With fall under way and winter not too far in the future, lower temperatures will mean switching from your air conditioning system to heat, usually with a gas furnace or boiler. As you begin the process of preparing your Lorain area home for the coming winter, ensure the safety of your family by installing carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, yet extremely dangerous gas, which can be emitted by any heat-producing equipment in your home that burns fuel, including a gas furnace, stove, clothes dryer or water heater.
Carbon monoxide levels can accumulate inside your home, when heating equipment isn’t venting properly or is otherwise malfunctioning. This is especially the case when natural air circulation is reduced. CO detectors include loud alarms that will alert you to high levels of the gas, usually before anyone experiences any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms of mild CO poisoning may include light-headedness or vertigo, flu-like symptoms, headaches and confusion. Prolonged or heavy exposure can lead to damage of the heart and central nervous system or even death.
How to Prevent CO Exposure
- Have your trusted HVAC professional inspect your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances annually.
- Install more than one CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. (Some CO detectors are hardwired or plugged into your home’s electrical system)
- Always have your fireplace inspected for proper ventilation before use.
- Do not use your gas or propane oven to heat your home.
- Never use a gas- or propane-fired generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other fuel burning device inside your home, basement or garage.
- Don’t idle vehicles or lawn mowers in an attached garage, whether the adjoining door is closed or not.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you or any of your family members begin to feel dizzy, light-headed or nauseous and you suspect possible CO poisoning.
- If the alarm goes off, leave your home immediately and call the gas company. Seek medical attention if anyone complains of symptoms of CO poisoning.
Last but not least, look for an alarm that features an end-of-life warning. This will alert you when it’s time to replace the alarm.
For more expert advice on protecting your family with CO detectors or for any other home comfort issue, please contact our professional staff at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served Lorain and the surrounding area for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about CO detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Roman Sotola/Shutterstock”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area