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Prioritize safety in your home this winter, starting with the often-overlooked danger: Carbon Monoxide (CO). This colorless, odorless gas is invisible to human senses, but is deadly if undetected.
Stay alert to the causes and dangers of carbon monoxide. Be aware of what generates CO and take precautions to have a safer indoor environment. Remain vigilant, prioritize regular maintenance, and be proactive to avoid CO poisoning.
Common Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Many household tools and systems can set off the carbon monoxide alarm. As cited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, these potential sources include:
- Fuel-burning heating equipment like unvented kerosene and gas space heaters
- Leaking chimneys and furnaces
- Back-drafting from furnaces
- Gas water heaters
- Wood stoves
- Wood fireplaces
- Gas stoves, charcoal grills, gas grills, and other gas-powered cooking equipment
- Fuel-burning appliances
- Gasoline-powered generators and other equipment
- Exhaust pipes, such as automobile exhaust
- Tobacco smoke
It's important that any of these sources are used only in areas with adequate ventilation.
How to Protect Your Home Against Carbon Monoxide
Keep your home secure and your loved ones safe by following these simple tips:
1. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Install systems throughout your home. Just like smoke detectors, you'll need at least one detector alarm on each floor of your home. We also feel safer having a backup carbon monoxide detector near our sleeping areas where we have a better chance of hearing alarm sensors during the night.
Smart home technology is changing the game when it comes to prevention. "Smart home devices beyond traditional smoke and CO detectors now give people a clearer picture of what’s happening in their home," explained Tommy Tran, Marketing Manager, at PLACE. "Devices like the PLACE Any Space detector provide real-time carbon monoxide monitoring and instant alerts, both audibly in the home and through smartphone notifications, so you can stay aware of CO levels even when you’re away."
He emphasizes, "This added layer of protection is especially valuable in the winter, when heating systems run more often, the risk of CO buildup increases, and holiday distractions can make it easier to overlook potential hazards."
2. Have a Professional Inspect Your Heating System
Get your gas HVAC system checked out before you need to rely on it. Whether you have a furnace, fireplace, or wood-burning stove, ensuring they are well-maintained and in good working order is essential. A thorough inspection can identify and address potential CO leaks.
3. Understand Risks of Burning Fuel Indoors
Proper ventilation can prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Items like generators, grills, or gas heaters should never be used indoors.
Gas ranges are required by code to have ventilation systems for safety.
Carbon monoxide emissions are prevalent in all of these systems and tools, and they must only be used outdoors in open, well-ventilated areas.
4. Check Fireplaces, Chimneys, and Flues
If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, inspect the chimney and its flue regularly. Gas fireplace? This matters for you, too. A system that fails invites an invisible killer into the home.
Blockages or buildup can lead to CO entering your home.
Keep these pathways clear and have your fireplace inspected every year to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
5. Avoid Running Vehicles in Enclosed Spaces
Never leave a small engine running inside an attached garage, even with the garage door open. The exhaust of a car will build up in the space, making it dangerous when a person enters the area. The gas can also draft into your home through the doorway from an attached garage. Similarly, avoid using gas-powered tools, portable heaters, or generators in enclosed spaces.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The National Safety Council and U.S. Fire Administration are vocal about the dangers of carbon monoxide. If you were exposed to a carbon monoxide leak, your symptoms may vary depending on the level and duration of exposure. It can even present as flu-like symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
Exposure to high levels intensifies symptoms of poisoning, including confusion, loss of consciousness, and death.
- Mental confusion or disorientation
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Impaired vision
- Vomiting
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Death
If you believe you're experiencing accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical attention immediately. Go outside and get fresh air into your lungs, but also contact emergency personnel who can help you navigate initial symptoms. They will also be able to send a qualified technician to find the source of the carbon monoxide in your home so that you and your family can rest at ease.
