How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home
Winter temperatures encourage homeowners to batten down their homes and turn up the thermostat, expanding the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Close to 50,000 people in the U.S. go to the emergency room every year as a result of accidental CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die.
This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a byproduct of imperfect combustion, which means it’s produced any time a material burns. If some appliances in your home use natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re susceptible to CO exposure. Find out what happens when you breathe carbon monoxide fumes and how to reduce your risk of exposure this winter.
The Danger of Carbon Monoxide
Often called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from consuming oxygen appropriately. CO molecules displace oxygen in the blood, starving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Large volumes of CO can overtake your system in minutes, triggering loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without immediate care, brain damage or death could occur.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can also take place progressively if the concentration is fairly low. The most frequent signs of CO poisoning include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Confusion
Since these symptoms resemble the flu, many people don’t learn they have carbon monoxide poisoning until mild symptoms evolve to organ damage. Be wary of symptoms that decrease when you leave home, indicating the source may be someplace inside.
Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips
While CO inhalation is frightening, it’s also entirely preventable. Here are the best ways to help your family avoid carbon monoxide gas.
Run Combustion Appliances Properly
- Don’t leave your car running while parked in a confined or partially enclosed building, such as a garage.
- Do not leave a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered device in a smaller space like a basement or garage, irrespective of how well-ventilated it is. Also, keep these devices around 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents.
- Avoid using a charcoal grill or small camping stove while inside a home, tent or camper.
- Keep all vents and flues free of debris that may produce a blockage and cause backdrafting of carbon monoxide fumes.
Install, Test and Replace the Batteries in Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you ever use combustion appliances in or around your home, you should put in carbon monoxide detectors to alert you of CO gas. These devices can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into an outlet according to the style. Here’s how to make the most of your carbon monoxide detectors:
- Install your detectors correctly: As you consider possible locations, remember that your home needs CO alarms on all floors, near each sleeping area and near the garage. Keep each unit away from combustion appliances as well as sources of heat and humidity. The higher on the wall or ceiling you can install your detectors, the better.
- Review your detectors on a regular basis: The majority of manufacturers suggest monthly testing to ensure your CO alarms are working correctly. Simply press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to begin and release the button. You will hear two brief beeps, observe a flash or both. If the detector does not function as expected, swap out the batteries or replace the unit entirely.
- Swap out the batteries: If you have battery-powered models, swap out the batteries after six months. If you favor hardwired devices with a backup battery, change out the battery once a year or if the alarm starts chirping, whichever comes first. Then, install new carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years or whenever the manufacturer suggests.
Plan for Annual Furnace Maintenance
Many appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, may leak carbon monoxide if the equipment is installed incorrectly or not performing as it should. A yearly maintenance visit is the only way to ensure if an appliance is defective before a leak appears.
A precision tune-up from Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts consists of the following:
- Inspect the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks.
- Spot any troubling concerns that might cause unsafe operation.
- Review additional places where you could benefit from putting in a CO detector.
- Tune up your system so you know your equipment is operating at peak safety and efficiency.
Contact Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts
If your gas furnace, boiler or water heater has sprung a CO leak, or you want to stop leaks before they happen, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts can help. Our HVAC maintenance and repair services encourage a safe, warm home all year-round. Contact your local Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts office for more information about carbon monoxide safety or to ask for heating services.