The leaves are starting to turn red and gold in New England. In the mid-Atlantic area, the trees are starting to lose that intense green of summer. The seasons are changing and furnaces are about to be fired up around the country. Is your furnace ready to keep your family warm and safe this winter? Is your dryer vent clean? What about your chimney?
Each year there are a few tragic stories in the local news of entire families who senselessly die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but Carbon Monoxide, when improperly vented from your home, can make you sick, cause brain damage and even worse, death. Carbon Monoxide, also referred to as CO, is colorless, odorless and tasteless but highly toxic. It is found in the emissions produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, or gas appliances.
Every time your heating system, hot water heater or gas dryer operate, Carbon Monoxide is being discharged through the appliance's chimney vent. If your chimney is blocked, cracked or rusted through, or if it is not properly vented to the outside of your home, Carbon Monoxide is escaping into your home.
If your windows and doors are closed, and not enough fresh air is entering your home, Carbon Monoxide will build more rapidly and sicken the people and animals who breathe it.
Some of the common conditions which cause CO levels to rise quickly include; furnaces that are not properly vented or have a blockage in the chimney caused by debris, or a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger; a gas dryer vent that may have lint build up, a bird's nest, or snow blocking the CO from being properly discharged from the dryer; a fireplace or stove that has a chimney blockage or is not properly vented; or a vehicle or small appliance, like a portable generator, left running in a closed garage space.
Be prepared
Prevention is the only way to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Fall is the best time to have all of your fuel-burning appliances checked and inspected for safety.
Enlist the services of a trained and reputable, HVAC or chimney inspection company. In addition to checking the appliances themselves, have all flues and chimneys inspected to be sure they are connected, in good condition, and are not blocked in any way.
If you haven't replaced your carbon monoxide monitors recently, get new ones. Install one on the sleeping level of your home and a second one by your furnace and hot water heater.
Don't Do These Things
Don't idle your car in a garage attached to your home or office. Fumes build up very quickly and seep into other areas of the building. Don't ever use a gas oven to heat your home or sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater. Don't start any gasoline-powered engines like mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators in enclosed spaces. And lastly, don't ever use a charcoal grill indoors.
Warning Signs That Your Appliances Are Malfunctioning
There are very clear warning signs that your appliances may be emitting Carbon Monoxide, which include
- a decrease in hot-water supply;
- the pilot light of your furnace or other gas-fired equipment keeps going out;
- the pilot light and burner flames of your gas furnace or other gas-fired equipment are mostly yellow, rather than clear blue. (please note that some natural gas fireplaces are designed to have yellow flames);
- your furnace is unable to heat the house effectively or runs constantly;
- soot buildup around vents; black streaks on walls or around baseboard radiators;
- unfamiliar or burning odor;
- you notice a sharp, penetrating odor or the smell of natural gas when your furnace or other natural gas equipment turns on;
- rusting, water streaking or chalky white powder on chimney vents;
- an appliance that makes unusual sounds or emits an unusual smell;
- and lastly, an appliance that keeps shutting off. Many appliances have safety devices installed that prevent dangerous operation of the unit. An appliance which constantly shuts off may be an indication that the appliance is not safe.
Watch Out for These Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning are determined by the levels of CO found within a space.
Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can cause symptoms easily confused with signs of flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses and can cause long term health risks.
Moderate levels of carbon monoxide exposure can cause death if symptoms persist for any length of time, and high levels of exposure can cause death within minutes.
Low level carbon monoxide exposure can be identified by; shortness of breath, mild nausea, and headaches.
Moderate levels carbon monoxide exposure can be identified by; headaches, dizziness, nausea, irregular breathing, burning eyes and lightheadedness.
High levels of carbon monoxide exposure can be identified by: sleepiness, disorientation, loss of consciousness and can be fatal, causing death within minutes.
What To Do If You Suspect Carbon Monoxide Poisining
If you suspect that you, a family member or co-worker have been exposed to Carbon Monoxide poisoning, you should get the victim into fresh air immediately. If the victim cannot be removed from the house or building, open all the windows and doors to bring fresh air into the house.
Turn off all fuel-burning appliances immediately. Arrange for immediate transport to a hospital emergency room. A simple blood test can determine whether exposure occurred and whether treatment is necessary.
Many Carbon Monoxide Detectors Only Last 5 Years
Don't let your carbon monoxide detector lull you into a false sense of security. The detector should be used as a back-up, but NOT as a replacement for proper use, professional inspection and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances. Be sure to properly maintain and replace all Carbon Monoxide detectors, when necessary, in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Many have a life span of only five (5) years.
Who Is at Risk for CO Poisoning
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Infants, the elderly, people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to be more susceptible to getting sick from CO. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.
We at the Lise Howe Group of Keller Williams Capital Properties care about our clients. We encourage everyone we work with as clients or customers to install carbon monoxide monitors in their homes. We encourae you to do the same. Fall is coming. Don't fall prey to carbon monoxide poisoning!
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