Carbon Monoxide Testing

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless deadly gas that can leak into homes. You may know it as the poisonous gas that car tailpipes emit. Symptoms of low level carbon monoxide poisoning are difficult to recognize and may be confused with the flu.

Carbon monoxide forms when fuels are burned in defective home appliances, like gas- or oil-burning furnaces, or when fumes are not properly vented away from the home. A wood-burning fireplace that isn't properly vented, for example, can send carbon monoxide into the home. This is a reason that one should never use a wood or charcoal barbecue inside the home when it is intended for the outdoors.

The burning of oil, kerosene, propane, and other fuels can also result in carbon monoxide leaks into the home.

Every year close to 200 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes. These deaths are completely preventable. A qualified Heating and Air technician can use special equipment to detect carbon monoxide leaks. The technician can also check a device called a "heat exchanger" within your furnace to find any cracks that might be leaking carbon monoxide into your home.

The technician can check your water heater, stove, and other fuel-burning appliances and can install carbon monoxide detectors that work round the clock and trigger an alarm if there's a carbon monoxide hazard. These detectors are about the size of a smoke alarm.

Call a qualified Heating and Air technician any time that you are concerned or ask for testing and installation of detectors during spring testing of your air conditioning system and fall testing of your furnace system.