How to Minimize Carbon Monoxide in Your Home
With the cold temperatures, we are all staying indoors more. But, is the air inside your home safe? Are you protecting your family from the dangerous and silent killer, carbon monoxide gas? This is a gas with no colour, taste, or odor.
It kills its victims stealthily by taking up the space in the hemoglobin in the blood that would normally be taken up by oxygen molecules.
Patients initially feel dizzy and have a headache, nausea, vomiting, and start to have trouble breathing. As the concentration of the gas in their blood grows higher, their breathing difficulty increases, they may stumble and have an erratic heartbeat and visual disturbance. They may become cyanotic then lose consciousness.
What steps can you take to prevent this danger?
Carbon monoxide can be a risk if your home is heated with a furnace or space heater that runs on oil, propane or natural gas, a wood or coal burning stove, or any other appliance that must vent to the outside. These appliances need to be tested regularly to make sure they are working properly and not adding carbon monoxide into the air inside the house.
Fireplaces also need to be checked and serviced regularly. It is highly recommended that your HVAC equipment should be checked for leaks twice a year, once at the beginning of the heating season, and again at the beginning of the cooling season. Also, a CO detector should be installed.
What does a CO detector do?
Similar to a smoke detector, a CO detector alerts you when CO is present in your home. In fact, some smoke detectors have a CO sensor already built in. Most CO detectors use an audible voice alert or intermittent beeping that won’t shut off until CO leaves the area.
If you’re looking to purchase a CO detector, there are plenty of affordable options available. Most models vary from $15 to $150 per unit, depending on the specific features, including detection sensitivity, Wi-Fi compatibility, and dual smoke detection.
How you can prevent exposure:
Be knowledgeable : If your CO alarm goes off, evacuate the area, check for signs of poisoning and call 911.
Be diligent : Inspect your CO detector regularly to ensure it’s working properly. Choose a battery-operated or battery-backed detector in case of power failures.
Be proactive : Make sure your furnace, chimney, and fireplace are all inspected annually. Do not run stoves, grills, generators or cars in confined or closed spaces. This includes running your car even with the garage door open, as the CO can still build up to harmful levels.
When it comes to conditioning the air in your home, Adam’s Air is a licensed HVAC contractor ensuring homeowners comfort since 2006. When your system is running smoothly, you can be confident that your family is breathing safe, clean, comfortable air. Call us today, to schedule your HVAC inspection!
