Each year, approximately 20,000 people in the United States visit the emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning. While many of those people are treated and released, on average, 400 people will die from carbon monoxide poisoning in a given year. Why is this gas so dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, making it difficult to detect a leak until someone becomes sick. And even then, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning mimic those of the flu, making it challenging to identify.
When a leak does happen, it doesn’t discriminate. Young or old, healthy or sick, man or woman — everyone in your home is at risk of becoming ill if exposed to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. If anyone in your family has health problems already, the effects can be even more devastating.
It sounds scary, and yes, it can be frightening. There’s no way to sugarcoat it — ignoring the risks can kill you. But if you take the time to understand what carbon monoxide is and how to prevent it from reaching your loved ones, you can sleep well at night knowing your family is safe.
If you have questions or concerns about your home’s carbon monoxide detectors, contact us online or call us today at 781-595-0000 to talk with an expert!
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas found wherever fuel is burned. Carbon monoxide sources include trucks, cars, small engines, and certain household appliances, including gas ranges, furnaces, fireplaces, and grills. It can be released from natural gas, gasoline, coal, charcoal, and wood, which means most people have at least one possible source of carbon monoxide in or around their homes.
When a person breathes it in, CO prevents blood cells from carrying enough oxygen throughout their body. When your body doesn’t have the proper amount of oxygen it needs, then it can’t function as it should. Vital organs can’t work right, and you become very sick.
Why Is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
Carbon monoxide can be deadly to breathe and may account for half of all fatal poisonings. When too much carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream, it deprives oxygen to vital organs like the brain and heart. An overabundance of CO may dissipate enough oxygen that you fall unconscious and suffocate. While CO poisoning is reversible if caught early enough, carbon monoxide can do serious damage within minutes and hinder your chances of recovery.
Even for those who recover, acute CO poisoning may cause permanent damage to the brain and heart. Those most susceptible to CO poisoning may experience its symptoms and effects even sooner, making carbon monoxide especially dangerous for young children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease.
Does Carbon Monoxide Exposure Make Everyone Sick?
Carbon monoxide levels are often referenced when talking about air pollution because it is also a problem outdoors, especially in areas with a lot of industrial production or high-density areas with many cars and trucks on the roads. It’s a significant factor in air pollution, and there’s a lot of information about what it does when released into the air in high doses.
Typically, when you hear people discussing carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s referring to what happens when dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter a home. When CO is released into a poorly-ventilated indoor space, its effects rapidly intensify.
In those cases, exposure to extremely high levels of CO can quickly cause damage to the brain and heart. Or, depending on how high the levels of CO are — and how quickly they rise — the damage may occur more slowly over time.
Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Homes
Carbon monoxide is a potential risk anywhere fuel burns. To identify potential sources of a leak in your home, the easiest thing to do is determine anywhere you know that’s burning fuel. That means you need to investigate whether your home contains common sources of carbon monoxide poisoning, including:
- Furnace
- Chimney
- Fireplace
- Water heater
- Gas stove/oven
- Gas-powered space heaters
- Clothes dryer
- Grill
- Power tools and lawn equipment
- An attached garage that regularly houses vehicles
Yes, this is a list of some of the most common household appliances. And no, not all of these are powered by fuel. Your home may have a water heater and stove powered by electricity. Or, maybe you don’t have a chimney. But, most houses in the United States today face some risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from at least one of these items. If you aren’t aware of this, then you won’t be able to take the proper steps to protect your home from unsafe CO levels.
Related Article: Signs of a Carbon Monoxide Leak in Your Home
What are Safe Carbon Monoxide Levels?
Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million (ppm) and is generally considered safe if the CO levels inside stay below 70 ppm. These levels ensure that indoor CO levels don’t exceed outdoor levels. When they exceed outdoor CO levels, that’s when problems arise.
As levels rise above 70ppm, the short-term and long-term effects will depend on the age and overall health of those exposed. Young children, elderly adults and anyone with a history of breathing problems are at a higher risk of experiencing the effects of exposure to CO. However, this should not be taken to mean that healthy adults can’t and won’t get sick. Anyone, regardless of age or health history, can become ill when they are exposed to higher levels of CO.
If you have family members with health problems, particularly asthma or heart issues, they may be the first to experience symptoms. People with heart problems are at risk of experiencing chest pains even before CO levels begin to rise over 70ppm.
