How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Issues Caused by Your HVAC Unit

Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer because it has no smell, taste, or color. Therefore, it can kill without warning. As a matter of fact, carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of unintentional poisoning deaths.

Carbon monoxide leaks are often caused by faulty heating systems and ventilation problems. The HVAC safety tips below will help you prevent these deadly leaks from occurring.

Check Your Vents

Blocked vents prevent the heat from your furnace from blowing out effectively. Moving furniture around could block your vents. Or, maybe you intentionally close the vents in unused rooms to try to save money. Unfortunately, closed vents can do your home — and your family — more harm than you realize. They can result in:

• Duct leakage

• Low airflow, which could lead to comfort problems

• A cracked heat exchanger, which can let carbon monoxide infiltrate your home

Check the heating vents around your home to ensure nothing is blocking them.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

At least once a year, ideally before winter sets in, you should have your furnace, fireplace, vents, and chimneys inspected by a professional. The fumes from a furnace that isn't working properly could leak into your home. Dust and debris can collect in your vents over time and clog them. Clogged vents and chimney flues can result in carbon monoxide leaking into your home.

During maintenance, the professional will check for proper operation and safety and clean your heating system. He or she will spot potential problems before they become bigger and cause carbon monoxide problems.

Have the Heat Exchanger Inspected

The heat exchanger vents out the poisonous gases produced by heat combustion. Carbon monoxide can make its way through your home's ventilation system if the heat exchanger develops holes, cracks, or corrosion.

Verify that your HVAC technician has inspected the heat exchanger during a routine maintenance visit. That's because many visits usually don't include a heat exchanger inspection.

Taking the precautions above will save you money on energy costs in addition to protecting your family from carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact us at Air Assurance if you need expert heating services for your Broken Arrow home.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Keeping Your Family Safe

In our climate, homes are often closed up for long periods to make heating and cooling efficient. If you have fuel-burning appliances or equipment like a furnace, water heater, kitchen range or clothes dryer, well-functioning carbon monoxide detectors are a necessity to protect your family's well-being when your home is closed up against the weather.

How CO Detectors Help Protect Against Exposure

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete fuel combustion, and this lethal, invisible gas has no taste or odor. If inhaled, CO attaches to hemoglobin the bloodstream, which deprives the brain, organs and body cells of vital oxygen. Carbon monoxide detectors have sensors that can detect the presence of the gas and produce a loud alarm to warn you against:

• Low level exposure that causes flu-like symptoms including fatigue, nausea, headaches and dizziness.

• High concentrations of CO that can rapidly cause unconsciousness, coma, brain damage and death.

Keeping Your CO Detectors Working Properly is Key

The first step in protecting your family against accidental carbon monoxide exposure is to install detectors on each level of your home. To ensure that these essential safety devices are able to warn you when CO is present, you can't simply install them and forget them. Instead, you need to keep them working properly by:

Testing all your detectors monthly.

This usually involves pressing the test button and waiting for a high-pitched beeping sound that signals the unit is working.

Replacing the batteries in each device at least annually.

This necessary maintenance for plug-in detectors too, so the battery can keep the unit functioning during a power outage.

Replacing failing detectors as needed.

CO detectors lose their ability to sense CO gas after about five to seven years. New models give an audible warning to alert you when they need replacing.

Keeping your fuel-burning appliances and equipment well maintained.

Any combustion devices should have annual preventive maintenance that includes an inspection, cleaning and tuneup to keep them operating safely.

To schedule water heater or HVAC maintenance that can help your carbon monoxide detectors protect your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors are Important for Your Home Safety

A carbon monoxide detector is an extremely important device to have in your home. If you don't have one, this is the perfect time to buy one. We're going to look at the importance of this device and the tips to consider when buying one. If you already have one, we've also got you covered with maintenance tips.

Why Do You Need a Detector?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you cannot smell, see or taste. It is a combustion byproduct, produced by common household appliances like furnaces, gas water heaters and fireplaces. Depending on the concentration level, exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, convulsions, unconsciousness and even death.A carbon monoxide detector protects you by sounding an alarm after detecting a certain amount of the gas in the air. You can then respond appropriately by turning off appliances, ventilating the area or evacuating occupants.

