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Your home’s furnace burns fuel and that means if something goes wrong it can threaten your family’s safety. The most common furnace hazard found in Prescott homes is a carbon monoxide leak. Prescott Air Conditioning wants to inform homeowners about how furnaces develop carbon monoxide leaks and what you can do to keep your family safe this winter.

How does a furnace develop a carbon monoxide leak?
The most common cause of a carbon monoxide leak is from a cracked heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is made from metal that contracts and expands every time your furnace cools down and heats back up. Over time this repeated contraction and expansion can cause the walls of your furnace’s heat exchanger to develop cracks. Those cracks allow for toxic carbon monoxide gas to leak out. Another problem could lie in the venting system. If it develops a blockage or wasn’t installed properly it can result in carbon monoxide leaks.

How can you avoid the danger of your furnace leaking carbon monoxide?

• Schedule an annual furnace inspection – There’s no better way to avoid carbon monoxide leaks than having your furnace inspected annually. An annual inspection will determine any weaknesses or faults in your furnace that might lead to carbon monoxide leaks so that they can be fixed.
• Clean or replace the air filter – Obstructed airflow increases the likelihood carbon monoxide leaks will develop. An easy and excellent way to avoid air flow obstructions is to change or clean your furnace air filter regularly.
• Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working – Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas, meaning you won’t even realize that it’s built up to dangerous levels in your home if there’s a leak. If you don’t have carbon monoxide detectors, install them. If you do have them, make sure you test them regularly to make sure they are in good working condition. Don’t forget to replace the batteries annually.

If you want to learn more about what you can do to keep the furnace in your Prescott home safe this winter or would like to schedule an inspection, call Prescott Air Conditioning today at 928-308-1254.