Things that burn fuel generate carbon monoxide. This includes a lot of common, everyday appliances and other items in and around the home, including gas central heating, fireplaces, space heaters, wood-burning stoves, furnaces, water heaters and power generators.
The silent killer can creep up on the unsuspecting and it usually arrives with a leak or accumulates in a poorly ventilated area. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headache and breathing problems, which many people believe are the onset of the flu, rather than the actual issue because medical problems usually develop slowly in a manner resembling typical illnesses.
In situations where carbon monoxide quickly accumulates – for example, when power generators flood a residence with fumes – those inside the house can develop confusion rapidly, lose muscle control and become drowsy. Those affected can die unless help arrives quickly. Many victims of carbon monoxide poisoning die in their sleep in such circumstances.
In the case of slow leaks, exposure to levels of about 1 to 70 parts per million does not usually trigger symptoms in healthy adults. However, symptoms start to occur when the exposure reaches higher than 70 parts per million, and great danger occurs when things reach 150 to 200 parts per million.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to a fire in the home, with more than 20,000 patients injured and more than 4,000 requiring hospitalization, including the particularly vulnerable: infants, the elderly, and people in poor health with respiratory diseases, heart conditions and anemia. Many of the victims were trying to heat their homes in a variety of unconventional ways, unaware that they were generating poisonous fumes along with warmth.
The Role of Alarms
Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning is a matter of preparation. You should have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home, particularly near bedrooms. This will alert you if a leak occurs in the middle of the night when you and your family are most vulnerable to any emergency issues.
Follow the manufacturer instructions when installing a carbon monoxide alarm. Use the test button to see whether the device is operating properly (this will not tell you about the levels of carbon monoxide present at that point – just that the device is working).
Note when expiration dates when installing to know when the alarm has outlived its warranty -- you’ll need to replace it periodically.
It is recommended that you place your carbon monoxide detectors high on the wall and make sure that those plugged into an electric outlet have a battery backup. Don’t place the alarm near a heating vent or in an area where it might be covered by drapes or furniture, which can block the fumes from reaching the device. Do not put one in your kitchen or near fuel-burning fireplaces, but do have an extractor fan in the home that can help with ventilation in the event of a problem.
When the alarm sounds, it is best to move outside immediately to fresh air and call the local emergency services or fire department. Wait for help to arrive and do not re-enter the home until responders have given the all-clear.
If your alarm reactivates within a 24-hour period after the initial incident, it is probably time to get a qualified appliance inspector on the premises to determine the source of the potential leakage. Carbon monoxide leaks can come from nearby garages as well as appliances or faulty heating devices, so keep that in mind as you search for the source.
It’s also a good idea to have your home’s heating system checked and tuned up periodically by a qualified professional. This will help prevent deteriorating conditions that may lead to a leak. Appliances, vents and other fuel-burning avenues should be inspected as well, looking for corrosion, soot, rust or blockages.
Your fireplace flue should be open when you use it, and make sure that a professional chimney cleaner helps maintain your outlet at least once a year. Wood-burning stoves also need to be inspected and should meet current EPA standards. It’s important to burn only wood in your stove, and make sure it’s placed on a stove board that will protect your floors from overheating.
If you use space heaters or power generators, make sure you are in a well-ventilated room, preferably stationing any generator outdoors and running a line inside. Gas-powered generators should be at least 10 feet from a home. Never use your stove to heat the house, and make sure that your stove is inspected and serviced periodically for potential leaks. Any outdoor grills or other devices meant to be used in the open air should not be brought in the house for use -- they generate extreme carbon monoxide levels.
If You Suspect Carbon Monoxide
If you suspect that carbon monoxide is reaching dangerous levels and is affecting you, the best plan is to get outside into fresh air. Once outside, try to remain still to maintain whatever remaining oxygen levels are in your blood. Seek medical attention promptly and be ready to have oxygen administered via a mask to boost your system.
It is important that you work with local inspectors and appliance repairers to determine the cause of the carbon monoxide leaks if you have an incident in which severe or recurring issues occurred. Alarms can only do so much, and there are any number of ways carbon monoxide can enter the home, including from nearby apartments or garages. It is important to trace the source of the problem before something more severe happens, particularly if you have someone in the family with poor health.
Common sense and a watchful attitude toward potential problems with fuel-burning devices will go a long way toward keeping your family safe from carbon monoxide troubles.