Common Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
When carbon monoxide levels in the home exceed safe limits, the residents of that home may initially think they are experiencing the flu because the symptoms are similar. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Weakness and dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Fainting
When people are exposed to lower doses of CO over time, they may experience these symptoms at home but then start feeling better when they leave to go to work or run errands. Another telling sign is if the entire family — including pets — is displaying similar symptoms and no one runs a fever or improves in their condition.
If you or your loved ones are experiencing these symptoms and you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, leave your house immediately and seek medical attention. It’s important to get help as quickly as possible to prevent continued exposure and long-term effects of CO poisoning.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Combatting carbon monoxide poisoning protects you and your family from serious illness or even death. Since CO is a silent killer, knowing how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning can be life-saving. You can take numerous precautions to keep indoor levels under 70 ppm.
1. Know Your Home
You should know which appliances in and around your house are at risk of producing carbon monoxide. Is your furnace powered by natural gas? Are you cooking on a gas stove? Does your power washer require gasoline to run?
Walk around your home and, if you need to, write down all the appliances that fall into this category. Some homes will have several, while others may only have one. However, in these modern times, it’s highly unlikely that you won’t have at least one appliance or spot in your home that puts you at risk for CO poisoning, so make sure you take the time to investigate.
2. Purchase and Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Installing a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector is the best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Similar to a smoke detector, these detectors are designed to measure the levels of CO in your home and alert you if they are too high. Where should you install a CO detector? The best option is to install a CO detector in every major area of your home — your kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. It’s especially important to install CO detectors close to any of the appliances you identified as fuel burning.
While installing several CO detectors is ideal, we realize your budget may not allow for you to purchase and install that many all at one time. If you need to spread them out, start by installing one near the bedrooms in your home. That way, your family will hear the alarm if it goes off and have time to leave the house. If you’re able, add additional detectors in the other major areas listed above.
3. Regularly Check & Replace Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Once you’ve installed carbon monoxide detectors, it’s essential to maintain them. If they aren’t working, they can’t protect you and your family. A good rule of thumb is to replace the batteries in your CO detectors during daylight savings changes in March and November. By having this regular reminder, you don’t have to rely on your memory or a to-do list to keep these in proper working order.
Carbon monoxide detectors are long-lasting, but they don’t last forever. Just as it is important to install them in your home, you also need to know when to replace carbon monoxide detectors.
Related Article: How Often to Replace Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
4. Service Fuel-Burning Appliances Regularly
Water heaters, heating systems, gas cooking ranges, gas fireplaces, and any other appliances that burn oil, gas, or coal should be serviced every year to prevent a break or malfunction that could result in a CO leak. It can be tempting to put off preventative maintenance or assume that it’s fine if it’s working, but neglecting these appliances can result in broken pipes or vents that leak CO into your home. When it comes to handling appliances, remember to:
- Get professional servicing and cleaning for your furnace, water heater, and other appliances.
- Use fuel-powered space heaters in areas with good ventilation.
- Refrain from using portable fuel-powered heaters or lanterns in enclosed sleeping areas, including tents and campers.
- Keep gas-powered generators 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents.
- Hire a professional to check a gas-powered refrigerator if you notice an odd smell.
- Buy fuel-powered appliances or equipment with the Underwriters’ Laboratories seal.
- Ensure all gas- and fuel-powered devices have proper ventilation.
- Avoid using gum or tape for patching vent pipes.
- Do not use a gas oven or range as a heat source.
- Refrain from using a gas camp stove in an enclosed area.
- Use the proper fuel type for kerosene space heaters.
- Ensure your wood stove is the correct size and EPA emissions certified.
5. Make Sure Appliances Have Proper Ventilation
Ensure that your gas appliances are properly ventilated. Hire a professional to install them if you can or, at the very least, have them inspected and correct any problems with the ventilation system to prevent CO leaks.
6. Schedule Regular Chimney Inspections
If you want to know how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning with your fireplace, start by having your chimney checked — and cleaned if needed — once a year. This prevents a build-up of debris and dirt in the chimney that can trap CO and send it back into your house. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning with fireplaces that burn wood, always open dampers before use. Keeping wood-burning fireplaces in good repair is essential, just as you should with your other fuel-burning appliances.
7. Practice Safe Generator Usage
Many people rely on generators as a backup source of power after a storm. If you use a generator indoors, it should be within 20 feet of a window, door, or vent. Always ensure you have at least one working battery-powered or battery-backup CO detector to alert you if the generator is increasing the CO levels in your home.
