How do I know if my home has a carbon monoxide leak risk?

Where carbon monoxide in a home comes from

Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuel burns incompletely. In a properly running, properly vented system it is carried safely outdoors, but several failure points can change that: a cracked furnace heat exchanger, a blocked or corroded flue, a chimney obstructed by debris or nests, backdrafting caused by powerful exhaust fans depressurizing the house, or a vehicle idling in an attached garage. Aging equipment raises the odds, which is why older furnaces and boilers deserve closer attention.

Warning signs worth taking seriously

• ✓CO alarm activation, ever, even briefly
• ✓Soot streaks or rust around the furnace, water heater, or flue connections
• ✓A burner flame that is lazy and yellow instead of crisp and blue
• ✓Excess moisture on windows near fuel-burning appliances
• ✓Headaches, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue that improve when you leave the house
• ✓Symptoms affecting multiple household members or pets at the same time

What to do, and what never to do

If a CO alarm sounds or people feel symptomatic, leave the house immediately and call 911 from outside; do not stop to ventilate or hunt for the source. For prevention, install CO detectors on every level and near sleeping areas, test them regularly, and replace them per the manufacturer's lifespan. Have heating equipment and venting professionally inspected every year, ideally before heating season. Never attempt repairs on gas valves, burners, heat exchangers, or flues yourself; combustion work belongs to licensed professionals without exception. PJ MAC HVAC inspects and services gas and oil furnaces and boilers under PA License #PA157168, with a Master HVAC Technician owner leading the company.

Carbon monoxide concerns are treated as emergencies at PJ MAC HVAC, and the emergency line is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year.