Carbon monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Inside an enclosed space, CO may accumulate rapidly and quickly climb to fatal levels.
In addition to those who die from carbon monoxide poisoning in automobiles, more than 150 people die from exposure to CO from common home sources such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and generators each year. Thousands of others get sick and require emergency hospitalization.
It’s worth noting that a large percentage of home carbon monoxide fatalities occurred while the victims were sleeping, leaving them tragically unaware of the imminent hazard. Every home should have a functional carbon monoxide detector installed on each floor where there are sleeping areas. Check the batteries or verify proper operation twice a year.
Here are some of the reasons carbon monoxide is such a safety concern inside homes:
- Low level effects are subtle – The consequences of CO exposure are initially non-specific. Flu-like symptoms or even simple fatigue means the victim may continue to remain in the house and inhale the poisonous gas without becoming alarmed or taking action to get outdoors.
- Complacency can be hazardous – Because common household appliances like furnaces and cooking equipment are part of our daily lives, we often assume they’re harmless and neglect proper safety procedures including regular professional maintenance. Stove burner defects, a cracked furnace heat exchanger, a bird’s nest in a vent pipe — all of these can pose a threat by increasing CO to dangerous levels.
- Lack of ventilation is a danger – Today’s energy-efficient houses are constructed to be more airtight than ever to lower energy consumption and heating and cooling costs. This lack of natural ventilation causes the indoor environment to be subject to depressurization. When exhaust fans are utilized without compensating ventilation, or if leaky ductwork depressurizes the structure, carbon monoxide gas normally exhausted from the house through vent pipes may be sucked back into the living spaces. Unless CO monitors are installed and functional, occupants may be unaware of the immediate hazard.
For more information on the hazards of carbon monoxide gas in the home environment and where CO detectors should be placed in your home, contact the professionals at James Lane Air Conditioning & Plumbing Co.
