Carbon Monoxide Safety: Read about a scary situation we recently encountered. Could it happen to you?
We recently had a customer whose furnace stopped working in the middle of the night during the December cold snap. When our technician, Justin, arrived in the morning, he found the furnace pressure switch was not activating. After replacing the pressure switch and testing the system, it still would not fire up. He immediately asked where the furnace exhaust vent was located. Upon inspecting the exhaust vent, he found a pair of children’s gloves pushed deep inside the exhaust vent and frozen solid. This had created a tight seal preventing ALL exhaust fumes from venting out properly.
The day before, the little ones in the household were playing in the snow. After a while one of the children decided that their gloves were too wet to wear. They discovered this vent and decided that it was a nice warm place to dry them - a seemingly innocent action that went unnoticed. Luckily, the pressure switch did its job in this situation, preventing the furnace from turning on and Justin's quick thinking resolved it swiftly.
The pressure switch is an automatic safety feature which shuts the furnace down if it senses negative pressure created by the draft inducer motor. This protects your home from dangerous backdrafting, which is when exhaust fumes are reintroduced into the system.
Had the pressure switch failed at any point during this 12 hour situation, the result could have been drastically different. Fumes would have been reintroduced into the house causing high levels of Carbon Monoxide inside the home.
What Is Carbon Monoxide ?
Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas. CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly. Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. - FEMA
Why Is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
The dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning can threaten any home with fuel-burning appliances. When high levels of CO are present in a home, CO enters the bloodstream, preventing oxygen from reaching main organs like the heart and brain.
Carbon monoxide can do serious damage within minutes and hinder your chances of recovery. Early symptoms can mimic the Flu with headache, nausea, confusion which can quickly lead to unconsciousness.
How Can You Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
If your Furnace won’t turn on, check the exhaust vents for any obstructions immediately
Educate children on HVAC equipment safety
Ensure all exhaust vents are clear of snow during winter storms
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors and test them regularly
Replace Carbon Monoxide Detectors every 5-7 years or sooner if beeping sequence denotes its nearing end of life
Have regular maintenance on your furnace to make sure all components, such as pressure switch, are functioning properly
Protect your home today. Contact Dodge Cooling and Heating for any questions or concerns you may have.
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