Heating with Gas and Oil

Gas and oil heating systems use combustion–i.e., they burn a fuel–to produce heat. The heat can then be transferred to air, as is the case with a furnace, and the heated air is then circulated through the house in a system of box-like enclosures called ducts. Or the heat can be transferred to water; in this case, the system is referred to as a boiler. The heated water is then circulated through the house in pipes, which feed into a device in each heated room that spreads the heat, typically radiators or baseboard convectors, or circulates beneath the floor or ceiling as a radiant heat system.

Combustion can produce carbon monoxide
Exhaust gases from combustion can contain carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and poisonous gas. When inhaled, it depletes the oxygen in your blood, and with enough exposure, can kill you. The threat of carbon monoxide is increased when the system is not operating efficiently, such as when it needs cleaning or adjustment, or when there is any blockage in the exhaust system. Your best protection is an annual servicing of the system by a qualified heating and cooling system technician.

Read More