CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH.

Need Heating or Cooling Parts? Visit our affiliate - My Hvac Parts.com
H.V.A.C. Parts Direct To the Homeowner!

Servicing Denver, Arvada, Westminster, Northglenn, Thornton, Wheat Ridge, Sheridan, Lakewood, Englewood, Centennial, Littleton, Aurora, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and surrounding communities. Counties served are: Douglas, Arapahoe, and Jefferson Counties.

October, 2001

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Your Family's Health has been written because fall is here and it's time to check your heating system to be sure it's operating safely and efficiently . Also remember to have your humidifier serviced. If you don't have a humidifier we can install one for you. A good humidifier can actually cut your heating bill since you will feel more comfortable at a lower temperature not to mention getting rid of that dry air, stuffy nose, and static in the carpets. If you have flu symptoms more than most people you know, you may be in need of a humidifier. Click our home button and select Humidifiers. Worth noting here, if you have a swamp cooler ( Evaporative Cooler ) it's time to have the water in the pan drained and the supply water line shut off and drained properly.

Cracked Heat Exchangers.
To see an actual test click here. See a carbon monoxide test.

A cracked heat exchanger in your furnace can make you sick at the least and at the worst it can prove deadly! If every day you have a headache, sinus problems, dizziness or generally sick feeling you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
We have had clients who have been told to leave their homes by local fire departments in the dead of winter due to the presence of high levels of carbon monoxide. Don't let this happen to you.

Combustion Air.
To see a combustion air duct installation click here.

Homes today are being built with tightly sealed windows and doors, to the point of cutting the amount of air to furnaces, fireplaces, ranges and fuel fired water heaters.
Add to that, bathroom fans being used also remove air from the home. After just a short time of a fireplace running and a water heater operating as normal to keep it's temperature up to the desired level the home has exhausted it's supply of air which is available to these appliances! Once this happens the home is in a negative pressure situation. What this means is simply put, the flue pipe that is attached to the fireplace, furnace and water heater begin to pull fresh air DOWN the flue pipe to supply enough air for combustion. At this point carbon monoxide spills out of the draft hood and into the home. With a fireplace which burns wood it will be very obvious since smoke will be filling the room. However, if the fireplace is burning gas you will never know since carbon monoxide is odorless. This same thing will be happening to your furnace, water heater and any other fossil fuel burning appliance. In the case of a fireplace, a duct should be run into the fireplace itself from out doors to supply it with air for combustion. Combustion air problems is usually the number one complaint local Building Inspectors demand be rectified and with good cause! We applaud their efforts to get this issue corrected on a national scale. We will not replace a furnace for instance without adding combustion air ducts. Even if it wasn't a code issue we still wouldn't, even if it means losing the installation job. PLEASE, if you have any doubts about how serious this is call your local Building Department in the City or County you live in and ask them! They are not selling you anything and are only there to protect the public. Other agencies to call would be your gas or oil supplier, and the E.P.A.

Dirty burners in a gas furnace or improper operation of an oil furnace result in high fuel bills and create carbon monoxide which is an odorless, deadly gas. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which many people shrug off as symptoms of the flu. When the gas is sent to the burner it then mixes with air. When there is insufficient air the flame produced is " rich " similar to a car with a plugged air filter. This rich mixture will be full of carbon monoxide. Some folks close their basement off into rooms thus cutting how much air is being supplied to the furnace or water heater burners! This whole problem can be solved by having ducts run from outside the home to the furnace or oil burner room to supply air for combustion. If this is not feasible there may be other cures for the problem. A customer has to KNOW there is a problem first however. One way a customer can keep a check on carbon monoxide is by placing a carbon monoxide detector near the furnace. We can supply you with one of these carbon monoxide detectors and install it if you would like. Having us check your furnace and water heater before the cold weather is upon us, will be the best thing you can do to safeguard your family!

Sheridan Mechanical Services can supply you with a full line of air cleaners, humidifiers and ventilation products to help you breathe easy this season.

BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME?

We have the equipment to correctly evaluate your furnace to be sure it is safe to operate! This includes precise carbon monoxide electronic measuring equipment.
If someone is telling you need a new furnace because it is unsafe and making carbon monoxide, please call us for a second opinion. If it passes our testing we will Certify the furnace so you can feel comfortable about buying or selling your home!