Gas Furnace Safety

Let’s say you have a gas furnace, well did you know that it may produce some carbon monoxide that is released outside your home through the furnace’s vent.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can cause disorientation, confusion, flu-like symptoms and even death.

Repairing Gas Furnace
Repairing Gas Furnace

A clean, efficiently burning gas furnace produces very small amounts of carbon monoxide, while a dirty Gas furnace burning inefficiently furnace can produce deadly amounts. Newer gas furnaces are equipped with many features that shut the furnace off when a problem is detected, but older furnaces may not have these safety devices.

To avoid this hazard, D and L Mechanical Heating and Cooling offers the following guidance:

  1. Have your furnace cleaned and checked every year by a certified technician. This should be done prior to the onset of the heating season.
  2. Your contractor should check your furnace for small cracks in the combustion chamber. These cracks may not be visible to the naked eye. It is through these cracks that Carbon monoxide can leak into your home.
  3. Your contractor also will lubricate the motors and bearings. 
  4. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in your home. 
  5. Change your furnace filter regularly. The filter is usually found inside the front cover of the furnace. It may have its own access door on the front of the furnace. A clean filter will help your furnace burn more efficiently, and will help keep dust from being circulated through your home. 
  6. Keep the area around your furnace clean and unobstructed. 
  7. Keep the burner area of your furnace clean. 
  8.  Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly in place. Doing so may create the risk of CO poisoning. Most forced-air furnaces have a safety switch that prevents furnace operation when the door or panel to the blower compartment is not in place.
  9.  Do not have anything combustible such as paint thinners and gasoline near your furnace. Lets

Call Us Today to Schedule your Furnace Check-up 540-295-6697 mention the word “Safety” when booking your appointment and receive a FREE in Home Safety Check from the D and L Guy!