Your Heating System & The Dangers Of Carbon Monoxide
When the temperature outside drops, you rely on your heating system to keep your home comfortable. As long as the house is warm, most people don’t think much about their heating systems.
While it may appear that your heating system is working properly, you should understand that there could be an underlying deadly risk. If carbon monoxide is leaking from your heating system, it can be deadly to anyone exposed to it for long periods of time. What’s worse, if there is a carbon monoxide leak, you might not know about it until it is too late.
Heating System Repair Brick NJ: The Effects Of Carbon Monoxide
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Most people know that carbon monoxide is deadly; however, many people don’t know how dangerous it really is. Each year, about 200,000 people in the United States end up in the emergency room due to carbon monoxide exposure. Of those people, 400 die due to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning because they didn’t take the proper precautions.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is very dangerous. At first, there are no symptoms. The gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. This makes it impossible to know that you are being exposed. When a person is exposed, going to the emergency room is the only way to save their life.
How To Avoid A Carbon Monoxide Leak In Your Heating System
By taking proper precautions, carbon monoxide exposure can be greatly reduced. The best way to keep everyone in the home safe is to have your boiler or furnace maintained and inspected every year. When this is done correctly, there is no chance of carbon monoxide being released into the home.
If there is a crack in the combustion chamber, if the exhaust piping is compromised, or if the combustion process isn’t functioning properly, your heater can leak carbon monoxide. The older your heating system is, there is a higher chance of a carbon monoxide leak.
When you have your heating system checked annually, it can prevent problems before they become major ones. It takes just a very short time for a heating expert to check for leaks and to make sure that the carbon monoxide is being exhausted outside correctly. Regular checks can also help save you money on your heating costs. Even if a carbon monoxide leak isn’t found, there could be issues that are causing your system to work less efficiently than it should. Since heating bills can be expensive, annual checkups are essential.
Safety CO Detectors Usually Work
Having your heating system inspected and tuned up isn’t the only thing you should do to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is essential that you have a functional, properly-installed carbon monoxide detector in your home. This is especially true if you live in a cold climate where you need to use your heating system often. These detectors are easy to install, and they run on batteries that only need to be changed at daylight savings time.
There is a downfall of carbon monoxide. These detectors cannot detect small levels of carbon monoxide. They will only alert when there is a great deal of the gas inside the house. Since exposure to just a small level of carbon monoxide over long periods of time can be dangerous, your detector might not help. For additional protection, you should put multiple carbon monoxide detectors around your home. The key is proper placement. You should put one carbon monoxide detector close to your heating system. You should also have at least one detector on each floor of the home.
If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, you should get out of the house immediately. When you are outside, you should call 911. Not only will first responders help to clear the building, but they will also be able to see if anyone in the house is showing any signs of exposure.
Final Thoughts
Heating systems are essential during the winter. However, carbon monoxide poses a huge risk if you don’t have your unit properly maintained. When you have your unit inspected each year, you will have peace of mind that you will be safe this winter.
If you haven’t had your heating system maintained this year, contact the professionals at Point Bay Fuel. We have been in business since 1906, and we take pride in providing reliable, affordable, and trustworthy service.
Point Bay Fuel provides a variety of services including heater maintenance, heater system repair, and installation. When you look us up, be sure to check out our fuel delivery service as well.
Some of the areas we service include Allenwood, Brick, Lakewood, Toms River, and these zip codes: 08720,08723,08701,08753, as well as all surrounding areas in Ocean County, New Jersey.
Contact us now by calling (732) 349-5059 to speak to one of our home comfort specialists!