Carbon MonoxideSafety at Home

Las Vegas winters are mild, though about 10 nights a year drop to freezing. When the temperature falls, gas furnaces across the valley turn on. Gas heating is highly effective, but it produces exhaust gases that must be managed. Carbon monoxide is one of those gases. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Understanding how it works and how to detect it is a necessary part of operating a gas heating system.

How Carbon Monoxide Is Made

A gas furnace creates heat by burning natural gas. The combustion process produces heat, water vapor and exhaust gases. The heat exchanger inside the furnace captures the heat and transfers it to the air circulating through your home. The exhaust gases, which include carbon monoxide, are directed into a metal flue pipe and vented safely outside.

When the furnace burns properly and the flue is clear, the exhaust leaves the home. Issues arise when the combustion process is incomplete or when the venting system fails. A cracked heat exchanger can allow exhaust gases to mix with the indoor air. A blocked flue pipe can force gases to back up into the utility closet or attic where the furnace is located.

Where to Place Detectors

Because you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, detectors are your primary defense. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises installing carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home. Place them near sleeping areas so they can wake you if an issue occurs at night. If your home has a gas furnace, gas water heater or gas range, these detectors are critical.

Test and replace carbon monoxide alarms as each manufacturer’s instructions say.

Recognizing the Symptoms

The Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that symptoms resemble the flu. If you feel ill while at home but feel better when you leave the house, carbon monoxide may be present.

• Headaches that start when the heat turns on.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness in enclosed rooms.
• Nausea without a clear cause.
• Fatigue or confusion that clears up outside.

If you suspect carbon monoxide is in your home, do not wait to see if you feel worse. Leave the home right away and call 911 and Southwest Gas from a safe place outside. Never try to find the source of the leak yourself.

The Role of Annual Inspections

Detectors alert you to a problem that already exists. Prevention requires keeping the heating equipment in good working order. The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that fuel-burning heating equipment should be inspected every year.

The technician inspects the burners and ignition, cleans the flame sensor, visually inspects the heat exchanger where it can be seen, tests the safety limits and checks the flue and venting, then gives a written report of anything worth watching.

Airflow and Safety

Your furnace needs proper airflow to operate safely. ENERGY STAR recommends checking the air filter every month and changing it at least every three months. A clogged filter cuts the air over the heat exchanger, so the furnace can run hot until a safety limit shuts it down.

Ensure that the area around your furnace is clear of storage boxes, cleaning supplies and debris. Furnaces located in garages or utility closets need space to draw in combustion air. Blocking this air can lead to poor combustion.

How We Can Help

Kestrel Heating & Air performs heating tune-ups to help Las Vegas homeowners maintain their gas furnaces. Our technicians inspect the burners, clean the flame sensor, check the flue and test the safety limits. We offer the Kestrel Comfort Club maintenance plan, which includes a fall heating tune-up and a spring cooling tune-up. The Kestrel Comfort Club’s fall visit is the CPSC’s yearly inspection on the calendar.