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Carbon Monoxide Testing - Why It Is Important!
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Carbon monoxide can be present in your
home without leaving a trace because it is an odorless, tasteless
and colorless gas. It kills more people annually in the United
States than any other type of poisoning. The only side effects of
carbon monoxide poison are flu-like symptoms (nausea, headaches, and
lethargy) which are easily misdiagnosed or ignored. This potentially
lethal gas can build up in any home that uses oil, propane, gas,
wood or coal-fired appliances.
Carbon monoxide is produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels when a furnace, water heater, or stove malfunctions. You can
defend against carbon monoxide poisoning by inspecting and servicing
your combustible appliances regularly and by installing carbon
monoxide detectors in your home.
These detectors cost about $50 each and are designed to detect
carbon monoxide in a single room or area. Ideally, a home should
have one of these detectors in each bedroom, in the kitchen and in
rooms located near combustible appliances (not in the same room as
the appliance, however). If the detector identifies a certain level
of carbon monoxide, a light will come on and an alarm will sound.
Placing a detector in several rooms throughout your house can be
expensive, although it is certainly necessary. Inexpensive carbon
monoxide testing tablets are available, and can serve as temporary
detectors until you can afford to outfit your home. These tablets
will need to be changed according the recommendations on the
packaging.
More advanced detection alarms are available. Some will sound a
warning at a predetermined low level of the gas to indicate a
potential problem. This alarm is useful in that it warns of low
level accumulation of carbon monoxide and can prevent a more serious
situation from developing. Also consider installing a
battery-operated alarm that mounts on your central air cleaner. This
will monitor the furnace return air from your entire house. If you
have a security system in your home, a carbon monoxide alarm can
probably be connected directly into the system. Battery and
hardwired models are available.
If the carbon monoxide alarm in your home does go off, leave your
home immediately, and seek medical attention. Call your local fire
department from a neighbor's phone. Firefighters are equipped to
detect carbon monoxide, locate the source, and stop the emission of
the gas.
If you are even more concerned, speak
with one of our technicians about making your home safe. | | | | | | | | |
