Air Filters & Carbon Monoxide
Reprinted from the Herald Dispatch 10/21/05
By David M Haught, CHI

HOME "HEALTH" & SAFETY TIP : With the sky rocketing cost of electric and fossil fuels, all of us are becoming more aware of the importance of changing the air filters in our furnaces. But, few know that in addition to saving money with clean filters, dirty filters are the major reason for heat exchanger failure in gas furnaces.

The heat exchanger in your furnace is made from stamped steel similar to your car's fenders. It is welded together to create an air tight compartment. Air circulates from inside the home into the unit, and hot gases from combustion flow around the outside. If the air filter is dirty it will restrict air flow, causing the steel in the heat exchanger to overheat. Over time this overheating can cause failures in the welds and cracks in the steel heat exchanger body. When cracks occur poisonous combustion gases enters the unit and the air circulating in the house. When this mixture is breathed by the occupants, it will result in illness or death!

In many homes I inspect, I rarely see carbon monoxide detectors and if I do, it is usually only in the utility room not in the bedrooms. (At night, in the bedrooms are where most CO poisoning deaths occur). If you are in an older home not hardwired for smoke detectors, go out and install a battery CO/Smoke detector today! If your home already has a hardwired 120v/battery smoke detector in the bedroom, you may want to replacement it with a CO/Smoke combo detector available at WV or State Electric.

Many of us have added insulation and sealed up all of those drafty cracks in our homes. Unfortunately, you may have done too good of a job! By sealing the home too tight you can cut the necessary air to properly burn the fuels in your furnace and hot water tank. One fix is to install a vent or duct to bring in fresh air from the outside to the heating units.