Since carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, installing a detector in your home is a safe bet.
Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home may not only make sense, it could also be a city or state law, depending on where you live. Since, unlike smoke, which you can detect if you’re awake, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, you’re unlikely to be woken up by a leak in your home. Carbon monoxide can leak from any source that uses fossil fuels to generate heat. This may include installed furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and fireplaces. Some space heaters use fossil fuels and may require proper ventilation and the installation of a carbon monoxide detector.
Battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors can be placed almost anywhere.
These detectors are not expensive and can be easily purchased at hardware stores. You can even find a combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector. Having both makes sense for your health and safety and for anyone who lives with you. When installing the detector, you must ensure that it is installed within 15 feet of the entrance to any room. If you have a large or multi-level home, you should plan for a multi-level installation.
Natural gas and other fuel-burning appliances can pose a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
It also makes sense to have any heat sources, such as gas furnaces or water heaters, checked annually by your local power company. This is usually a free service, along with the pilot reset, offered by local power and gas companies. Plan to do this about a month before you need to use the heater; this may vary depending on where you live. You can also make an appointment at least a month in advance, as you may have to wait several weeks to a month for someone to check these levels, unless you believe there is currently a carbon monoxide leak. This last situation is an emergency situation and should be reviewed immediately by the local gas or electric company or the fire department.
Detectors can warn of carbon monoxide leaks caused by sources like gas stoves.
Many people wonder what to do if their carbon monoxide detector goes off. This is an excelent question. If you notice symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, extreme headache, dizziness, or illness, leave immediately. If you live in an apartment that shares boiler heat, you can alert others to the suspected leak when you vacate the building. Call 911 when you are outdoors. If for some reason you can’t get out right away, open all the windows in your house and try to stay near an open window to get fresh air. In any case, call the emergency services to have this life-threatening leak checked out immediately.
The feeling of disorientation can occur as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
When there are no laws in a city or state that require the installation of a carbon monoxide detector, it is still safer to have one. Consider using one in any home with heating that burns fossil fuels, in any apartment, condo, or dorm that uses gas furnaces or heat, and basically in any home. It’s tremendously tragic when people die from carbon monoxide poisoning, but it’s a tragedy you can prevent by purchasing a carbon monoxide detector and installing it as instructed.
