Furnaces, boilers and water heaters burn gas inside your home and vent the exhaust outside. When something goes wrong with combustion or venting, carbon monoxide (CO) can build up. It can’t be seen or smelled, which is why alarms matter.
If your CO alarm goes off
- Get everyone, including pets, outside into fresh air.
- Call 911 from outside.
- Don’t go back in until responders say it’s safe.
- Have the heating system and appliances checked before using them again.
Symptoms of CO exposure
Headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, confusion and flu-like symptoms, especially if several people feel it at once, or symptoms ease when you leave the house.
Warning signs around the furnace
- Yellow or flickering burner flames instead of steady blue.
- Soot or rust around the furnace, water heater or vent.
- Excess moisture or condensation on windows near appliances.
- A furnace that keeps shutting down on safety switches.
- Damaged or disconnected vent pipes.
Where to put CO alarms
Illinois law requires CO alarms within 15 feet of sleeping rooms in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Put one on every level, test them monthly and replace them when they expire.
Prevention
A yearly furnace or boiler tune-up includes combustion and venting checks and an inspection of the heat exchanger. Keep vents clear of snow and never use ovens, grills or generators to heat a home.
Concerned about your furnace? After any emergency is handled, call (312) 924-7223.