During a cold Cleveland winter, you want to rely on your fuel-burning furnace to work properly and safely. If a problem occurs, however, the furnace could leak carbon monoxide gas into your living spaces, creating an extremely dangerous situation. Here is a brief introduction to carbon monoxide detectors and keeping them working correctly.
Why Worry About Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless gas produced as a byproduct of combustion, such as the burning of natural gas in your furnace to produce heat. CO gas is highly toxic, and exposure to it can harm your health or, in severe cases, cause death. Your furnace’s ventilation system usually moves this deadly gas out of your home, but a problem with the ventilation or the furnace itself could cause CO to leak into your indoor areas.
A CO detector can detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the air where human senses cannot. The detector will sound an alarm that can give you and your family enough time to leave the house and call for help, potentially saving lives.
Checking Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Look it over: Take a close look at your carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are clean and undamaged. They should also be solidly attached to the wall or ceiling where they are installed.
- Use the test button: Press and hold the test button for a few seconds to see if the alarm sounds. If it doesn’t, put in new batteries and try again. If the alarm still doesn’t go off, discard the unit and get a new one.
- Put in fresh batteries: Even if the unit passes the alarm test, you should put in new batteries before heating season starts. This ensures consistent performance during the winter and reduces the chance of failure because of dead batteries.
Founded in 1924, Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing has had decades of experience serving the HVAC needs of customers in the Greater Cleveland area. Contact us today for more information on carbon monoxide detectors and how to keep them in shape to protect your home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues. For more information about TOPIC and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or give us a call at 440-345-8795.
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