Protect Your Family: Understand & Reduce The Risks of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous, colorless and odorless gas resulting from incomplete combustion. If you have any fuel appliances in your home, such as a water heater, boiler, furnace, range or stove, you may be exposing yourself to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide.

What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is the number one cause of poisonings in the United States. Its odorless and colorless nature makes it undetectable to humans. All natural gas and propane furnaces and appliances give off some amount of carbon monoxide, but inappropriately adjusted appliances can result in higher concentrations that are dangerous to humans.

Signs of CO poisoning
Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million (ppm). The permissible exposure limits for different government organizations range from 25ppm to 50ppm. Permissible levels are even lower for children and the elderly.

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, contact a medical professional immediately. Exposure to carbon monoxide may result in the following symptoms:

• Low concentrations – fatigue, dizziness, headache
• Moderate concentrations – flu-like symptoms, impaired vision, shortness of breath
• High concentrations – vomiting, loss of consciousness, death

Steps to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
In order to prevent the dangerous health risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is important that you take the following steps.

• Adjust gas appliances– A professional technician should make sure your appliances are not emitting more carbon monoxide than they should.
• Over gas stoves, install & use an exhaust fan vented outdoors – You can greatly reduce the amount of harmful carbon monoxide that is released into your home by installing a vent over your gas stove.
• Remember to open flues when using your fireplace – Avoid allowing carbon monoxide to fill your home by opening the flue before igniting your fireplace.
• Get an annual heating tune-up by a professional – Just like your gas appliances, your central heating system needs to be properly maintained in order to avoid unhealthy amounts of CO in your home.
• Do not idle your vehicle in your garage – When you pull your vehicle into your garage, shut it off promptly. Likewise, don’t turn the engine on until you are ready to leave the garage.
• Keep generators outdoors – Make sure your generator is stored and used outdoors, not in an enclosed area such as a garage or basement.
• Install carbon monoxide monitors – A carbon monoxide monitor is not the same as a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide detectors will eventually alert you to unhealthy levels of CO, however detectors will not even “alert” you until the levels have been above 70 ppm for a minimum of 2 hours. Most international limits for unsafe levels, including OSHA and the World Health Organization's guidelines are between at 15-35 ppm! The carbon monoxide monitors, sold and installed by Pitzer’s One Hour Air and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing operate in a continuous scan mode, have a digital display that registers any level above 5 ppm and will audibly alert you when levels reach 15 ppm.
• Where should I place the monitor? - CO is lighter than air. Monitors should be mounted at eye level and no lower. They should be placed in an area with good air circulation. If you have only one monitor it should be placed near the master bedroom. Additional locations include your kitchen, nursery, basement, rooms with fireplaces or gas logs, and near your heating system and/or hot water tank. Your professional installation contractor will determine the best location in your home.

Don’t be a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Know the symptoms and follow these steps to avoid it.

Get a free quote for installation of a new carbon monoxide monitor from Pitzer’s One Hour or schedule a heating tune-up online today.