How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Cold temperatures encourage homeowners to seal up their homes and turn up the thermostat, expanding the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Around 50,000 people in the U.S. go to the emergency room every year due to accidental CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die. 

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a result of imperfect combustion, which means it’s created any time a material is combusted or used for fuel. If some appliances in your home use natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re at risk of CO poisoning. Find out what happens when you inhale carbon monoxide fumes and how to minimize your risk of exposure this winter. 

The Danger of Carbon Monoxide 

Commonly known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it stops the body from consuming oxygen appropriately. CO molecules uproot oxygen that’s part of the blood, depriving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Large volumes of CO can overwhelm your system in minutes, leading to loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without immediate care, brain damage or death can occur. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also take place slowly if the concentration is fairly modest. The most frequent signs of CO inhalation include: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 

Because these symptoms resemble the flu, a lot of people never find out they have carbon monoxide poisoning until minor symptoms evolve to organ damage. Look out for symptoms that decrease when you aren’t home, indicating the source could be someplace inside. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips 

While CO inhalation is intimidating, it’s also entirely preventable. Here are the top ways to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide exposure. 

Run Combustion Appliances Correctly 

• Never let your car engine run while parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed building, such as a garage. 
• Never leave a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered device in a confined space such as a basement or garage, irrespective of how well-ventilated it is. Also, keep these devices at least 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents. 

• Avoid using a charcoal grill or small camping stove in a home, tent or camper. 
• Keep all vents and flues clear of debris that can produce a blockage and trigger backdrafting of carbon monoxide fumes. 

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

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

• Install your detectors correctly: As you consider possible locations, remember that a home needs CO alarms on every floor, near every sleeping area and near the garage. Keep each unit away 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. 
• Review your detectors consistently: Most manufacturers suggest monthly testing to make sure your CO alarms are working correctly. Just press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to start and release the button. You will hear two short beeps, observe a flash or both. If the detector does not perform as expected, change the batteries or replace the unit entirely. 
• Swap out the batteries: If your alarms are battery-powered models, exchange 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 starts chirping, whichever comes first. Then, install new carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years or as often as the manufacturer suggests. 

Plan for Annual Furnace Maintenance 

Multiple appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, could emit carbon monoxide if the equipment is installed poorly or not working as it should. An annual 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. 
• Spot any malfunctions that may lead to unsafe operation. 
• Assess additional areas where you might benefit from installing a CO detector. 

• Tune up your system so you know your equipment is functioning at peak safety and productivity. 

Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

If your gas furnace, boiler or water heater has sprung 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 help provide a safe, comfortable home all year-round. Get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office for more details about carbon monoxide safety or to schedule heating services.