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With temperatures dropping, you’re probably going to be running your heater soon. This year may also be a colder one than we have seen in recent years. This will cause your furnace to be working harder than ever before. With more activity, there’s more chance of something going wrong, and consequently an increase in one of the most dangerous aspects of using a heater – carbon monoxide. Prescott Air Conditioning and Heating Repair is here to tell you a bit more about one of the Winter season’s greatest dangers.

Carbon Monoxide, or CO, is a gas formed from the incomplete combustion of the gas used to heat your home. When oxygen has a problem entering a poorly ventilated space, and that space happens to be the burning area of a heater, it can produce CO. You are at risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning if you live in a home with any of the following:

•  Fuel-burning space heaters
• Furnaces
• BBQs
• Cooking ranges
• Water heaters
• Fireplaces
• Portable generators
• Wood-burning stoves
• Car and truck engines

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is incredibly dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Knowing the warning signs of CO Poisoning is an important step in keeping you and your family safe. Here are some common symptoms of CO poisoning:

• Blurred vision
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• General weakness

CO poisoning is especially dangerous to people who are sleeping or intoxicated, as the sleeping person may die without ever waking up. We apologize if this scares you, but fear not because we have a solution to this problem. One of the best ways to prevent CO poisoning is to install CO detectors in your home. Many of today’s modern smoke detectors come with them built in, but yours may to too old or need new batteries, so check to make sure. Also, always use gas appliances as intended. Never use outdoor appliances, like BBQs and generators, inside your home. Make sure that any chimneys in your home are cleaned and free of nests and other debris. Finally, make sure that your heater has an open area around it to allow for proper ventilation.

Additionally, your gas furnace could also be a culprit of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Having your system tested will give you peace of mind. Prescott Air Conditioning and Heating Repair offers Carbon Monoxide testing on your heating system. We take care of this when performing a gas furnace maintenance check. This should be done each fall before you start you heater for the winter.

We hope that you have found this information helpful. If your CO detectors go off, or if you are still wanting to make sure your home is CO free with a annual heater maintenance and tune up, give Prescott Air Conditioning and Heating Repair a call. We are experts at heating and cooling repair and can detect any CO buildup before it occurs. To schedule service, please call us at 928-308-1254.