Furnace and Carbon Monoxide Safety: A Fall Checklist for Nevada Homeowners
Updated: 3 days ago
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a gas you cannot see, smell or taste. It is produced any time fuel burns, including in furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves and running vehicles, and it can build up indoors when something is not venting properly. As the weather turns and the heat comes on, fall is the right time to check your safeguards.
Here is what we want every homeowner and buyer to know.
Alarms come first
Install CO alarms on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for placement.
Test them monthly and replace batteries as needed. A chirp usually means a low battery or an alarm at the end of its life.
Check the date on the alarm. CO alarms wear out, and most have a replacement date printed on the back or side. If yours is old or you cannot find a date, replace it.
Do not ignore an alarm. If one sounds, get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911.
Know the warning signs
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and fatigue can all point to CO exposure, and they are easy to mistake for the flu. If several people in the house feel unwell at the same time, or feel better when they leave, treat it as a possible CO problem and get outside.
Furnace and venting basics
Have your furnace serviced every year by a licensed HVAC professional, ideally before the cold sets in.
Change the filter on the schedule your system calls for. A clogged filter strains the system.
Keep the area around the furnace and water heater clear. Do not store paint, chemicals or boxes against them.
Look at the vent pipes where you can see them. Rusted, disconnected or sagging vent pipes need attention.
Never run a car or generator in an attached garage, even with the door open, and never use an oven or outdoor grill to heat the house.
What a home inspection does and does not cover
During an inspection we look at the heating system, the visible venting, the water heater and the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and we report what we see. A home inspection is a visual evaluation. It is not a technical combustion analysis of the furnace, so if we note a concern or the system is old, we will recommend an evaluation by a licensed HVAC contractor.
Home Inspection Associates is veteran-owned and has served Northern Nevada since 2007. Bob Parmenter is one of only 17 Master Inspectors of Structures in Nevada.
Questions about your home's heating and safety systems? Visit nvinspectors.com to get in touch.
Comments