How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Cold temperatures drive homeowners to batten down their homes and turn up the thermostat, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. About 50,000 people in the U.S. end up in the emergency room each year due to accidental CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die.

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a byproduct of incomplete combustion, meaning it’s released every time a material is burned. If the appliances in your home run on natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re at risk of CO inhalation. Learn what happens when you inhale carbon monoxide emissions and how to minimize your risk of exposure this winter.

The Danger of Carbon Monoxide

Commonly referred to as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from taking in oxygen appropriately. CO molecules dislodge oxygen in the blood, starving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Dense concentrations of CO can overwhelm your system in minutes, triggering loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without prompt care, brain damage or death can occur.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also occur slowly if the concentration is fairly low. The most common signs of CO exposure include:

• • Headaches

• • Dizziness

• • Weakness

• • Fatigue

• • Nausea

• • Vomiting

• • Chest pain

• • Confusion

Since these symptoms resemble the flu, many people don’t discover they have carbon monoxide poisoning until mild symptoms advance to organ damage. Be wary of symptoms that lessen when you leave the house, illustrating the source might be someplace inside.

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

While CO exposure is alarming, it’s also entirely preventable. Here are the top ways to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Run Combustion Appliances Properly

• • Don’t run your car engine while parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed structure, like a garage.

• • Do not run a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered tool in a confined space such as a basement or garage, regardless of how well-ventilated it may be. Also, keep these devices about 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents.

• • Avoid using a charcoal grill or portable camping stove while inside a home, tent or camper.

• • Keep all vents and flues clear of debris that could produce a blockage and encourage backdrafting of carbon monoxide fumes.

Install, Test and Replace the Batteries in Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you ever use combustion appliances in or near your home, you should install carbon monoxide detectors to notify you of CO emissions. These detectors can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into an outlet based on the style. Here’s how to make the most of your carbon monoxide detectors:

• • Install your detectors correctly: As you think about possible locations, remember that a home does best with CO alarms on every floor, near any sleeping area and adjacent to the garage. Keep each unit away from combustion appliances and sources of heat and humidity. The higher on a wall or ceiling you can put in your detectors, the better.

• • Check your detectors on a regular basis: The bulk of manufacturers recommend monthly testing to ensure your CO alarms are operating like they should. You can press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to start and release the button. You should hear two quick beeps, watch a flash or both. If the detector does not function as it’s supposed to, replace the batteries or replace the unit altogether.

• • Change out the batteries: If you have battery-powered models, swap out the batteries every six months. If you prefer hardwired devices that use a backup battery, replace the battery once a year or if the alarm is chirping, whichever comes first. Then, install new carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years or as frequently the manufacturer recommends.

Arrange Annual Furnace Maintenance

Several appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, can emit carbon monoxide if the system is installed poorly or not working as it should. A once-a-year maintenance visit is the only way to know for sure if an appliance is defective before a leak develops.

A precision tune-up from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing includes the following:

• • Examine the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks.

• • Spot any malfunctions that may cause unsafe operation.

• • Assess additional places where you would most benefit from installing a CO detector.

• • Tune up your system so you know your heating and cooling is functioning at peak safety and productivity.

Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If your gas furnace, boiler or water heater has formed a CO leak, or you want to prevent leaks before they happen, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Our HVAC and plumbing maintenance and repair services encourage a safe, comfortable home all year-round. Call your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office for more info about carbon monoxide safety or to schedule heating services.