VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas that is a common by-product of incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels like wood, coal, charcoal, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, or oil burn. Because of the way that your body reacts to carbon monoxide, it is a deadly gas that must be avoided to prevent poisoning.
Common causes of carbon monoxide production can be gas or oil appliances like a furnace, clothes dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heaters that are not working properly. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow for complete combustion. In these typical conditions, trace amounts of CO produced by these sources are typically not dangerous.
However, there are common conditions that can cause CO levels to rise quickly:
Appliance malfunction, i.e., the heat exchanger on your furnace cracks.
Vent, flue, or chimney is blocked by debris or even snow.
Fireplace, wood burning stove, charcoal grill, or other source of burning material is not properly vented.
Vehicle is left running in an attached garage and carbon monoxide seeps into the house.
Several appliances running at the same time and competing for limited fresh air can be a cause of carbon monoxide buildup. This condition can result in incomplete combustion and produce CO, even if all appliances are in good working condition.
The following items may produce carbon monoxide:
Anything that burns coal, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, or wood.
Automobile engines.
Charcoal grills (charcoal should never be burned indoors).
Indoor and portable heating systems.
Portable propane heaters.
Stoves (indoor and camp stoves).
Water heater that uses natural gas.
Carbon monoxide is not heavier than air. The diffusion of carbon monoxide in air is relatively even, meaning that a source of carbon monoxide can distribute the gas evenly throughout the room and house. When installing a carbon monoxide alarm, choose a location where the alarm will stay clean, and out of the way of children or pets.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are important to be able to recognize. If you suspect that you or someone else are experiencing sickness as the result of exposure to carbon monoxide, get to a well-ventilated area immediately and contact emergency services. Symptoms of mild carbon exposure can include slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms. Symptoms of medium carbon monoxide exposure can include throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate. Symptoms of high exposure to carbon monoxide can include convulsions, unconsciousness, and heart & lung failure. Exposure can lead to brain damage and death.
The phrase “Move to Fresh Air” that is printed on the face of newer carbon monoxide alarms is a reminder to move all family members to a well-ventilated area with fresh air if the alarm sounds.. When an alarm sounds, make sure that everyone in the building is evacuated to an area with fresh air.
When the alarm sounds, move everyone immediately to fresh air-outdoors or by an open door or window. Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911 and tell them your carbon monoxide alarm has triggered. Do not re-enter the premises or move away from the open door or window until the emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out, and your carbon monoxide alarm remains in its normal condition.
It is very important to install carbon monoxide alarms near or in each separate sleeping area. For added protection, placement of an additional carbon monoxide alarm at least 15-20 feet away from the furnace or fuel burning heat sources is recommended. Also, install carbon monoxide alarms at least 10 feet from sources of humidity like bathrooms and showers. In two story houses, install one carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home.
Do not install carbon monoxide alarms in garages, kitchens, furnace rooms, or in any extremely dusty, dirty, humid, or greasy areas. Do not install alarms in direct sunlight, or areas subjected to temperature extremes. These include unconditioned crawl spaces, unfinished attics, un-insulated or poorly insulated ceilings, and porches. Carbon monoxide alarms should not be installed in outlets covered by curtains or other obstructions. Do not install in turbulent air-near ceiling fans, heat vents, air conditioners, fresh air returns, or open windows. Blowing air may prevent carbon monoxide from reaching the CO sensors.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that you should have a carbon monoxide alarm centrally located outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom. For added protection, you should have additional carbon monoxide alarms in each separate bedroom and on every level of your house, including the basement. If you install only one carbon monoxide alarm in your home, place it near or in your bedroom.