What You Need to Know about Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide poisoning is not a proposition you can afford to take lightly. Exposure to excessive quantities of carbon monoxide will make you sick—and it can even put your life in danger under certain circumstances.

Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

We all breathe carbon monoxide from time to time, especially when we’re outdoors in the proximity of cars. But if you’re indoors, in a location where ventilation cannot disperse gases quickly, carbon monoxide contamination can become a true threat to your health.

Some of the most common sources of home carbon monoxide invasion include gas- or oil-burning furnaces or boilers, gas water heaters, gas stoves, non-electric space heaters, propane generators, gas grills and automobiles or other vehicles left running in adjacent garages. In some instance these appliances can develop leaks and in other cases improper ventilation may be the cause of the trouble.

Any appliance or device that runs on fossil fuel combustion will produce carbon monoxide, and if you remain unaware of the danger you may inadvertently put yourself or your family members in harm’s way.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-caustic, which means you will only recognize its presence when it makes you sick. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, sleepiness, blurred vision, mental confusion, heart flutters, shortness of breath, loss of muscle control and general discomfort that mimics the effects of the flu.

If more than one person in an enclosed area is reporting such symptoms, and if sudden improvement is noticed after leaving the premises, carbon monoxide poisoning should be suspected. In these circumstances everyone should vacate the building immediately, all doors and windows should be opened and if you have the opportunity to cut the power to your fossil fuel burning appliances before leaving you should do so.

But if your symptoms are strong you should get out as fast as you can and call your HVAC contractor, gas company and/or local fire department afterward to let them know you have an emergency and need assistance. And if anyone is seriously ill you should not hesitate to call 911, since carbon monoxide poisoning can be a life-threatening condition.

Carbon Monoxide Exposure Prevention

HVAC equipment and any other indoor/outdoor appliances that run on fossil fuels should be regularly inspected for damage that might lead to carbon monoxide leakage. Some of this you can do yourself, but in the case of gas- or oil-burning furnaces, boilers, stoves or water heaters an annual inspection by trained professionals should be considered mandatory.

Non-electric space heaters need significant ventilation and gas grills and generators should only be operated outside, well away from the house. Also, you should never leave vehicles idling in garages or near open windows.

By all means, if you have appliances in your home that produce carbon monoxide you should purchase at least one battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. When installing them follow manufacturers’ instructions closely and test the batteries regularly to make sure they aren’t low on power.

Worried about Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Salt Lake City? HVAC Construction Inc. Can Help

Does your furnace run on natural gas? Do you live in the Salt Lake City area?

If the answer to both questions is ‘yes’ we invite you to call HVAC Construction to schedule a maintenance visit today. Our trained technicians will go over your HVAC system with a fine tooth comb and immediately repair any problems they discover, including those that might lead to carbon monoxide leakage.

At HVAC Construction we know carbon monoxide poisoning is a deadly serious issue and we will do everything in our power to eliminate that threat from your life.

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Jodi Hugoe