Don't let furnace go unchecked

By KSU News Service

MANHATTAN --- Sweater weather can --- and should --- remind homeowners to have their furnaces checked. Overlooking the recommended maintenance check can be deadly, said Marilyn Bode, K- State Research and Extension housing specialist.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is difficult to detect. It kills about 500 Americans each year. Symptoms from exposure to the gas --- headache, nausea and dizziness --- often are mistaken for the flu. Trying to sleep off the symptoms may seem like a good idea, but it isn't. A majority of carbon monoxide deaths occur during sleep, she said.

A furnace, which usually is not used during summer months, can be the source of potential problems; a stopped-up chimney or vent system, or absence of a vent system, can cause the potentially harmful gas to collect in the home. Having the furnace checked annually by a qualified service technician can reduce risks substantially.

Water heaters, clothes dryers and other gas appliances, like a gas fireplace, also should be checked regularly by an appliance specialist. Wood burning fireplaces and stoves also produce large amounts of carbon monoxide. Chimneys should be checked regularly to see that they are free of debris; making sure that the damper is open before starting a fire also is essential.

Kitchen appliances should be checked periodically. Bode suggests using an over-the-range exhaust fan each time a gas cooktop is used; she does not recommend using a gas oven to take the chill off the kitchen or heat the home.

Non-electric space heaters (unvented gas or kerosene, for example) are not recommended for use in enclosed spaces because the combustion products remain in the heated space. If space heaters are used during emergencies, doors and windows should be opened to provide needed ventilation. Charcoal and gas grills should not be used on an enclosed porch or in a garage.

Warming up the car on a cold winter morning can be hazardous, too. If a garage is attached to the house, make sure the door to the home is securely closed before starting the car; opening the garage door before starting up the car also is recommended. Before letting the car run to warm it up, back it out onto the driveway.

Carbon monoxide detectors can warn homeowners of potential problems; they work much like smoke detectors, but don (0)t have as good a reputation, said Bode, who notes newer models (1998 or later) that carry the Underwriter (0)s Laboratory (UL) seal of approval usually are considered more dependable. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed near the bedroom area of a home so that the alarm will awaken sleeping residents. The detectors should not be mounted in or near the furnace room or too close to the water heater or cooktop, which might trigger a warning during normal use.

What should a homeowner do if a carbon monoxide detector sounds an alarm?

Bode advises shutting down the combustion appliance, such as the furnace, immediately; opening windows and doors to provide ventilation; and moving to a well-ventilated area. It also may be necessary to seek medical treatment immediately. An appliance should not be re-started until it has been checked by a qualified technician.

For more information on reducing risks from carbon monoxide in the home, interested persons may contact their local Extension office; ask for publication MF2393. Publications from K-State Research and Extension also are available on the World Wide Web at http:// www.oznet.ksu.edu.

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