Carbon Monoxide Detection – Where the Pros Find Those Dangerous Leaks

It’s dubbed the “silent killer,” and if you’re not careful, it could easily turn your home into a very dangerous place. Carbon monoxide (CO) earns its foreboding nickname thanks to its properties – it’s colorless, odorless and tasteless, as well as toxic. CO forms during the combustion of natural gas, oil, coal and other fuels used in heating and cooking equipment. Water heaters, clothes dryers and vehicles running in an attached garage also generate CO.

Carbon monoxide detection is essential for keeping your home safe. If the CO alarm sounds in your home, have a trained technician track down the source. Your technician will check the following areas and equipment to identify the source of the CO leak:

• Flue piping and venting systems on gas and oil furnaces. Rust, corrosion, gaps and cracks can cause CO-laden flue gases to leak back into your home. These issues may also be present in the combustion chamber, heat exchanger and filtering systems.
• Chimneys and venting systems, where blockages caused by nesting animals, debris accumulation or cave-ins can vent dangerous CO back into your home. You may be alerted to a problem by smoke before the CO alarm goes off.
• Furnace flames, burners and ignition systems. For instance, natural gas-fed flames that should burn blue may instead burn mostly yellow, signaling higher than normal levels of CO.
• Improperly set or operated stove pilot lights and burners.

Venting and fan systems on fuel-burning appliances, especially on water heaters, wood-burning stoves and clothes dryers. If you don’t have one or more CO detectors, don’t hesitate to purchase at least one and have it installed by a professional. This relatively simple device will provide early carbon monoxide detection, giving you time to call the experts to get at the heart of the matter. If you just have one installed, make sure it’s placed near your main sleeping area.

Turn to the seasoned professionals at Sobieski Services to learn more about the importance of carbon monoxide detection. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: jasonbolonski