Winter weather brings danger of carbon monoxide
Every year when the weather turns colder the Euclid Fire Department (EFD) responds to hundreds of calls relating to odors, smoke scares, illnesses, fires and carbon monoxide (CO) detector activations. Most of these CO alarms turn out to be false. However, a small percentage will reveal high levels of CO within a structure. This article will help make you aware of the following:
- What is CO?
- Where does CO come from?
- Why CO is dangerous
- Signs and symptoms of CO exposure
- How to protect your family
What is CO?
CO is the short name for carbon monoxide, an invisible gas found in polluted air, car exhaust, and near a leak or problem in certain machines, such as furnaces, water heaters, and even chimneys.
Where does CO come from?
Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned. It is produced by common home appliances, such as gas or oil furnaces, gas refrigerators, gas clothes dryers, gas ranges, gas water heaters or space heaters, fireplaces, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves. Fumes from automobiles and gas-powered lawn mowers also contain carbon monoxide and can enter a home through walls or doorways if an engine is left running in an attached garage. Never leave an automobile or portable generator running in an attached garage!
All of these sources can contribute to a CO problem in the home. If a home is vented properly and is free from appliance malfunctions, air pressure fluctuations or airway blockages, carbon monoxide will most likely be safely vented to the outside. But in today's "energy efficient" homes this is frequently not the case.
Why CO is dangerous
The great danger of carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodstream. When breathed in, carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen which cells need to function. After prolonged exposure, people will begin to exhibit signs and symptoms of CO poisoning.
Signs and symptoms of CO exposure
When CO is present in the air, it rapidly accumulates in the blood, causing symptoms similar to the flu, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion, and irritability. As levels increase, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and eventually brain damage or death can result.
How to protect yourself and your family
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector per household, near the sleeping area. Additional detectors on every level of a home and in every bedroom provide extra protection. Choose an Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) listed detector that sounds an audible alarm. You can choose a model that is wired to your home's electrical system, a model which plugs into a standard electrical outlet, or a battery-operated model. Battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors continue to protect even in the event of a power outage. Hardwired AC models, although more costly and difficult to install, reduce the expense of battery replacement but do not offer protection during power outages. Hardwired AC models with battery back-up offer double protection.
Gas appliances, especially furnaces, boilers, and water heaters should be serviced yearly by a qualified service technician. Stove burners should be cleaned and adjusted to minimize the amount of carbon monoxide produced. Before making changes to a house that might affect the ventilation of fuel-burning appliances, contact your heating contractor. When replacing heating appliances, purchase appliances designed to reduce dangers from carbon monoxide, such as sealed combustion gas furnaces, direct vent gas fireplaces, or induced draft gas water heaters. Electric-powered heating appliances do not produce carbon monoxide.
If your carbon monoxide detector sounds, first make sure it is your CO detector and not your smoke detector. The latest generation of carbon monoxide detectors listed with UL will be marked "carbon monoxide detector" in a contrasting color on the cover. Some detectors feature a warning alarm which will sound before the full (continuous) alarm. If your detector is in warning alarm, carbon monoxide is beginning to accumulate. It is important to locate and eliminate the source of CO before the condition worsens.
If your detector is in full alarm and any member of the household is experiencing symptoms of poisoning, call the fire department! Remember that infants, children, and the elderly may be affected more quickly by carbon monoxide. Be sure to see if they are exhibiting symptoms.
Lastly, a CO detector is an inexpensive life insurance policy. Please invest in one to protect yourself and your family. Happy Thanksgiving!