Carbon Monoxide Safety

Have Your Home Checked for Carbon Monoxide

Every year you should have an experienced heating contractor conduct a thorough inspection of your home and all its appliances. Your contractor can spot and solve problems, which can cause carbon monoxide at an early stage, before they become dangerous.

Your contractor should check to see whether:

• Low oxygen levels exist in your home.
• The construction in a new or remodeled home is too tight.
• Your appliances have been properly vented.
• You may have a partially blocked fireplace chimney.
• Your furnace is receiving the proper level of fuel pressure.
• All gas-fired appliances are burning properly.

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself

Take the following steps to minimize the chance that carbon monoxide could pose a danger to you and your loved ones.

• Have your chimney and flue cleaned every year.
• Get a specialist to inspect your appliances and heating system every year.
• Be sure all home appliances have adequate ventilation.
• Be sure burner flames are blue, not orange.
• Never use a gas range for space heating.
• Properly insulate and weatherize your home to allow sufficient appliance ventilation.
• Never run an automobile or gasoline engine in an enclosed space.
• Never use a charcoal grill indoors.
• Don't rely on carbon monoxide detectors as a substitute for maintaining appliances, furnaces or chimneys.
• If you choose to install a carbon monoxide detector, use it as an additional preventive measure.

Check Your Furnace
Every year before the cold weather begins, have your heating system inspected by a qualified contractor. The contractor should provide the following services:

• Check for cracks, rust and corrosion.
• Clean and check the flue and vent pipes for any obstructions.
• Clean or replace all furnace filters.
• Clean and lubricate blower operation.
• Check and adjust any pilots and burners.
• Check that your gas appliances produce a sharp blue flame.
• Check all electrical connections.