Can Your HVAC Unit Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Air Authority Answers

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes 430 accidental deaths in the United States each year, and about 50,000 people are hospitalized. Can your HVAC unit cause carbon monoxide poisoning? Air Authority answers in today’s blog.  

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Yes, Your Furnace Can Create Carbon Monoxide

Furnaces can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, but only in heating mode rather than air conditioning. The key is burning fuel. If you have a gas furnace, your unit has the potential to produce carbon monoxide.

Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come From?

Carbon monoxide happens when your furnace doesn’t burn gas completely. Normal combustion turns fuel into carbon dioxide and water vapor. But when the burners don’t work properly, not all of the gas turns into carbon dioxide and some of it becomes carbon monoxide.

The gas is colorless and odorless. When there is too much carbon monoxide in the air, you may experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, weakness, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, and blurred vision.

You can install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to detect any build-up of the gas before you experience symptoms. Like a smoke detector, you should change the batteries on the unit regularly.

Regular Furnace Service

Another way to prevent carbon monoxide in your home is regular furnace maintenance from Air Authority. Our service agreements include scheduled maintenance to make sure your furnace is in top working order. We look at your unit seasonally, and we’ll check to see if the furnace’s burners ignite properly and burn all of the fuel. If there are any problems, we’ll let you know and suggest a solution.

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Furnace Maintenance by Air Authority

Talk to Air Authority if you have any questions or concerns regarding your furnace and carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact Air Authority online or call (513) 229-0789 for more details on what we can do for you.