Today’s guide is all about stopping dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.
We will talk about how to make sure our ACs work well, focusing on AC repair, Melissa, TX. Besides, we will discuss how to prevent carbon monoxide leakage from your furnace and the importance of a CO detector in your house.
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Protect Your Home and Family: AC Repair Melissa TX Tips to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks from Your Furnace
As carbon monoxide is odorless and has no color, even if there is a leak, it is sometimes difficult to identify it. However, by looking at some signs, you can guess whether or not there is a CO leakage.
If you start to notice yellowish or brownish strains near the HVAC unit, it indicates that there is probable carbon monoxide leakage from your AC unit.
Apart from this, if you notice condensation on the mirrors or windows, it is also a sign that your HVAC system is leaking CO.
And finally, if you feel that the air inside your house is not fresh, it is also a sign of probable carbon monoxide leakage.
As soon as you figure out that there is a probable CO leakage in your house, you must turn off the unit and call an HVAC expert immediately.
Luckily, Melissa has several HVAC contractors for home air conditioner repair and furnace repairs. They have all the tools and provide emergency support to the homeowners.
What Happens When You Inhale Carbon Monoxide?
When you inhale the CO, it starts to replace the O2 in your body. Because of this, you’ll start to feel dizziness, nausea, and flu.
If you keep breathing CO for a long time, it will damage your muscles, brain cells, and other parts of your body.
So, as soon as you feel dizzy or have nausea, go to a nearby health center and handle the situation cautiously.
Pro-Tip #1
You must install a carbon monoxide detector if you’re using a furnace, wood fireplace, or gas stove. It will help you avoid getting overexposed to the CO.
Can ACs Produce CO?
To produce carbon monoxide requires a burning element, which is absent in a cooling unit.
That’s why an air conditioning unit cannot produce carbon monoxide. However, furnaces and heat-producing systems have heating elements.
So, if you have a furnace or an HVAC unit that produces heat, you should worry about your space's CO level.
Top 3 Ways to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leakage from the HVAC Unit
Use the Mechanical Room for Installing the Furnace
The best way to prevent CO leakage in your house is by installing the HVAC unit in a mechanical room.
If you don’t have a mechanical room in your home, you can create one easily.
For this, you’ll have to pick a room where there is minimum ventilation, and you’ll have to ensure that the room is sealed.
When you install the furnace in such an environment, the HVAC unit won’t have any negative pressure and prevent CO leakage.
Don’t Connect the Exhaust to the Chimney
There is a misconception among homeowners that if they connect the furnace exhaust to the chimney, it will prevent CO leakage.
But this is far from true. If you connect the furnace exhaust to the chimney, in the long run, this will make the chimney liner crack.
As a result, your house will get filled with CO. Instead of connecting the furnace exhaust to the chimney, you’ll have to follow this-
At first, you’ll have to check the local building codes and familiarize yourself with the HVAC installation and exhaust systems.
Then, you’ll have to purchase the right type of material for furnace exhaustion. Usually, furnace exhaust pipes are made of galvanized steel or stainless steel.
After purchasing the right material for HVAC exhaust, you’ll have to determine the route for venting.
For this, you’ll have to ensure that the pipe should lead the combustion byproducts, such as carbon monoxide, safely out of your home. It usually goes through the roof or an exterior wall.
When you’re done with all these, you’ll have to follow the furnace exhaust installation guide, and you’re good to go.
After the installation, you’ll have to do a combustion test to ensure the furnace operates efficiently and safely.
However, if you’re not an HVAC expert, it is suggested that you hire an HVAC contractor to install the furnace exhaust.
Pro-Tip #2
Depending on your furnace type, you may need different vent pipes. High-efficiency furnaces may require PVC pipes, while standard efficiency furnaces typically use metal pipes.
Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for installation, or you can contact an HVAC expert.
Inspect the HVAC Unit from Time-to-Time
And finally, you’ll have to ensure that you’re maintaining the HVAC unit properly.
With regular furnace maintenance, there won’t be a dirty filter or faulty heat exchanger that causes this issue.
For high-quality HVAC maintenance, you must select a reputed HVAC contractor.
A reputed HVAC contractor knows how to deal with an HVAC unit and knows everything about the unit.
Also, he can give you additional tips to help you prevent CO leakage in your house.
Conclusion
To prevent excessive exposure to CO, you must install a CO detector. This way, when the CO crosses a certain safety level, it will make a sound and notify you about it.
Thus, you can take action ASAP and prevent permanent muscle or brain damage.