Imagine having had a nasty brush with a light to moderate case of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The experience may have given you an epiphany about installing CO detectors at home for better forewarning in case of another emergency in the future. However, these devices are only as effective as how they are set up—there are effective ways to put CO detectors in your home for maximum coverage.

According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, at least one CO detector should be installed at every floor of the house, but where exactly on the floor is the question. For instance, the detector should be active in your bedroom, where the loud alarm can rouse you while sleeping. Some experts suggest within ten feet of the door, which can give you enough time to scramble fast. Bathrooms are off-limits to CO detectors.

If a CO detector is to be set up in the kitchen, the device cannot be within 15 feet of any heat-operative appliances such as gas stoves. A detector should also be set up in the garage, as many homeowners tend to run their cars on idle for long periods of time, leading to a CO buildup.

It is never fun at all to suffer a slow-lingering death and other fates are often quick. In the case of the home, there’s no faster fate than to die of asphyxiation by carbon monoxide (CO), a tasteless gas generated through the burning of fuels such as wood or petroleum. Studies have shown that at least 500 Americans die from CO poisoning every year.

There are situations when the CO comes from a gas-powered furnace that has been improperly set up. So how you stave off the danger of becoming another CO-poisoning statistic?

The symptoms of a CO-poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, and rapid loss of consciousness. One sign of a potential CO poisoning is when you regain your full breathing after you safely creep out of the house then the symptoms kick in once you get back inside. Take note of some warning signs in the house structure include moisture buildup inside windows, loose soot from the chimney, and possible blockages inside the chimney itself.

To prevent the danger of a CO poisoning, especially during times of cold weather, you must have a preferred contractor inspect the entire HVAC system, plus any fuel burning appliances. The contractor should also check the ductwork and the flues for leaks and blockages.

Even when you have an effective HVAC system in play at home, it is prudent to keep on your toes for signs of CO poisoning. Proper action can save your life.

It seems like winter has set in early in Salt Lake City as temperatures have dropped to as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit in the second week of November. You may have turned up your electric furnace so you and your family can get the warmth you need. With electric furnaces, you won't have to worry about running out of fuel or gas to keep them functioning, and you can have a peaceful and warm sleep all throughout the night—well, unless there is a sudden power outage in the city, which is unlikely, of course.

While a power supply that is filled to the brim (so to speak) at all times is the advantage that an electric furnace provides, like all the household devices that run on electricity, they are also prone to a few problems. For one, you may find yourself having to deal with an electric furnace that doesn't generate enough heat even when the settings are on the maximum and your home is well-insulated. When this happens, dirty and clogged filters can be the source of the problem.

A noisy furnace is also a likely problem that an electric furnace owner may encounter. This is not only bothersome, causing you and your family lack of essential sleep, it can also indicate bigger problems with the furnace. In this case, it’s best to call on a Salt Lake City furnace repair specialist to delve deeper into the source of the problem.

Furnaces are extremely important in American society, especially in cities that are located far from the Equator. Furnaces provide the much-needed warmth people need to survive chilly conditions.

Necessity is the mother of invention and the need for more heat brought about different kinds of furnaces that can be seen almost anywhere. Different furnaces tend to complement different kinds of homes, as they have different ways of burning and distributing heat to a space.

Single stage furnace

A single stage furnace is straightforward: either on or off. It is the least expensive of the known furnace systems, but there is no way for anyone to moderate the release of heat, as it can't be regulated to release a certain amount of heat.

Dual stage furnace

The dual stage furnace is similar to the single stage, only that it has three settings: off, low, and high. It is also quieter than the single stage variety. Due to the additional option, however, dual stage furnaces are a little costlier.

Modulating furnace

Furnaces of this type have electronic controls that allow for very meticulous temperature control close to the thermostat setting. Modulating gas furnaces are the costliest type of furnace systems but are extremely energy efficient.

By definition, a furnace is an enclosure where nonthermal energy is converted to heat. Its energy can be derived from fossil fuel, chemical, or electric resources.

When computing the size of a furnace, certain factors must be taken into proper account. One of which is the area of the space that must be heated. Other considerations include the openings (windows and doors), layout of the space, and the location of the furnace.

Furnaces also incorporate certain features that partly distinguishes them from the rest. For instance, there are models that extend the furnace's functionality by allowing users to adjust the speed or select areas of the home to be heated. Users can likewise program the furnace, among others, to start heating the space at a preset time.

The furnace, an integral part of any heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, impacts the level of comfort you experience in your personal space. There comes a point when you start to forget about your furnace until problems start to rear their heads one way or another. However, that shouldn't be the case if you regularly check the condition of your furnace and make sure it won't fail to serve its purpose.

One of the worst things that could happen during the winter is for your home furnace to break down or malfunction. It is, therefore, important to regularly maintain your furnace unit and to know just when to call in the professionals. Here are three tips for keeping your furnace burning even through the coldest day.

Regular Cleaning

Dirt is perhaps the biggest problem that could plague a furnace. At the very least, it would cause clogs that will reduce the heating efficiency of your unit; the worst-case scenario would be that you’ll have a broken furnace with possibly dangerous leaks.

Using Your Nose

Your nose is your first tool in diagnosing a gas leak in the house. If you smell concentrated amounts of gas, get out of the house as quickly as possible and alert the gas company or the fire department immediately. For small leaks around the furnace unit, you can try to locate the leak by putting a mixture of detergent along the line; wherever the mixture bubbles up, there's gas escaping.

Calling Professional Repair

If you suspect a problem that's beyond your skill scope, it is best to call in a professional repair company than to use trial-and-error to solve the problem. Safety first, after all.

A home furnace is indeed a very big boon to homeowners in colder areas, but only if it works properly. That said, always stay on top of furnace maintenance so you never experience serious problems.

There are so many cost-saving strategies that a homeowner can employ to be able to make his or her heating system work more efficiently. Having insulation in one's home does not only help in saving energy and money when using the heating system, it also helps the air conditioning system keep the desired room temperature during the summer months.

If you are looking into having your home insulated, contact a reliable contractor who can give you an estimate for free. Not all homes require the same amount of insulation. Even similar homes in terms of size may need different quantities of the material due to a difference in local weather patterns.

Proper maintenance of one's HVAC system is also a great way to save on utility bills. To avoid the hassles of an equipment breakdown, ensure that your home's heating system has undergone maintenance before the winter months arrive.

To ensure that warm or cool air is maintained within rooms and the home itself, areas where air can escape, such as windows and doors, should be sealed around their frames. Wall and window-mounted air conditioners, as well as other inclusions in walls such as electric sockets, switch plates, and pet doors should be routinely checked if they are caulked or weather-stripped properly.