Carbon monoxide (CO) has no color or smell. Gas furnaces are safe when they are maintained and vented correctly, and working CO alarms are your backup.
If your CO alarm goes off
- Get everyone out of the house, including pets
- Call 911 from outside
- Don’t go back in until responders say it’s safe
- Have the furnace and other gas appliances checked before using them again
Where to put CO alarms
Install CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, and test them regularly. Replace them when the manufacturer says to.
Furnace problems that can cause CO
- A cracked heat exchanger
- Blocked or disconnected vent pipes, including snow-blocked pipes on high-efficiency furnaces
- Poor combustion from a dirty or badly adjusted burner
- Backdrafting from an atmospheric-vent furnace or water heater
Symptoms to know
Headache, dizziness, nausea and flu-like symptoms that improve when you leave the house can be signs of CO exposure. Get fresh air and medical help.
How Aegis helps
- Carbon monoxide testing
- Heat exchanger inspection with every furnace tune-up (furnace tune-up)
- Plus and Premium maintenance plans include an annual CO detector inspection and battery replacement
- Real job: atmospheric-vent furnace replaced with sealed combustion in Sugar House
Frequently asked questions
Can a furnace leak carbon monoxide?
Yes, if the heat exchanger is cracked or the venting is blocked or damaged. Regular inspections and working CO alarms protect you.
Where should CO detectors go?
On every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
What should I do if my CO alarm sounds?
Get everyone out, call 911 from outside, and don’t go back in until it’s declared safe.