Can Your HVAC Cause Carbon Monoxide?

You know carbon monoxide is deadly. There are stories every year about people impacted by this toxic gas. 

But how do you protect your family? Where does it come from? Is your HVAC system a potential problem? 

What you may not realize is carbon monoxide detectors will only sound off when a certain leak level is detected. Carbon monoxide leaks can start slowly, creeping upward day by day until it becomes a big enough problem that it alerts you to danger. 

You might have to face the consequences if you don’t act quickly. To avoid this potentially deadly problem, you need to keep a few HVAC tips in mind. 

What produces carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is produced from fuel burning sources. Air conditioners cannot cause carbon monoxide poisoning because they don’t burn fuel. It’s your furnace that has the potential for leaks, as most around Colorado use natural gas as a heating source. Many carbon monoxide leaks come from heating system problems, so it’s up to you and an HVAC service company to prevent that from happening. 

Schedule regular furnace maintenance

A furnace goes through immense stress each year as it turns on, off, and on repeatedly throughout the day. 

Even new equipment can form minor problems over the course of a year. That’s why it’s important to develop a regular furnace maintenance program from the beginning. The best place to start is with a tune-up at the start of the season. A technician will walk through the entire system, and ensure everything is working great. They’ll fix any issues before they grow in severity, and alert you to things to watch for, and how to move forward. 

This isn’t just about your comfort; it’s about safety too. 

Ensure the heat exchanger is working well

While it’s not essential to understand every aspect of a maintenance visit, understanding a few parts can have you make better decisions. The heat exchanger is the most common place for carbon monoxide leaks. Its job is to vent poisonous gasses from the combustion process away from your heating ducts and outside your home. Over time, the heat exchanger can develop cracks or holes, and you may not know it because it’s still producing heat. 

This is how it can start leaking slowly, just a little at a time. 

How safe is your furnace?

Is your furnace safe, in good working condition, and well maintained? There’s only one way to tell – schedule an inspection. 

And keep your family safe this holiday season.