Keep the Home Fires Burning Safely: Furnace Safety & Carbon Monoxide Awareness
January 8, 2026
Keep the Home Fires Burning Safely: Furnace Safety & Carbon Monoxide Awareness
As the chill sets in, your furnace is ready to work overtime to keep your family warm and cozy. But with the comfort of a reliable heating system comes the critical responsibility of safety. A neglected furnace can pose serious risks, including fire hazards, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
This isn’t just about comfort; it’s about the law and your family’s well-being. Knowing the essential safety measures can prevent a tragedy.
The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is often called the “silent killer” for good reason. It’s an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas produced when fuels like natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal don’t burn completely.
The Danger:
When inhaled, CO replaces oxygen in your bloodstream, leading to illness, unconsciousness, and even death. Every year, CO poisoning sends thousands of people to the emergency room.
In the context of your furnace, a cracked heat exchanger or blocked flue can allow CO to escape into your home instead of venting safely outside. This is why regular maintenance is non-negotiable.
Your Essential Furnace Safety Checklist
Staying warm shouldn’t mean compromising safety. Follow these critical steps to keep your furnace running safely all season long:
1. Schedule Annual Professional Inspections
The single most important step you can take is to have a qualified HVAC technician inspect and service your furnace every year before the heating season begins.
The Law and Liability: Many jurisdictions have building codes that implicitly or explicitly require safe operation of heating appliances. A service record demonstrates due diligence. If an incident were to occur, a lack of service could be seen as negligence.
Catching CO Leaks: Professionals use specialized tools to check the heat exchanger, chimney, and venting system for leaks, blockages, and corrosion, the primary causes of CO intrusion.
2. Install and Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors
CO detectors are your first line of defense. They are as crucial as smoke detectors.
Placement: Install CO detectors on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas.
Testing: Test the batteries monthly and replace the units every five to seven years (check the manufacturer’s date). If the alarm sounds, get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911 or the fire department from a safe location. Do not attempt to find the source.
3. Clear the Area
Ensure the area around your furnace is clean and clear.
Combustibles: Never store flammable materials like gasoline, paint thinners, or cleaning rags near the furnace or water heater.
Airflow: Keep the furnace room and air intake vents free of clutter, dust, and debris to ensure proper airflow and prevent overheating or ignition of nearby items.
4. Change Air Filters Regularly
A dirty, clogged air filter restricts airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder. This can lead to overheating and potential system failure. Change filters monthly, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Legal Implications: Duty of Care
As a homeowner or landlord, you have a duty of care to maintain a safe environment.
Landlords: If you rent out property, a failure to properly maintain heating systems (including annual service and providing working CO detectors) could expose you to civil liability in the event of injury or death from CO poisoning or fire. This may constitute a breach of the implied warranty of habitability.
Homeowners: While you typically can’t sue yourself, your homeowner’s insurance policy may require you to maintain your property. Furthermore, an accident resulting from gross negligence (like knowingly ignoring a faulty system) could lead to criminal charges in extreme scenarios.
The takeaway is clear: Investing in annual furnace maintenance and reliable CO detection is not just a safety precaution, it’s a fundamental legal and moral responsibility.
If you or a loved one need help regarding liability after an incident, contact Ball Eggleston today!