How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home

Cold temperatures lead homeowners to seal up their homes and crank up the thermostat, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. Around 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency room every year due to inadvertent CO poisoning, and more than 400 people die. 

This odorless, tasteless, colorless gas is a side effect of imperfect combustion, which means it’s created any time a material burns. If any appliances in your home use natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood, gasoline or charcoal, you’re at risk of CO exposure. Learn what happens when you breathe carbon monoxide gases and how to lower your risk of exposure this winter. 

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide 

Frequently known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is lethal because it prevents the body from using oxygen appropriately. CO molecules displace oxygen within the blood, starving the heart, brain, lungs and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overwhelm your system in minutes, leading to loss of consciousness and suffocation. Without prompt care, brain damage or death can occur. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also happen slowly if the concentration is comparatively minimal. The most frequent signs of CO exposure include: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 

Because these symptoms resemble the flu, a lot of people won’t learn they have carbon monoxide poisoning until minor symptoms advance to organ damage. Look out for symptoms that decrease when you leave home, indicating the source might be somewhere inside. 

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips 

While CO inhalation is frightening, it’s also entirely avoidable. Here are the best ways to protect your family from carbon monoxide gas. 

Use Combustion Appliances Correctly 

• Don’t leave your car running while parked in a confined or partially enclosed structure, like a garage. 
• Never use a generator, lawn mower or other gasoline-powered tool in a confined space like a basement or garage, irrespective of how well-ventilated it is. Also, keep these devices about 20 feet away from open windows, doors or intake vents. 

• Never use a charcoal grill or small camping stove within a home, tent or camper. 
• Keep all vents and flues clear of debris that can produce a blockage and trigger backdrafting of carbon monoxide emissions. 

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

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

• Install your detectors correctly: As you think about the best locations, remember that a home does best with CO alarms on each floor, near each sleeping area and close to the garage. Keep each unit a safe distance from combustion appliances and sources of heat and humidity. The higher on a wall or ceiling you can place your detectors, the better. 
• Review your detectors regularly: The bulk of manufacturers suggest monthly testing to ensure your CO alarms are functioning like they should. You can press and hold the Test button for 5 to 20 seconds, wait for the alarm to begin and release the button. You should hear two short beeps, watch a flash or both. If the detector doesn’t perform as expected, swap out the batteries or replace the unit altogether. 
• Replace the batteries: If these detectors are battery-powered models, change the batteries every six months. If you have hardwired devices using a backup battery, replace the battery once a year or when the alarm begins to chirp, 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, can release carbon monoxide if the appliance is installed poorly or not performing as it should. A yearly 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 consists of the following: 

• Examine the heating appliance for carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Search for any malfunctions that might lead to unsafe operation. 
• Assess additional spaces where you might benefit from setting up a CO detector. 

• Tune up your system so you know your equipment is operating at peak safety and effectiveness. 

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 encourage a safe, warm home all year-round. Get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office for more information about carbon monoxide safety or to schedule heating services.