Understanding Carbon Monoxide and How to Keep Your Family Safe
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odor less gas that is usually caused by incomplete combustion of a fossil fuel burning appliance. Incomplete combustion can be caused by multiple factors such as the improper venting of a heating appliance, cracked heat exchangers, back drafting of heating equipment, improper use of appliances, and improper use of equipment in a closed or confined space. Professional inspections by a HVAC technician or heating contractor can significantly reduce the chances of toxic gas from entering the home. It is a very good idea to also have appropriate detectors installed in your home.
Health risks of exposure generally develop with in 8 hours. Usually health effects are seen when gas levels in the home are higher then 10 parts per million (PPM). Exposure can bring about health effects such as headaches, weakness, dizziness, confusion and watering eyes. Some of the more severe symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are severe headache, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, severe flu like symptoms. Carbon monoxide can be lethal at higher concentrations. The danger of the gas is that there is no odor and color. The only method of detection is with the use of detectors.
Take for example 100 parts per million of carbon monoxide inside a furnace or boiler flue pipe to be the indicator that servicing or replacement of the unit is required. If the unit malfunctions and begins to back draft or put the gas into the living area a serious health issues can occur. There is no safe established level of carbon monoxide. If the detectors in your home go off the source of the issue must be immediately located. Shut down the heating equipment in the home and get out of the house. Call for professional help to evaluate the problem. Professional heating contractors have the equipment to check and fully evaluate the combustion equipment that is in your home.
Most new homes are now built with detectors already installed. There are also battery operated detectors that can produce a sound alert and others that provide a measurement in the form of a digital reading of the amount of carbon monoxide in the home.
Proper placement of carbon monoxide detectors is very important for the proper detection of carbon monoxide and the safety of your family. The consumer products safety commission recommends that a detector be installed close to the bedrooms in the home. Multiple detectors are recommended. Install a detector close to the bedrooms and on each living level in order to provide maximum coverage to possible exposure. Detectors should not be installed next to the combustion equipment in the home because the equipment will emit small amounts of carbon monoxide and can produce false readings. You may want to consider installing a plug-in carbon monoxide detector that has a battery back up. This will keep the unit working during a power failure and also keep the unit operating if you should forget to change the battery. One important caveat is that carbon monoxide detectors are not smoke detectors. They will not alert you to the presence of smoke or fire. Check with your local authorities to determine the proper position and number of smoke detectors that are required in your municipality. Good quality detectors can be purchased at the local home center for around $40-$50.
Here are some tips to help you avoid toxic gas levels from building up in your home. Have annual inspections by qualified professionals performed to determine if your combustion equipment is properly operating and venting. Never operate a gasoline engine of any kind in a closed environment. Never warm you car inside the attached or build in garage. Never use a stove or range to try and heat your home. Never operate an un-vented heating appliance inside your home.
New Jersey Home Inspectors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Martino
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