QUINCY, ILL. -- The Tri-States has experienced unseasonably warm weather this fall. But in the KHQA Safe Family Report, we'll show you why its so important to have your furnace checked before you turn on the heat. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause dizziness, nausea or worse, unconsiousness and death.

If your furnace is not working properly, carbon monoxide could build up in your home. That's why Quincy Firefighter Jerry Smith says every home should have a carbon monoxide detector in in it.

"In Illinois, the state law is carbon monoxide detectors need to be placed within 15 feet of any room used for sleeping purposes. It's the owner or landlord's responsibility to furnish and install the carbon monoxide detector and the tenant's responsibility to change the batteries and maintain the detectors," said Smith.

Carbon monoxide can knock you out without a warning. One way to keep this from happening is to make sure both your furnace and air conditioner are in top shape.

"We've had problems with people first turning their furnaces on and they didn't have it checked. One recently here, where three family members were completely unconsious in a very short period of time," said Quincy Firefighter Jerry Smith.

"Make sure they change their filter before they turn the furnace on. Even if they changed it three months ago for the a.c., you still need to keep the filters changed for a good air flow across the heat exchange," said Bill Prichard, a service technician with Peter's Heating and Air Conditioning in Quincy.

"Just starting to be the busiest time of the year. We've got customers calling in now wanting to start their furnace. Wanting it cleaned before they start," said Prichard.

He says the newer furnaces do a better job of releasing carbon monoxide from the home.

"But for the older furnaces, and even some of the newer ones that aren't 90 Plus, there is a possibility of carbon monoxide if the vents get plugged up," said Prichard.

Getting your furnace inspected takes less that twenty minutes, and will cost about $75. You can get a carbon monoxide detector for $25.