A properly performed heating unit tune-up will ensure that your heating unit is operating and drafting properly and that no carbon monoxide is present.  However, an instantaneous check for carbon monoxide with a measuring device when your heating inspection is performed will not guarantee that a potentially dangerous accumulation of carbon monoxide will not occur at a later date.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion.  Common fuels include (but are not limited to) gasoline, natural gas, propane, butane, wood, heating oil, coal, charcoal, etc.  There are carbon monoxide producers in your home other than your furnace or boiler.  Some more common items utilizing combustion are gas engines, gas water and space heaters, gas stoves and ovens, and gas/charcoal grills.

Burning your fireplace and warming your car in an attached garage can cause carbon monoxide to accumulate in your home.  Flues can become blocked by debris and sometimes chimney dampers can operate improperly weeks after the heating tune-up has been completed.  We now do a better job of insulating both old and new dwellings to be more energy efficient and although this may decrease energy usage and may be more economical, it does not allow as much fresh air exchange to help exhaust carbon monoxide that may be present.

The threat of carbon monoxide poisoning is not to be taken lightly.  Your best insurance against this threat is to schedule an annual tune-up of your heating equipment, purchase a high quality, reliable carbon monoxide alarm, and have chimney caps installed by a qualified heating contractor.

Please feel free to contact our office, your local fire department or your local gas company if you have any further concerns regarding the potential hazards of carbon monoxide.