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What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, it can kill you before you are aware it is in your home.
At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness,disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of carbon monoxide exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.
What are some common sources of carbon monoxide?
Common causes of carbon monoxide production can be gas or oil appliances like a furnace, clothes dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heaters that are not working properly. When appliances and vents work properly and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow for complete combustion. In these typical conditions, trace amounts of CO produced by these sources are typically not dangerous. However, there are common conditions that can cause CO levels to rise quickly:
Appliance malfunction.
Vent, flue, or chimney is blocked by debris or snow.
Fireplace, wood burning stove, charcoal grill or other source of burning material is not properly vented.
Vehicle is left running in an attached garage and carbon monoxide seeps into the house
Several appliances running at the same time and competing for limited fresh air can be a cause of carbon monoxide buildup. This condition can result in incomplete combustion and produce CO, even if all appliances are in good working condition.
Protect yourself and your family from CO poisoning
Install at least one carbon monoxide detector with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide detector measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the detector activate. This does not mean that CO is not present.
Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house.
What should I do when the carbon monoxide alarm sounds?
Silence the alarm. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911 and tell them your carbon monoxide alarm has triggered. Move everyone immediately to fresh air-outdoors or by an open door or window. Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for.
Do not re-enter the premises or move away from the open door or window until the emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out, and your carbon monoxide alarm remains in its normal condition.
Where should I install carbon monoxide detectors? What is proper carbon monoxide detector placement?
It is very important to install carbon monoxide detectors near or in each separate sleeping area. For added protection, placement of an additional carbon monoxide detector at least 15-20 feet away from the furnace or fuel burning heat sources is recommended. In two story houses, install one carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home. If you have a basement a carbon monoxide detector is recommended at the top of the basement stairs.
Is it a false alarm when my CO alarm sounds when there doesn't seem to be a problem?
A carbon monoxide detector false alarm should not occur if your alarm is in working order. Remember, CO is an odorless, colorless gas. If your carbon monoxide alarm went off, it detected potentially harmful amounts of CO. After the professionals have evaluated the situation, make sure no one has any symptoms of CO poisoning.
Here are a few situations that may cause a carbon monoxide detector "false alarm:"
The CO alarm needs to be relocated. Carbon monoxide alarms should be located 15-20 feet away from all fossil fuel burning sources like furnaces and stoves. should be located 10 feet away from sources of humidity like showers.
* Fossil fuel burning appliances may not be burning fuel completely. Check pilot lights/flames for blue color. Appearance of yellow or orange flames indicates incomplete
For more information contact your nearest fire station or visit fire.ca.gov, or firstalert.com.
