If your home has a gas or oil furnace, boiler, water heater, or other fuel-burning appliances, you’ve probably heard about the importance of regular maintenance. But there’s one test you may not be familiar with that plays a big role in both home safety and energy efficiency: The Combustion Safety Test.
At HomeWorks Energy, we include this test in your no-cost Home Energy Assessment. Here’s what you need to know.
The Basics: What Is a Combustion Safety Test?
A Combustion Safety Test is a professional check of your home’s fuel-burning appliances (like gas furnaces, boilers, and water heaters) to make sure they’re operating safely and properly venting exhaust gases—especially carbon monoxide (CO)—outside your home.
This is especially important in New England homes, where aging HVAC systems and weatherization upgrades like insulation and air sealing can affect the flow of air throughout your home.
Why Is a Combustion Safety Test Important?
Like many items on your annual home maintenance checklist, testing for combustion safety might not be top of mind, but it can prevent serious safety hazards and help your home run more efficiently.
Here’s why combustion testing is essential:
1. Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Combustion appliances naturally create carbon monoxide. A malfunctioning appliance or blocked vent can allow that CO to build up indoors, creating an invisible and potentially deadly hazard.
2. Verify Safe Venting
If your home is well-sealed/insulated, it can actually pull combustion gases back inside instead of venting them out. We test to make sure that doesn’t happen.
3. Protect Your HVAC System
Poor combustion means your equipment is working harder than it should, wasting energy and reducing lifespan. Regular testing keeps things tuned up and running right.
What Happens During a Combustion Safety Test?
During your no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment, your HomeWorks Energy Specialist will:
- Visually inspect your appliances and flue vents for damage, backdraft potential, or improper setup
- Use specialized tools to measure carbon monoxide levels and check if combustion gases are spilling into your home
- Confirm that gases are properly venting out of your home
- Measure efficiency and safety indicators, like flue temperature, O₂ levels, and CO concentration
If something seems off, we’ll walk you through your options to fix it safely.
When Should You Get a Combustion Safety Test?
We recommend testing:
- Before air sealing or insulation work
- When installing or maintaining any heating equipment
- If you notice unusual drafts, odd furnace behavior, or CO alarms
- As part of your maintenance plan for fuel-burning systems
Services We Provide in Massachusetts
Start with a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment
You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to save energy, and you don’t have to wonder if your appliances are safe. Let’s check your home this heating season.
With a no-cost Home Energy Assessment from HomeWorks, you’ll get more than just a quick check of your insulation or HVAC. We include:
- A full inspection of your home’s energy systems
- Instant energy-saving items (like programmable thermostats and water-saving devices) installed on the spot at no cost
- A Combustion Safety Test
- Guidance on Mass Save® incentives, HEAT Loan financing for electrification upgrades, and federal tax credits
And most importantly, you’ll leave with a clear plan to make your home safer, more efficient, and more comfortable.
Call us today at 781-305-3319 to schedule your no-cost assessment, or follow the link below to book online.