What Types are Available?

There are three types of detectors available: hard-wired, plug-in and battery-operated. Hard-wired detectors are wired to your household's electrical circuit and are connected to other detectors. Plug-in detectors can be plugged into any electrical outlets. Battery-operated rely on batteries to operate and are not affected by power outages. For that reason, it is advisable to include a battery backup with plug-in and hard-wired detectors.

What Tips Should You Consider When Buying a Detector?

When shopping for a new detector, make sure you do the following:

• Check the town or county regulations on alarms and placement.

• Check whether the detector is UL listed. Only purchase one that is listed.

• Check the detector's date of manufacture. This is to help you know the right time to replace it, which is after five years.

How Should You Maintain a Detector?

Perform the following maintenance tasks:

• Check your unit's battery life. Replace old batteries.

• Test your detectors to ensure they're working properly.

• Replace detectors that are five years or older.

Make sure you include maintaining your carbon monoxide detector in your fall home maintenance checklist. For more information, contact Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Aysezgicmeli/Shutterstock”

The Importance of Testing Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors Regularly

While installing carbon monoxide (CO) detectors should be a requirement in any house, don't decide that's enough. Carbon monoxide detectors must be tested regularly to make sure they're still operational. 

The Danger of Carbon Monoxide

With enough exposure, this invisible, odorless gas can kill you. It can do its deadly work through gradual exposure over time or through a sudden, substantial buildup in a small, poorly ventilated room. An average of 170 Americans die each year of accidental residential CO exposure. Defective combustion heating equipment is the usual suspect, though other potential causes can occur any time of year.

Testing CO Monitors

Not all carbon monoxide detectors are the same, and different models will have different installation recommendations and testing procedures. However, most models call for monthly testing to make sure the battery is working and the device is otherwise operational. In most cases, experts suggest changing the batteries of battery-operated models every six months–perhaps when the clocks change in the early spring and late fall. Remember, too, that even models hardwired into your home's electrical system have battery backups.

The testing process for most carbon monoxide detectors is simple: Press the "test" button down two or three seconds, and when the alarm beep sounds, release the button. That's it. If you don't hear the beep, replace the batteries and test again. If you still don't hear it, take the detector back for a refund and try a different brand. The hassle isn't worth your family's health or lives.

CO Preventative Care

Carbon monoxide detectors are your safety net, but the best outcome, of course, is to avoid CO buildup in the first place. Schedule annual preventative maintenance on all combustion appliances to make sure they're burning their fuel and exhausting combustion gases such as CO efficiently and safely. Don't idle cars in the attached garage, and don't use combustion cooking devices inside the house, in a garage or next to open windows.

For more advice on carbon monoxide detectors, please contact us today at Air Assurance. We serve the greater Tulsa metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Grzegorz Petrykowski/Shutterstock”

What You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide Safety in Your OK Home

Carbon monoxide safety is a topic on which every Oklahoma home-owner should have knowledge. Learning about carbon monoxide safety can protect your home and keep you and your family safe. Carbon monoxide is almost impossible for a person to detect, as it has no color, taste or odor. It is a silent killer that, when inhaled in large quantities, causes illness and death. Symptoms resemble the flu and exposure at low levels include nausea, vertigo, headaches, and confusion. Because these symptoms mimic other problems, exposure often goes unnoticed until it is too late. When this occurs and exposure to the gas is more extensive, these symptoms are more severe and can lead to death. Young children, people with existing respiratory problems, and people with heart disease are more sensitive to the gas and are in more danger from exposure.Produced by heat-producing reactions, carbon monoxide is a by-product of water heaters, heating systems, and small engines. Keeping up with your scheduled HVAC system maintenance can prevent problems that may cause the release of carbon monoxide into your home. When using a small engine like a generator or power-washer, you should be sure to only run the equipment outdoors. They release the gas directly into the air, putting your home at risk if you run them indoors. You should also be sure to never leave your car engine running in the garage, as this can also create a problem. If you own a fireplace, you should only use it when the smoke vents to the outdoors.Although taking certain actions can prevent the likelihood of carbon monoxide exposure, you should still have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home. Detectors have sensitive sensors that alert you of the gas before you begin to develop symptoms.For all of your heating, cooling, and plumbing needs, you can contact us at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing. We offer excellent service with convenience to clients in Broken Arrow and surrounding areas.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Credit/Copyright Attribution: “www.3drenderedlogos-com/Shutterstock”