8. Don’t Cut Corners
If you discover that a vent pipe is cracked or broken, never patch it with tape or gum. Using these to patch a hole can result in a build-up of carbon monoxide in your home. If you don’t know the correct way to repair these types of pipes, call a qualified professional to repair the pipe and make sure it can safely vent CO out of your home.
9. Never Grill Indoors
Yes, grilling is fun, but you should never do it inside. Charcoal, propane, and other gasses used to power grills and camp stoves can release CO, and if used indoors, the CO can build up to unsafe levels. Grilling should always happen outdoors to ensure CO does not build up in your home.
10. Don’t Start a Car or Lawn Equipment in a Closed Garage
This is perhaps one of the most well-known examples of how carbon monoxide can hurt someone, but it still needs to be said. A car should never be started when a garage door is closed. This is dangerous to anyone in the car, and if your garage is attached to your home, it can also send high levels of carbon monoxide into the house, as well.
While lawn equipment such as a mower or power washer isn’t typically as big or powerful as a car, it can still produce unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide that will quickly build up if the garage door is closed. Make sure the door is always open before starting any vehicles or lawn equipment, and if you can, wait to start a mower or other power tools until you bring them out into the yard or driveway.
Other Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Will Opening Windows Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
As CO accumulates in an enclosed room, the people inside face an accelerating risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. While opening windows may help slow down CO build-up, the time it takes for CO to dissipate from the enclosed space entirely depends on the amount of fresh air passing through the window. The half-life of carbon monoxide in the human body is approximately four hours, meaning it may take over eight hours for a well-ventilated room to remove it completely.
Additionally, there is no guarantee that CO will flow toward the window. You must ensure there is enough ventilation in the house to prevent any lingering carbon monoxide. The fresh air cannot provide much help to other rooms with closed windows or lacking ventilation. That’s why opening windows should be treated as an extra layer of protection rather than your primary method of preventing CO poisoning.
CO detector alarms alert you to the presence of harmful fumes so you and your family can reach safety before becoming poisoned. Opening windows may help you return to a space free of CO, but only if you can evacuate your home in time.
How Can I Tell If There Is Carbon Monoxide in My Home?
If you want to know how to prevent carbon monoxide in your home, start by installing CO detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors are critical in warning you when gas leaks and dangerous levels of CO occur in your home. Without CO detectors, it can be challenging to tell when this odorless and colorless gas starts to accumulate. CO detectors measure the amount of carbon monoxide in the air. Therefore, you receive an adequate warning when there would ordinarily be none.
Any fuel-burning source can produce carbon monoxide, including furnaces, ovens, kerosene heaters, lanterns, and portable generators. The fumes produced when starting vehicles or burning charcoal and wood also emanate CO. When these items are used in an enclosed space, you can almost guarantee there is some level of carbon monoxide in your home. CO detectors let you know when these levels become dangerous.
Where Should I Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
Keep them in bedrooms and living spaces where all your household members can hear them. If your home or apartment doesn’t have them, purchase them immediately. There are both plug-in and battery-powered options if you cannot choose hard-wired or the smoke and CO detector combination devices.
What Kind of Batteries DO Carbon Monoxide Detectors Use?
Ensure you have a battery-powered backup for your CO detector in the event of a power outage or any other reason it may not have a power supply. You will also want to periodically test your CO detector to ensure the alarms work and detect elevated CO levels. Remember to change CO detector batteries at the manufacturer’s suggestion.
Contact Wayne Alarm Systems for Quick Detection Today
In a perfect world, everything in your house would work perfectly all the time. Your appliances wouldn’t break or leak, and your family would be safe. But life isn’t always perfect. Things break, and appliances malfunction. When CO begins to leak into your home after a break or malfunction, it can come in without warning.
You can’t smell, see or taste carbon monoxide. If its presence isn’t detected quickly, it can result in illness and death.
Serving New England for more than 40 years, Wayne Alarm Systems has been recognized around the world for providing products and services that protect your home from many dangers, including carbon monoxide. Your family is our family — and we are committed to helping you keep them safe. We do this with state-of-the-art carbon monoxide detectors that will alert you when there is a problem and help you get your family to safety at any time of the day or night.
If you burn coal, oil, gas or wood anywhere in your home, then you are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Let us help you keep your loved ones safe. Contact us today to get started.
