Sometimes furnaces in homes are overlooked until they malfunction or a dangerous situation presents itself. Some property owners mistakenly think that getting their furnaces serviced is the only measure they need to take to keep their furnaces performing optimally. There are a few things that you can do after your furnace service appointment to ensure that your furnace performs its best. 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

One of the main reasons people get their furnaces serviced annually is to protect themselves against carbon monoxide threats. However, it is possible for a furnace to malfunction even after it has been serviced. This is why it is important to have a carbon monoxide detector installed near your gas furnace and any other gas appliances. Some carbon monoxide detectors are wired electrically and have a backup battery. Others run solely off of batteries. Make it a habit to change your batteries on the day that the time changes for fall or spring. Doing battery changes on the days that you set your clocks forward or backward reduces the chance of you forgetting to change them and having bad batteries in such an important device. 

Furnace Fires from Filters

Dirty filters can cause a lot of problems for your family. They can impact the energy efficiency in your home. The indoor air quality may also be negatively impacted by allergens circulating throughout your home. One of the most serious threats that a dirty filter can cause is a fire. Some modern furnaces are designed to reduce the chances of fires. They have a mechanism that shuts them off when overheating is detected by the sensors. However, an older furnace might continue to run and the filter could get engulfed in flames, which can spread fast. Make a habit to check your filter every month, and change it if it looks dirty. Also, change your smoke detectors' batteries at the same interval you change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector(s). 

An HVAC contractor is a good resource to use to learn more things you can do to avoid furnace dangers. If there are things you do not know how to do such as change your furnace filter, they can demonstrate how to do it and advise you on the correct type of filter to purchase. They can also perform a furnace installation if your furnace is outdated and not considered a fuel efficient model. If your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms need to be replaced, they can make that assessment and install new ones.