Furnaces are powered by gas. When a furnace burns fuel during the heating process, it produces carbon monoxide in the heat exchanger. If the carbon monoxide leaks out, it can impact your indoor air quality.
Learning about carbon monoxide’s effect on indoor air quality is essential. After all, the quality of the air in your home or office impacts your health. Here is what you need to know about carbon monoxide’s impact on indoor air quality.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Quite simply, carbon monoxide is a gas. It is odorless and colorless. For that reason, it is difficult to detect its presence in the air without specialized equipment.
Gas furnaces produce carbon monoxide, but that’s not the only place that you’ll find it. Other sources of carbon monoxide include gas ranges, fireplaces, small engines, lanterns, stoves, trucks and cars.
You should know that carbon monoxide is highly toxic to humans and animals. Exposure to this gas can affect your brain function and breathing. That’s why it is important to repair or replace furnaces with cracks.
At Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., our technicians inspect furnaces for carbon monoxide leaks during service appointments. If you’re concerned about carbon monoxide leaking from your furnace, we can help.
Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Indoor Air Quality
Although you can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, you can feel its effects in the air. Prolonged exposure to this hazardous gas can cause chest pain, an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, weakness and death.
Each year, more than 400 people die as a result of carbon monoxide exposure in homes and offices. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes more than 20,000 emergency room visits every year. As you can tell from these statistics, the presence of carbon monoxide indoors should be taken seriously.
How to Reduce Carbon Monoxide Exposure Indoors
When it comes to reducing your exposure to carbon monoxide, you must take immediate action. This includes scheduling annual furnace inspections with Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.. Install a carbon monoxide monitor to detect the presence of this gas indoors.
There are some other tips that you can follow to keep carbon monoxide from affecting your indoor air quality. An easy thing to do is open your windows. Fresh air can improve indoor air quality and remove toxins from a home or office. Keep your windows open as often as possible.
Also, it’s important to turn your car off as soon as you drive it into the garage. Closing the garage door while the engine is on allows carbon monoxide to escape into your home. You also need to be careful when you operate a generator, and never operate a generator in an enclosed area.
Additionally, any fireplaces in your home should be cleaned regularly to remove old soot and dust. Keep the flue open so that it will remove smoke from your home.
Finally, know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you develop the symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately. A licensed medical professional knows how to treat carbon monoxide poisoning.
Your Furnace and Carbon Monoxide
The parts in older furnaces can crack. When this happens, carbon monoxide can seep into the air. If your furnace is inefficient and old, make plans to replace it soon.
Furnace installations should only be done by licensed professionals. Our heating team at Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. is trained and skilled. We can replace your furnace according to manufacturer specifications and local regulations.
An improperly installed furnace can be a source of carbon monoxide leaks. Another source is ductwork that wasn’t designed properly. To eliminate these problems, hire trained professionals.
The furnace filter serves an important function. It improves indoor air quality and prevents the airflow from backing up in your furnace. Congested furnace air causes carbon monoxide to leak from the furnace.
Furnace safety is one of our priorities at Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.. Our mission is to increase carbon monoxide awareness among our customers in the Northglenn area.
Your Heating and Air Conditioning Solution
Carbon monoxide is a health threat. Fortunately, our company offers solutions that minimize your exposure to this gas. If you have questions about indoor air quality and carbon monoxide, rely on us for answers. Our services include residential and commercial maintenance, repairs and installations for heaters and air conditioners.
Our heating and cooling products include air conditioners, thermostats, heat pumps, packaged systems and furnaces. To schedule an appointment in the Northglenn area, call Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. today.