Why CO Monitoring Should be a Year-Round Practice

More attention is given to carbon monoxide dangers in the fall and winter because it is well known that malfunctioning furnaces can be a source of CO poisoning. However, CO monitoring should be a year-round practice, as many other home items and activities can emit carbon monoxide.

Symptoms of CO Poisoning

Exposure to the gas can initially cause dizziness, headache, fatigue, confusion and nausea. Some also experience chest pain and vomiting. As you can see, these symptoms are similar to other, less serious ailments. Unfortunately, if exposure continues, the poisoning can prove fatal.

Carbon Monoxide Sources

The following are common home items or activities that can release carbon monoxide.

• Fuel-burning equipment: includes gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, propane stoves, gas grills, generators and fuel-burning portable heaters.

• Fires: includes campfires, charcoal grills and improperly vented fireplaces and woodstoves.

• Vehicles: includes boats, automobiles and motorcycles.

Reducing Your Risk of CO Poisoning

Never operate fuel-powered equipment in an enclosed or semi-enclosed area. Many believe it is safe to operate gas-powered tools in a garage, for example. This is not the case even if the door is left open. Carbon monoxide levels can still rise quickly to dangerous levels.

• Do not use fuel-powered appliances, such as propane stoves, inside tents. Tent fabric is denser than you might think – too dense to allow CO to dissipate.

• Never leave your car or any other vehicle idling in the garage. It is particularly tempting to warm up the car in the garage during cold weather. This can be a fatal mistake. Carbon monoxide levels can build up not only in the garage but also in the home, if the garage is attached. The gas easily seeps through cracks and crevices to permeate the home.

• Install CO detectors on each floor of your home. Make sure you mount them according to directions from the manufacturer and that you test them at least twice a year.

For more information about CO monitoring and other home safety and comfort issues, please contact Air Assurance. We are located in Broken Arrow and look forward to serving you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Improperly Sealed Garage May Leak Carbon Monoxide Into Your Tulsa-Area Home

When you have an attached garage, there's always a risk of carbon monoxide (CO) entering your home through the door that connects your home to the garage. Another less visible source of CO coming into your home lies at the wall that connects the garage and the house or an attic hatch in your garage. A study conducted by the Canadian government found that homes with attached garages had traces of benzene inside them, a byproduct of gasoline. Parking your car or other fuel-burning appliances like a lawn mower or snow blower can bring CO into your home. Besides the hazards of CO and byproducts from gas or diesel, storing yard chemicals or paints and solvents can also degrade your indoor air quality.In order to avoid having hazardous chemicals from the garage in your indoor air, employ these strategies to cut the risk:

• Check the weatherstripping on the adjoining door and replace it if it's worn. Removing the residue from the old weatherstripping will give you a tighter seal when you apply the fresh product.

• Inspect the sill and joist plates in the garage. Fill any cracks or crevices with caulk. If you have pipes, wires or cables that enter your home from the garage, look closely to be sure that there are no gaps that could bring in carbon monoxide. Anytime your HVAC system turns on, it could pull air through those points. Seal them with caulk or expanding foam if they're larger.

• Look at the seal between the attic hatch and the ceiling in your garage. If your home has a forced air HVAC system and you have leaks in the ductwork, it's possible for the ducts to pull CO out of the garage and into your home. If your attic hatch isn't sealed, apply weatherstripping to tighten the connection or install an attic tent.

If you would like more information about the hazards of CO and an attached garage, or would like your ductwork tested for leaks, contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Geothermal. We've provided HVAC services for the Broken Arrow region since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock