With winter coming, when is the last time you had your furnace inspected. (window, AC)

[MikeJaquish]

This is the rusted out heat exchanger in a furnace. Those holes in the heat exchanger can allow Carbon Monoxide and other combustion gases to enter the house.
Major safety hazard, and major inefficiency wasting fuel.

If you have a furnace that is more than 6 or 7 years old, it is worthwhile to have a licensed HVAC company service and inspect it prior to heating season.

[Caseynj]

Thanks for the reminder Mike.

[Poltracker]

I came home from vacation recently and found my hall ceiling soaked. This turned out to be an AC problem. While the tech was checking out the AC, he also checked the heater and found a 10 in crack in the heat exchanger. He literally fixed it so I could not turn the heat on. Needless to say, I had the whole system AC and heat replaced. I also figured that the leak may have been the cause of my illnesses late last winter/early spring which I went to the doctor numerous times for. Felt fine when spring warmed up. The HVAC tech said that my habit of leaving a window cracked probably saved my life.
I encourage everyone to get their systems checked regularly.

[mal7014]

I am on a maintenance contract with my HVAC company. They do a check up once a year.

[martinez4]

Another life saving tip......use a Carbon Monoxide Detector. We have two...one upstairs and down and they simply plug into an outlet (with a battery backup) and it sends a beeping signal if it detects any CM in the air.

Top 5 Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Best Buys for Carbon Monoxide Detectors (http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/buyersguides/tp/top_codetectors.htm - broken link)

[Ohiogirl81]

I have a 30-year-old furnace (which is not getting replaced until it dies!) ... along with a maintenance contract and CO detectors on each floor!

[judogl44]

Have furnace checked and serviced annually and have detectors.

[Tek_Freek]

Last spring

[rubytue]

Just had our furnace (oil) done on Oct 30. Nov 9, the ignitors went out, and now they say we need new electrodes, too

We've been busy sealing our exposed ducts with mastic to reduce air leaks, then we are insulating the ducts in unheated areas