How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Icy temperatures lead 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. go to the emergency room each year because of accidental CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die. 

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a side effect of incomplete combustion, meaning it’s produced any time a material is combusted or used for fuel. If some appliances in your home run on natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re at risk of CO exposure. Find out what happens when you breathe carbon monoxide emissions and how to reduce your risk of poisoning this winter. 

The Risks of Carbon Monoxide 

Commonly called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from using oxygen properly. CO molecules uproot oxygen within the blood, starving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Dense concentrations of CO can overtake your system in minutes, triggering loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without prompt care, brain damage or death can occur. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also take place progressively if the concentration is comparatively minimal. The most common signs of CO inhalation include: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 

As these symptoms mimic the flu, numerous people won’t learn they have carbon monoxide poisoning until moderate symptoms advance to organ damage. Watch out for symptoms that decrease when you aren’t home, indicating the source might be originating from inside. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips 

While CO poisoning is frightening, it’s also entirely preventable. Here are the ideal ways to help your family avoid carbon monoxide gas. 

Use Combustion Appliances Safely 

• Never let your car engine run while parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed building, like a garage. 
• Don’t use a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered system in an enclosed space such as a basement or garage, no matter how well-ventilated it might be. Also, keep these devices at least 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents. 

• Never use a charcoal grill or portable camping stove within a home, tent or camper. 
• Keep all vents and flues clear of debris that could lead to a blockage and cause backdrafting of carbon monoxide gases. 

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

If you ever use combustion appliances in or around your home, you should add carbon monoxide detectors to warn you of CO emissions. These devices can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into an outlet depending on the style. Here’s how to reap all the benefits of your carbon monoxide detectors: 

• Install your detectors correctly: As you review possible locations, don’t forget that your home needs CO alarms on each floor, near any 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 place your detectors, the better. 
• Review your detectors on a regular basis: The bulk of manufacturers recommend monthly testing to confirm your CO alarms are operating properly. Just press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to sound and release the button. You ought to hear two short beeps, see a flash or both. If the detector doesn’t function as anticipated, swap out the batteries or replace the unit outright. 
• Change out the batteries: If you have battery-powered models, swap out the batteries after six months. If you have hardwired devices using a backup battery, change out 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 suggests. 

Arrange Annual Furnace Maintenance 

Many appliances, like furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, can emit carbon monoxide if the equipment is installed incorrectly or not running 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 appears. 

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

• Inspect the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Look for any malfunctions that could cause unsafe operation. 
• Evaluate additional spaces where you could benefit from setting up a CO detector. 

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

Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

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