Carbon monoxide can be difficult to detect because you cannot see, smell, or taste it. For Illinois homeowners, working CO alarms and awareness of possible furnace problems are important parts of home safety. Knowing what different warnings mean can help you respond appropriately.
What Carbon Monoxide Warnings Should You Know?
Carbon monoxide exposure can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. These symptoms can also have other causes, so they should not be used alone to determine whether carbon monoxide is present.
A working CO alarm provides an important warning when carbon monoxide reaches unsafe levels inside the home.
What Should You Do If a CO Alarm Sounds?
If your CO alarm sounds and anyone in the home feels ill, leave the home and stay outside. Contact emergency services for help rather than trying to locate the source yourself.
Even when no one feels sick, an alarm should not be ignored. Follow the alarm manufacturer’s instructions and have potential carbon monoxide sources evaluated as appropriate.
What Furnace Warning Signs Deserve Attention?
Fuel-burning furnaces can produce carbon monoxide when combustion is incomplete. Problems with the furnace or its combustion components should be inspected by a qualified HVAC technician.
If your heating system is operating unusually or you suspect a combustion-related problem, professional furnace repair in Champaign can help identify and address the issue.
Where Should Illinois Homes Have CO Alarms?
Illinois requires qualifying homes to have an operating carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of each room used for sleeping.
For more detail about placement near heating equipment, read our guide on how far a carbon monoxide detector should be from a furnace.
Help Protect Your Champaign Home
Routine furnace maintenance in Champaign gives a technician an opportunity to inspect your heating system and identify concerns that may need attention.
Bash Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has served Champaign since 1952 and is EPA- and ENERGY STAR®-certified. If you have concerns about your furnace or want to schedule heating service, contact us today.
