Winter & Carbon Monoxide: Maintaining Your Furnace Exhaust Vents

Winter & Carbon Monoxide: Maintaining Your Furnace Exhaust Vents is important for optimal efficiency and protection from carbon monoxide. During extreme winter weather events, furnace and water heater exhaust vents may become blocked with snow, ice, or frost. New models of furnaces are factory programmed to automatically shut off when Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels are higher than usual within your home, and for a good reason. If you notice your furnace is not properly heating your home, check to ensure your exhaust vents are clear of obstructions. Clearing snow and dealing with frost and ice should be done by hand, not using a shovel or snowblower.

The most important details are that a hairdryer can be used to melt heavy frost buildup, restarting a furnace if it shuts off due to a blocked exhaust vent, and checking the exterior exhaust vent throughout the winter months. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can cause severe illness or death. It is mandatory to have carbon monoxide detectors in all homes, but they are not 100% reliable. If you or others in your household or building have flu-like symptoms, call 911 immediately. If your CO alarm sounds and no one is suffering from symptoms, check to see if the battery needs replacing or if the alarm has reached its “end-of-life”.