What a Safety Inspection Covers
- Heat exchanger inspection — a visual check for cracks or corrosion in the heat exchanger, the most serious gas furnace failure
- Carbon monoxide test — a combustion and carbon monoxide test on gas furnaces, to make sure fuel is burning completely
- Gas connections — gas lines and the gas valve checked for leaks
- Venting check — the flue and venting inspected for blockages, damage, or improper slope
- Electrical check — wiring, connections, and the control board inspected for damage or overheating
- Safety controls test — limit switch, pressure switch, and shut-off controls verified working
- Burner and ignition check — burners inspected and cleaned, ignition tested
The inspection ends with a clear report: what was found, what is safe, and what needs attention — in plain language, with no pressure.
Why It Matters
A furnace is the one appliance in your home that burns fuel, moves air, and runs for six months straight. The risks it carries are real: carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion, gas leaks from a worn connection, fire from an overheated motor or a cracked heat exchanger. None of these announce themselves clearly — a cracked heat exchanger is invisible from outside the furnace, and carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. A safety inspection is the only way to know for certain that your furnace is running safely. It is also the inspection that finds the small problems — a dirty burner, a weak ignitor, a corroded connection — before they become a no-heat emergency in January.
When to Get One
- Every year, in the fall — before the heating season, as part of a tune-up
- When buying a home — a furnace inspection is one of the most useful checks in a home purchase, and it can reveal a furnace that needs replacing
- After any repair — to confirm the repair was done safely and the system is running correctly
- If the furnace is more than 10 years old — older furnaces need a closer look at the heat exchanger and the gas connections
- If your carbon monoxide alarm has gone off — turn the furnace off, leave the house, and call immediately
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Every Montana home with a gas furnace should have a working carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home, and near sleeping areas. Test the alarm monthly, and replace it when the manufacturer says to — most alarms last 7 to 10 years. A carbon monoxide alarm going off is an emergency: leave the house, call 911, and do not re-enter until it has been cleared as safe. A safety inspection and a working alarm together are the best protection your family has against the one furnace risk you cannot see or smell.
Related Services
See also: Gas Furnace Repair, Furnace Maintenance & Tune-Up, and Furnace Replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing a safety inspection checks?
The heat exchanger. A crack in the heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide into your home's air, and it cannot be seen without an inspection. It is the single most important safety check on a gas furnace.
How often should I get a safety inspection?
Once a year, in the fall, before the heating season. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, or if you have had carbon monoxide concerns, an annual inspection is even more important.
My carbon monoxide alarm went off. What do I do?
Leave the house immediately and call 911 from outside. Do not turn the furnace back on or re-enter the house until it has been cleared as safe. Then have the furnace inspected before it is used again.
Is a safety inspection the same as a tune-up?
They overlap, but they are not the same. A tune-up focuses on performance — cleaning, adjusting, and keeping the furnace running efficiently. A safety inspection focuses on risk — the heat exchanger, carbon monoxide, gas, and venting. A fall visit can include both.
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