Your furnace is an essential part of your home and regular maintenance is needed to avoid the serious harm it may cause you in your home. A dangerous issue that may arise if the furnace is not functioning properly is the emission of carbon monoxide into your home which may threaten your health.
What is Carbon Monoxide and Why Is It Dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is a gas that consists of one atom of carbon and one atom of oxygen. It is an extremely harmful gas, even in small doses, and your furnace creates this every time natural gas is burned to create heat in your furnace to warm your home. What makes carbon monoxide even worse is that it is an odorless, tasteless gas that is hard to detect without proper testing equipment.
The first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:
- Breathlessness
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
These symptoms can escalate to:
- Confusion
- Impaired judgment and coordination
- Loss of consciousness
Depending on the extent of the carbon monoxide and your exposure to it, it can even cause death in a short amount of time.
Signs of a Leaking Furnace
Beyond the physical symptoms that carbon monoxide causes, there may also be some indications on and around your furnace that you can check for.
These include:
- Yellow or brown soot-like stains found around your furnace
- A yellow pilot light
- The pilot light constantly blows out
- Rust found on the vent pipe
- The scent of gas/burning
If you see any of these signs or suspect that your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, contact a service professional immediately.
Causes of a Leaking Furnace
There are a variety of reasons that your furnace could be leaking carbon monoxide.
Some of the most common reasons are:
- Cracks in the furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes
- Moisture develops in the flue pipes, which can lead to holes and leaks
- Faulty ductwork
- Defective blower motor
- Dirty furnaces that restrict airflow and cause the furnace exchanger to overheat and crack
What can you do as a homeowner?
Installation of a carbon monoxide detector near any devices that burn natural gas is a good start for furnaces, stoves, and gas fireplaces in your home. If you suspect at all that your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, call an expert at Air-Rite Heating & Cooling as soon as possible for your own safety. Scheduling routine maintenance for your furnace is an excellent way to ensure that your furnace is properly maintained, avoiding carbon monoxide leaks or any other problems that may arise from parts that may fail over time. At Air-Rite, we offer maintenance plans so we may take care of your furnace regularly with little stress to you. Our team of knowledgeable professionals is experienced in furnace maintenance, repair, and installation. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, professional, and efficient work.
Don’t wait. Request a service today.
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