Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning gas, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel.

You must have a CO detector if you have fuel-burning appliances in your home.  Many of the newer smoke detectors are also Carbon Monoxide Detectors but all.  It is important to verify if they are dual detectors, if not it is best to get CO detectors.  Like with smoke detectors, if there are such appliances on more than one level of your home, you should have a CO on each level and in the hallways near bedrooms too.

For a typical three-bedroom, two-bath home with an attic and basement, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommends four CO detectors.

If something goes wrong with one of your fuel-burning appliances, such as your furnace, fireplace, stove or water heater then dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can start to circulate throughout your home.

Here are the types of appliances/engines that can produce CO:

  • Any oil, propane or natural gas furnace, or appliance, like cooking stove or range, refrigerator, water heater, or fireplace.

  • Any wood or wood-burning product such as a woodstove, heat stove, fireplace, wood-pellet stove, box or parlor stove.

  • A running car in an attached garage.

Check Your CO Detectors Today

Just like smoke detectors, you must monitor your CO detector to ensure it is in working order. A non-functioning detector doesn’t protect anyone.

Check for a manufactured date stamped on the back to determine its age. Remember to replace the device after 5-6 years.

  • Look on the back of the CO detector for a UL symbol—for Underwriters Laboratories to ensure it has passed safety tests. This symbol indicates that it has been tested to a widely accepted safety standard. This is a third-party testing agency and lets you know that your device is certified. According to Consumer reports not all smoke or CO detectors haven’t had third-party testing and have failed when exposed to dangerous levels of CO

  • Don’t forget to replace batteries as needed. If your detector doesn’t have a sealed ten year battery, set a time twice each year, like daylight savings, to replace your CO detectors’ batteries along with any smoke detectors in your home. Keep in mind that you also can buy CO detectors that are hard-wired or that can be plugged in.

State Requirements for Home Sellers and Homeowners

The District and Maryland require homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in private dwellings. Virginia has statutes pertaining to landlords but not for homeowners of private dwellings.

In Maryland, a seller must disclose if the home relies on “the combustion of a fossil fuel for heat, ventilation, hot water or clothes dryer,” and must disclose if CO detectors are installed.  Most inspectors will also check to make sure any combustible fuel appliance has proper ventilation. 

It Goes Unnoticed

CO doesn’t smell and you won’t be aware that high levels are being released into the air. That’s why it’s called the silent killer.

Mild exposure to CO can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, irregular breathing, drowsiness and confusion. It has symptoms similar to the flu but without a fever.  Those with heart disease can experience an increase in chest pain.

Severe exposure to CO can cause brain damage and death. Children and the elderly are even more susceptible.

Some people who are overexposed simply fall asleep and never regain consciousness. Unfortunately, faulty heating devices are a major cause of CO poisoning during the cold weather.

If you think you or a family member has been exposed to CO, get outside immediately for fresh air and seek emergency medical help.  Open the windows of your home to ventilate. Call the fire department and don’t use any faulty appliance/engine until it has been thoroughly checked out or replaced.

How to Prevent CO Poisoning

Improperly ventilated appliances and engines, particularly in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.

That’s why it’s very important to have your appliances properly installed and maintained regularly.  Have professional service inspections on a timely basis to ensure that your appliances and chimney are in working order and are venting properly. And, always follow manufacturer’s directions when operating any appliances. Other tips:

  • Make sure the room where an unvented gas or kerosene space heater is used is well ventilated; doors leading to another room should be open to allow added ventilation.

  • Never use an unvented combustion heater overnight or in a room where you are sleeping.

  • Never use charcoal grills inside a home, tent, camper, or unventilated garage.

  • Don’t leave vehicles running in an enclosed garage, even to “warm up” a car on a cold morning.

Daylight savings ends on November 3rd.  It is a great time to check your smoke and CO detectors and change the batteries if they aren’t the 10 year sealed battery models. Also install any additional detectors if they aren’t installed on every floor.

 

Marilyn Emery