How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Winter temperatures lead homeowners to secure their homes and turn up the thermostat, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Around 50,000 people in the U.S. go to the emergency room every year as a result of accidental CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die. 

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a result of incomplete combustion, which means it’s released any time a material is burned. If some appliances in your home run on natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re vulnerable to CO inhalation. Learn what happens when you inhale carbon monoxide fumes and how to minimize your risk of exposure this winter. 

The Risks of Carbon Monoxide 

Often called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from using oxygen properly. CO molecules dislodge oxygen within the blood, depriving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Large volumes of CO can overtake your system in minutes, leading to loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without urgent care, brain damage or death may occur. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also occur gradually if the concentration is comparatively minimal. The most prevalent signs of CO inhalation include: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 

As these symptoms imitate the flu, many people don’t discover they have carbon monoxide poisoning until moderate symptoms evolve to organ damage. Be wary of symptoms that decrease when you leave the house, suggesting the source might be originating from inside. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips 

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

Run Combustion Appliances Safely 

• Never let your car engine run while parked in a covered or partially enclosed structure, such as a garage. 
• Never use a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered system in an indoor space like a basement or garage, no matter how well-ventilated it might be. Also, keep these devices around 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents. 

• Avoid using a charcoal grill or small camping stove while inside a home, tent or camper. 
• Keep all vents and flues free of debris that may create a blockage and trigger backdrafting of carbon monoxide fumes. 

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

If you ever run combustion appliances in or around your home, you should put in carbon monoxide detectors to warn you of CO leaks. These detectors can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into an outlet according to the style. Here’s how to take full advantage of your carbon monoxide detectors: 

• Install your detectors properly: As you review potential locations, don’t forget that a home needs CO alarms on all floors, near any sleeping area and near the garage. Keep each unit away from combustion appliances and sources of heat and humidity. The higher on the wall or ceiling you can install your detectors, the better. 
• Test your detectors on a regular basis: The bulk of manufacturers encourage monthly testing to ensure your CO alarms are operating properly. You can press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to start and let go of the button. You will hear two quick beeps, watch a flash or both. If the detector won’t perform as it’s supposed to, replace the batteries or replace the unit entirely. 
• Swap out the batteries: If you have battery-powered models, swap out the batteries after six months. If you favor hardwired devices that use a backup battery, change out the battery once a year or when the alarm is chirping, whichever comes first. Then, install new carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years or as often as the manufacturer recommends. 

Plan for Annual Furnace Maintenance 

Many appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers, could release carbon monoxide if the system is installed poorly or not performing as it should. A once-a-year maintenance visit is the only way to ensure if an appliance is malfunctioning before a leak appears. 

A precision tune-up from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning includes the following: 

• Inspect the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Look for any malfunctions that may cause unsafe operation. 
• Assess additional spaces where you might benefit from installing a CO detector. 

• Tune up your system so you know your heating and cooling is functioning at peak safety and efficiency. 

Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

If your gas furnace, boiler or water heater has formed a CO leak, or you want to thwart leaks before they happen, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Our HVAC maintenance and repair services encourage a safe, comfortable home all year-round. Contact your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office for more information about carbon monoxide safety or to request heating services.