerous. However, there are many easy ways to protect you and your family from the dangerous gas. First, we’ll discuss how the gas is created in your furnace.
How Carbon Monoxide is Created in A Gas Furnace
In order for a gas furnace to produce heat, it must burn gas. This process naturally creates carbon monoxide. As a result, all gas furnaces produce carbon monoxide. A properly working furnace will ventilate the gas safely out of your home. If this ventilation process malfunctions, the gas will stay in your home. For this reason, you should have your furnace inspected annually to ensure that carbon monoxide is exiting your home efficiently and effectively.
Installation and Maintenance Tips for Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Even if you service your furnace annually, the system could potentially malfunction in between visits from an HVAC professional. As a result, it’s important to have properly working carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. When installing them, keep in mind that carbon monoxide is lighter than oxygen so an optimal location to install them is eye level or higher. Also, install them near sleeping areas. Detectors that are interconnected are the most effective because if one goes off then all the connected alarms are activated as well. Test the alarms monthly and change the batteries yearly.
While carbon monoxide is dangerous, it’s extremely unlikely to have both your furnace and carbon monoxide detectors malfunction at the same time if you are properly maintaining them. Contact L&M HVAC for your annual maintenance. We’ll ensure that your system is not malfunctioning in any way, including carbon monoxide detection. We have state of the art tools to test the system and see if any maintenance needs to be performed.