Can a furnace filter cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

Carbon monoxide, an odorless, invisible gas, is very deadly. For people who have been exposed to low amounts, it can cause some health problems such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, brain damage, and more. However, a higher level of contact with carbon monoxide can kill the exposed individual. Unfortunately, many household appliances like furnaces, clothes dryers, ovens, and others can release carbon monoxide; this is why most houses now have a carbon monoxide detector along with their traditional smoke detector.

 

Furnaces, if functioning incorrectly, can begin to leak the carbon monoxide that is normally vented outside, endangering those in the home. One of the causes of this can be a filter that has severe blockage on it.  However, furnace filters are not the only cause. In order to keep your home safe and free from the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure to check (or have a professional check) all of your appliances for problems, have a working carbon monoxide detector on all floors of the home, and regularly check and change your furnace filters.