Gas Furnace Safety Tips
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a big gas furnace safety concern. Your furnace’s vent normally releases carbon monoxide outside of your home. However, sometimes things can go wrong. CO is an undetectable gas save for its exposure symptoms, which can include fatigue, headache, vomiting, disorientation, blurred vision and even death.
When your gas furnace works as it should, only a very small amount of CO is produced. If your system is old, dirty and operating inefficiently, deadly amounts can be produced. If you own a newer system, you probably have safety features that prevent this type of danger from emerging. An older furnace is not only not equipped with these features but is also more at risk.
These are a few ways you can help prevent this type of fiasco from happening:
Get an Annual Furnace Tune Up - An important part of an annual furnace tuneup is checking carbon monoxide output. While on the job, our technicians also make sure there aren’t any other problems such as frayed wires or a cracked heat exchanger.
Test Your Smoke Alarms - Checking that your home’s smoke alarms are functioning is very important in cold weather. You need to know whether your furnace is producing harmful smoke. You should make sure that all units have fresh batteries and are each tested.
Test Your CO Detectors - A malfunctioning furnace can be the source of a huge safety threat--a carbon monoxide leak. That is why regular testing of your CO detectors is essential. Just like your smoke detectors, go through your home and test each one and replace old batteries.
Check the Area Around Your Furnace - Items that are too close to your furnace can pose a fire hazard. Reduce this threat by keeping the area around your system clear and unobstructed.
Keep Up With Your Air Filters - Dirty filters can cause safety and performance issues by restricting airflow to your furnace. Replacing your filter regularly can help decrease the risk that your system will become overworked and produce a CO leak.
Make Sure the Front-Panel Door is Properly in Place - While most forced-air furnaces come with a safety switch that prevents the unit from operating while the door to the blower compartment is ajar, older ones often do not. Make sure the door is secure, and keep at least 80% of the registers in your house open. This reduces damaging resistance and heat buildup.
Call Grogg’s Home Services if There are Any Issues - A furnace is a great luxury, but it can also be a danger if it is not operating properly. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Call Grogg’s if you suspect anything has gone awry.