The majority of furnaces are powered by burning gas, which they use to create the heat that keeps your home warm. Unfortunately, with a gas-burning appliance, there’s always the danger of a carbon monoxide leak occurring. Carbon monoxide is an extremely dangerous gas. If it’s breathed in for an extended period of time, it becomes a serious health hazard that can sometimes even be deadly. It’s always wise to keep a working carbon monoxide detector in your home in case of an emergency. However, if you know the safety measures to take, you can greatly lower the likelihood that you ever have to deal with one of these leaks within your home.
What Causes a Carbon Monoxide Leak?
Carbon monoxide is produced during the combustion process that regularly takes place within your heating system. When everything is working correctly, the majority of this carbon monoxide will be contained within the walls of the unit’s heat exchanger. It is then transported through the flue pipe and safely removed from your home. However, under certain circumstances, the heat exchanger or flue pipe can become cracked or otherwise damaged. When this happens, it can potentially result in high levels of the noxious gas leaking out into your home, which presents a very serious health hazard. The good news is that with the right precautions, you can ensure that a damaged heat exchanger or flue pipe is a very unlikely scenario.
Keep Up With Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduling a professional maintenance visit every now and then is one of the most surefire ways to prevent a carbon monoxide leak. Not only will the hired technician be able to inspect your furnace for any signs that the heat exchanger or flue pipe may be damaged, but they will also make tweaks to get the unit closer to peak efficiency. When a heating system is operating smoothly and efficiently, it makes it far less likely that any type of serious damage will occur. To be as safe as possible, schedule one of these visits at least once per year.
Replace the Air Filter Regularly
One of the issues that can lead to a damaged heat exchanger or flue pipe is a backup of airflow within the furnace. Typically, this is something that occurs when the HVAC air filter has become overly clogged up. When this type of clog builds up, it makes it far more difficult for the heating system to continually circulate air, which results in a large amount of air pressure becoming backed up. This is when a crack can materialize in one of the components that holds the harmful gas. You can prevent this by checking the air filter once a month and replacing it whenever necessary.
Only Use Trusted Furnace Installation Experts
Many carbon monoxide leaks occur because of a furnace not being installed properly. Usually, this happens either because the blower motor was installed incorrectly or the ductwork wasn’t set up properly. These types of installation errors can result in problems occurring during the process of venting the dangerous gas out of your home. If you’re not professionally trained, it will probably be challenging for you to inspect your furnace and determine if it was installed the right way. Instead, your best option is to ensure ahead of time that you’re having the job done by professionals with a track record for quality work. When you go with reliable heating experts like the ones at O'Brien Heating & Air Conditioning, you will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the appliance was installed properly.
At O'Brien Heating & Air Conditioning, we have been a trusted heating, cooling, ductwork, and water heater service provider in the Drexel Hill, PA, area since 1955. During the chilly winters that our area is known for, our customers know that they can count on our technicians to keep them safe and comfortable. Over the last 65 years, we have proven that we offer high-quality work and employ technicians who know what they’re doing. We also use high-quality parts and products for every job we do, and we maintain high standards of customer satisfaction for all of our services.
You should only trust your HVAC needs to local experts with a history of reliability and excellence. Call us up at O'Brien Heating & Air Conditioning today with any questions or to schedule your first appointment.
