You keep your Gallatin, TN, home up-to-date by performing maintenance on your furnace. While your furnace is heating your home, it could still be releasing carbon monoxide. Let’s look at some of the risks associated with carbon monoxide and some warning signs of a potential leak from your furnace.
Carbon Monoxide Health Risks
Carbon monoxide gas, also known as the “Silent Killer,” poses serious health risks. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath and confusion. At higher concentrations, it blocks oxygen delivery to organs and tissues throughout the body, potentially causing brain damage and even death.
Signs of Possible Carbon Monoxide Buildup
Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, making it hard to detect. Signs indicating an issue that may lead to carbon monoxide buildup include:
- A yellow burner flame instead of the normal blue flame
- A pilot light that frequently goes out
- Soot or stains around the furnace
- Absence of an upward draft in your chimney
- Stale air or odd smells, like the smell of something hot
- Excess condensation in the home
If you notice any of these signs, schedule a furnace repair call with a professional HVAC company as soon as possible. A qualified technician can determine the presence of carbon monoxide and address the issues causing the buildup.
Causes of Carbon Monoxide Buildup
Properly functioning gas furnaces produce small amounts of carbon monoxide that safely vents outside the home. As furnaces age, problems such as a cracked heat exchanger may lead to a buildup of gas in your home.
Furnaces need proper ventilation to remove carbon monoxide from the home. A flue pipe vents the gas outside the home. If the flue becomes blocked or develops a leak, carbon monoxide will build up in the home.
If you have concerns about the possibility of carbon monoxide buildup in your home, the right pro can help you decide the best course of action. Contact Derryberry’s Heat & Air for everything from routine maintenance and repairs to new furnace installation.
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