Is carbon monoxide as big of a deal as some make it out to be? And if so, what can you do to prevent being exposed?

The simple answer is carbon monoxide should be a concern and a worry, but even though it is something that we should all worry about and be concerned about, there are preventative measures we can take to keep everyone in the house safe in Salina, Kansas. What are the real dangers, though? What can be done to prevent carbon monoxide exposure?

WHAT’S THE DANGER OF CARBON MONOXIDE?

Carbon monoxide is often labeled as the “silent killer” due to the fact that carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is produced when fuel is burned.

Carbon monoxide is produced by:

• Wood

• Coal

• Gasoline

• Natural gas

• Kerosene

Which means it can be produced through:

• Furnaces

• Gas stoves and ranges

• Gas clothes dryers

• Wood-burning stoves

• Portable fuel-burning space heaters

So for example, if a furnace was not installed correctly or not venting correctly in a home in Salina, Kansas, this could mean that those in the household could be exposed to carbon monoxide. It may not always be easy to realize, but some symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include, but aren’t limited to:

• Flu-like symptoms

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Upset stomach

• Vomiting

• Chest Pain

• Confusion

HOW TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE

There may be variations of what you can do to prevent carbon monoxide exposure in your own home but the standard preventative measures include:

• Have a qualified technician service and check the heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances to make sure that there are no leaks and everything is venting properly.

• Keep vents and flues free of debris. Debris can block ventilation lines and cause a buildup of carbon monoxide gas, which will increase the amount of carbon monoxide exposure and risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Vents and flues that are clear of debris will provide better ventilation of harmful gasses from the home.

• If you suspect that there is already an issue with carbon monoxide in the home, contact a qualified technician to have them perform an indoor air quality test. An indoor air quality test can detect carbon monoxide in smaller quantities than carbon monoxide detectors.

• Place the carbon monoxide detectors in central locations such as sleeping areas, every level of a home, and near garages – this will provide detection throughout the home.

• Use a battery-powered or battery back-up carbon monoxide detector. Check or change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector every six months.

Preventing carbon monoxide from being an issue is ideal, of course. But if you suspect that there is a leak causing carbon monoxide exposure based on symptoms that family members may be experiencing, time is of the essence. The sooner it is determined that carbon monoxide is an issue and the leak is found and fixed, the safer everyone in the household in Salina, Kansas, will be.

If you suspect that you and your family are being exposed to carbon monoxide due to a leak somewhere in the home, we have qualified inspectors that can help to determine what is in the air through an indoor air quality test. Please give us a call to see how we can help!