How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Icy temperatures encourage homeowners to batten down their homes and raise the thermostat, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Close to 50,000 people in the U.S. go to the emergency room annually as a result of unintended CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die. 

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a side effect of imperfect combustion, which means it’s created each 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 poisoning. Find out what happens when you breathe carbon monoxide fumes and how to minimize your risk of exposure this winter. 

The Risks of Carbon Monoxide 

Commonly known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from taking in oxygen correctly. CO molecules dislodge oxygen that’s part of the blood, starving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Dense concentrations of CO can overpower your system in minutes, triggering loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without urgent care, brain damage or death can occur. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also occur slowly if the concentration is comparatively modest. The most common signs of CO inhalation include: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 

Because these symptoms resemble the flu, many people won’t learn they have carbon monoxide poisoning until moderate symptoms advance to organ damage. Be wary of symptoms that decrease when you aren’t home, indicating the source might be somewhere inside. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips 

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

Run Combustion Appliances Safely 

• Never let your car engine run while parked in a confined or partially enclosed structure, such as a garage. 
• Never leave a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered tool in an indoor space such as a basement or garage, no matter how well-ventilated it is. Also, keep these devices around 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents. 

• Don’t use a charcoal grill or transportable camping stove inside a home, tent or camper. 
• Keep all vents and flues clear of debris that can create a blockage and encourage backdrafting of carbon monoxide gases. 

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

If you ever run combustion appliances in or around your home, you should add carbon monoxide detectors to warn you of CO emissions. These detectors can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into an outlet according to the style. Here’s how to take full advantage of your carbon monoxide detectors: 

• Install your detectors properly: As you think about possible locations, keep in mind that a home needs CO alarms on every floor, near every sleeping area and near the garage. Keep each unit out of reach from combustion appliances as well as sources of heat and humidity. The higher on your wall or ceiling you can put in your detectors, the better. 
• Test your detectors regularly: The bulk of manufacturers suggest monthly testing to ensure your CO alarms are functioning properly. You can press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to start and release the button. You ought to hear two quick beeps, observe a flash or both. If the detector won’t perform as anticipated, swap out the batteries or replace the unit outright. 
• Replace the batteries: If these detectors are battery-powered models, swap out the batteries after six months. If you favor 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 whenever the manufacturer recommends. 

Arrange Annual Furnace Maintenance 

Many appliances, like furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, may emit carbon monoxide if the appliance is installed improperly or not performing as it should. A yearly maintenance visit is the only way to ensure if an appliance is faulty before a leak develops. 

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

• Check the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Spot any troubling concerns that might lead to unsafe operation. 
• Evaluate additional places where you would most benefit from putting in a CO detector. 

• Tune up your system so you know your equipment is operating at peak safety and efficiency. 

Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

If your gas furnace, boiler or water heater has developed a CO leak, or you want to stop leaks before they happen, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Our HVAC maintenance and repair services promote a safe, warm home all year-round. Get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office for more information about carbon monoxide safety or to ask for heating services.