Carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer, is a rare but serious problem you should know how to promptly detect in Waynesboro, PA. In addition to having carbon monoxide detectors, you need to know other signs of a furnace carbon monoxide leak and what to do in this emergency situation.
Signs of a Carbon Monoxide Leak
If you haven’t scheduled furnace maintenance in a while, your heating system is at a higher risk of leaking carbon monoxide. Warning signs that your furnace has a carbon monoxide leak are soot around the furnace, pilot light problems, plants dying and pets falling ill with flu-like symptoms.
Regularly test your carbon monoxide detector and change its batteries on the recommended schedule to keep it reliable. A malfunctioning carbon monoxide detector may not alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
In the worst-case scenario, carbon monoxide poisoning results in death. According to the CDC, 434 people in the US die every year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, and 50,000 people in the US visit the emergency room.
When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it displaces oxygen in your blood. Carbon monoxide deprives your organs, including your brain and heart, of much-needed oxygen. A sudden high amount of carbon monoxide can knock you unconscious within minutes.
What to Do When There’s a Leak
If you suspect your furnace has a carbon monoxide leak, immediately go outside to breathe fresh air and contact a furnace repair company. You should also contact the emergency number if anyone has symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, chest pain, fatigue, impaired vision and impaired coordination.
A carbon monoxide leak is a problem that you can’t ignore. You must stay outside of the house until a repair company fixes the problem. Contact Bream’s Heating and Cooling Solutions no matter what time it is to request emergency furnace repair in Waynesboro, PA.
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