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An Ounce of Prevention Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – It Will Leave You Breathless As our need for warmer air and hotter water goes up as the outside temperatures go down, some of us will be relying on gas supplied appliances for warmer air and hotter water. Others of us will be lighting the fireplace for the esthetics and a warm glow in the family room. In the last article we addressed some preventative measures to help reduce fire risks. This week we will be addressing an invisible by-product of gas supplied appliances and fireplaces in the home – Carbon Monoxide (CO).
What is carbon monoxide
and how can it impact your health? Carbon monoxide (CO) is
a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is the result of incomplete
burning of gaseous fuel products such as natural gas, liquefied
petroleum (LP gas), oil, kerosene, or coal may produce CO. The
initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the
fever). They include:
Appliances, such as water heaters and furnaces, fueled by gas products may produce CO if the primary air supplied by the gas ports is inadequate and/or the combustible air supplied for the flame is inadequate. Wood burning fireplaces and gas fireplaces also can produce CO. By way of prevention of CO entering the home, following these guidelines
will greatly reduce the risks and safe guard your health; ·
At a minimum
install a carbon monoxide detector/alarm in the access areas leading to
each sleeping area of the home. You could install one near the
gas-supplied appliance, but these may not be heard if they go off. · Ideally, have a gas supplied appliances and fireplaces inspected and serviced annually by a reliable professional. · If you are a do-it-yourselfer type, check the chimneys, dampers, flues and flue connections for blockages, corrosion and any loose connections. Look for a solid blue flame coming from the gas ports on the appliance. This indicates complete combustion of the fuel. A wood burning fire will have some yellow in the flame. That need not be a concern if the chimney and damper are operating properly. Proper operation of these will vent the by-products out of the house. Follow these simple guidelines and you will have the refreshing sleep you intended to get, and not an eternal one. “An Ounce of Prevention” features timely tips and insights for preventative maintenance around the home. Please forward any questions or comments to jwampler@calidad-tx.com or visit the web site at www.calidad-tx.com.
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