Experts Share Safety Advice To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Buildup In Your Home

While we're on a bit of a temperature roller coaster this week, Tuesday night's hard freeze is a good reminder that now is the time to get your furnace checked. Carbon monoxide is a big concern.

Any gas appliance you have can generate carbon monoxide whether it's a gas dryer, gas hot water heater, or gas stove. But experts said the most common source is your furnace.

"Carbon monoxide is colorless. It's odorless. I mean it truly is a silent killer," said Charlie Ogle, Air Assurance.

Ogle said furnaces have safeties in place, but even safeties need maintenance.

He said strong winds, or constant movement while getting roof work done, can dislodge the flue pipe; and sometimes critters crawl inside and build a nest, which blocks the pipe.

"Dangerous combustion gases that should be exhausting and leaving your home are actually introduced right back into the living space," said Ogle.

A warm home doesn't always mean your furnace is fine.

"It'll stay operating even with a cracked heat exchanger. And a cracked heat exchanger, we find, is the number one source for potential of carbon monoxide," said Ogle.

Ogle recommends buying a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector that can sense low levels of carbon monoxide, verses a cheap one from a retailer.

"This one right here is not gonna sound an alarm until it's at 70 part per million for at least 60 minutes. That is where heart patients experienced an increase in chest pain and a serious decrease in Oxygen," said Ogle.

Tulsa Firefighters said fires also increase this time of year. They said clean your chimney, inspect your fireplace, and don't use your oven or grill to heat your home.

Andy Little said the fire department will come install smoke detectors for free and do a home safety checklist if you call 918-596-9444.

"The most important thing is that we have early detection from these carbon monoxide issues because we know that time saves lives," said Little.

Firefighters said don't use extension cords for space heaters. They said to keep kids, pets and anything flammable away. Firefighters also said to not leave space heaters unattended and don't sleep with them on.