Stay Safe When Operating Your Gas Furnace

Although the Pasadena area is known for its warmer climate, the winters do get cold, especially during the nights. This means that you will be operating your gas furnace throughout the winter. Make sure you follow these safety tips when operating your gas furnace.

Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors – Your furnace produces a small amount of CO, which is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, as a byproduct of its combustion process. However, if it produces too much due to a leak or inefficient operation, it can be deadly. CO detectors will alarm you and your family if the level of CO in your home is too high. Make sure that you do not install a CO detector too close to your furnace, as the small, harmless amount of CO it normally produces could trigger the alarm.

Keep the area clear – Do not crowd the area around your furnace with furniture or boxes. And absolutely do not have anything flammable nearby. If you have children, make sure that they do not play around this area as well.

Change the filter – A clean filter allows air to flow more smoothly from the furnace to the rest of your home. A dirty filter will cause the furnace to work inefficiently, leading to more wear and tear.

Check for gas leaks – If you notice any gas leaks around the furnace, which you should be able to smell, contact your gas provider immediately. They will send a technician to fix the problem.

The gas meter – Don’t cover up your gas meter. It should be easily accessible in case you need to turn the gas off quickly in case of an emergency.

Inspection – Have your furnace professionally inspected before the peak heating season arrives. A contractor will ensure it runs as efficiently and safely as possible as well as check for damage.

For more information about safely operating your gas furnace, or to schedule an inspection of your furnace, contact Air-Tro. We provide the Pasadena area with the best service available.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Los Angeles, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about gas furnace safety and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock