Carbon Monoxide In The Home
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
As such, it is undetectable to the human senses.
It is produced by appliances that burn fuel: wood, coal, pellet, kerosene, gas or oil.
When appliances are unable to properly vent fumes to the outdoors, carbon monoxide can enter the home.
At advanced levels, the occupants may suffer from long-term disability or even death.
Excerpt from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: "You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.
If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous.
However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.
Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.
" Each year, more than 500 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, according to data collected by the EPA.
Many more unknowingly suffer the effects of occasional or continual low-level poisoning.
The maximum safe level of carbon monoxide in the home is less that 30 parts per million.
Victims of CO poisoning must be removed from exposure as quickly as possible.
From this information, it should be evident that CO gas can be present in the home and that its prevention and detection deserve our highest attention.
An abundance of documentation regarding the hazards of this gas has been recorded.
It is not difficult to see why CO has often been referred to as the "Silent Killer".
The highest number of reported incidents of carbon monoxide poisonings and death in the home occurs in the winter, when homes are closed up more tightly than in other seasons.
Sources of this gas in the home include malfunctioning furnaces, clogged chimneys, water heaters, ovens, corroded flue pipes, gas-fired dryers, stoves and unvented space heaters.
Proper maintenance of combustion appliances and their chimneys and flues is essential in preventing CO buildup indoors.
By using some readily-available prevention methods, occupants of all types of dwellings should require yearly inspections of their heating appliances.
These inspections should include having a qualified technician inspect all fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents to make sure they are operating correctly and that there is nothing blocking the fumes from being vented out of the house.
In most areas of the country the local utilities will do a free safety inspection of the furnace.
Other service technicians might be required for other applications.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can normally be prevented with the installation of an approved alarm.
CO detectors can mean the difference between life and death.
They have proven be very effective in the detection and prevention of poisoning occurrences from this source.
The only safe way to detect this gas in the home is with an operational CO detector.
The CO detector monitors the level of this gas in the home and will sound an audible alarm if a hazardous level of the gas is detected.
Although similar to smoke detectors, as they are used to detect the presence of a hazardous substance, they are another important tool that should definitely be installed in all residences and should be used in conjunction with smoke alarms.
Most battery-powered CO detectors and detectors that plug into wall outlets can be installed using common household tools, by following the manufacturer's instructions.
While stand-alone non-monitored CO detectors are a great addition to the home, more complete protection can be added by the installation of a detector to a monitored home security system.
The detection devices are required to be located on each level of the home and within 15 feet of each bedroom in the house, so that the alarm will awaken all sleeping occupants.
Recent California law requires the installation of a CO alarm (or a CO alarm combined with a smoke detector) that emits an alarm and has been tested and certified in accordance with standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
(UL).
The requirements are stipulated in The California Health and Safety Code Section 13260-13263, referred to as The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010.
This legislation includes reference to the State Fire Marshal as the approval body of record, charged with the approval and listing of these devices.
Many non-governmental organizations exist to aid the tenant or home owner in obtaining a wealth of information on this and many other safety-related subjects.
The following are included here to help you make a more informed decision in this matter and are not intended as endorsements: Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) American Gas Association (AGA) Underwriters Laboratories (UL) (Look for UL certification on any detector that you are considering for purchase.
) The following public agencies are intended to be accessed as free valuable references: Local and National Building Codes United States Consumer Product Safety Commission The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cal-OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety) It shouldn't be hard to recognize that carbon monoxide is a hazardous substance which can be present in your residence and unknown to you.
Prevention measures such as appliance maintenance should always include the installation and maintenance of an approved and operational CO detector.
As such, it is undetectable to the human senses.
It is produced by appliances that burn fuel: wood, coal, pellet, kerosene, gas or oil.
When appliances are unable to properly vent fumes to the outdoors, carbon monoxide can enter the home.
At advanced levels, the occupants may suffer from long-term disability or even death.
Excerpt from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: "You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.
If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous.
However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.
Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.
" Each year, more than 500 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, according to data collected by the EPA.
Many more unknowingly suffer the effects of occasional or continual low-level poisoning.
The maximum safe level of carbon monoxide in the home is less that 30 parts per million.
Victims of CO poisoning must be removed from exposure as quickly as possible.
From this information, it should be evident that CO gas can be present in the home and that its prevention and detection deserve our highest attention.
An abundance of documentation regarding the hazards of this gas has been recorded.
It is not difficult to see why CO has often been referred to as the "Silent Killer".
The highest number of reported incidents of carbon monoxide poisonings and death in the home occurs in the winter, when homes are closed up more tightly than in other seasons.
Sources of this gas in the home include malfunctioning furnaces, clogged chimneys, water heaters, ovens, corroded flue pipes, gas-fired dryers, stoves and unvented space heaters.
Proper maintenance of combustion appliances and their chimneys and flues is essential in preventing CO buildup indoors.
By using some readily-available prevention methods, occupants of all types of dwellings should require yearly inspections of their heating appliances.
These inspections should include having a qualified technician inspect all fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents to make sure they are operating correctly and that there is nothing blocking the fumes from being vented out of the house.
In most areas of the country the local utilities will do a free safety inspection of the furnace.
Other service technicians might be required for other applications.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can normally be prevented with the installation of an approved alarm.
CO detectors can mean the difference between life and death.
They have proven be very effective in the detection and prevention of poisoning occurrences from this source.
The only safe way to detect this gas in the home is with an operational CO detector.
The CO detector monitors the level of this gas in the home and will sound an audible alarm if a hazardous level of the gas is detected.
Although similar to smoke detectors, as they are used to detect the presence of a hazardous substance, they are another important tool that should definitely be installed in all residences and should be used in conjunction with smoke alarms.
Most battery-powered CO detectors and detectors that plug into wall outlets can be installed using common household tools, by following the manufacturer's instructions.
While stand-alone non-monitored CO detectors are a great addition to the home, more complete protection can be added by the installation of a detector to a monitored home security system.
The detection devices are required to be located on each level of the home and within 15 feet of each bedroom in the house, so that the alarm will awaken all sleeping occupants.
Recent California law requires the installation of a CO alarm (or a CO alarm combined with a smoke detector) that emits an alarm and has been tested and certified in accordance with standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
(UL).
The requirements are stipulated in The California Health and Safety Code Section 13260-13263, referred to as The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010.
This legislation includes reference to the State Fire Marshal as the approval body of record, charged with the approval and listing of these devices.
Many non-governmental organizations exist to aid the tenant or home owner in obtaining a wealth of information on this and many other safety-related subjects.
The following are included here to help you make a more informed decision in this matter and are not intended as endorsements: Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) American Gas Association (AGA) Underwriters Laboratories (UL) (Look for UL certification on any detector that you are considering for purchase.
) The following public agencies are intended to be accessed as free valuable references: Local and National Building Codes United States Consumer Product Safety Commission The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cal-OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety) It shouldn't be hard to recognize that carbon monoxide is a hazardous substance which can be present in your residence and unknown to you.
Prevention measures such as appliance maintenance should always include the installation and maintenance of an approved and operational CO detector.
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