As always during the winter months, we are hearing stories in the news about people who have been exposed to toxic levels of carbon monoxide. In fortunate cases, people simply end up hospitalized, but in recent years some families have experienced the loss of loved ones because of CO poisoning. The good news is that CO poisoning is usually preventable, but it is important to understand the symptoms, and put prevention in place in your home to avoid this dangerous problem. We have outlined some of the symptoms, as well as what you can do to prevent CO poisoning in your family.
· What Exactly is Carbon Monoxide? CO is a odorless, colorless gas that is emitted in combustion fumes from stoves, heating systems and vehicles. If your furnace has a crack in it, CO can be emitted every time your furnace is running, which is very often in the winter months. According to the Center for Disease Control, CO is picked up by red blood cells much quicker than oxygen, which means that oxygen can actually be blocked from your body, causing damages to your tissues and eventually death.
· Symptoms: Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of CO poisoning mimic other common winter illnesses such as the flu, so it is important to educate yourself and understand that if your symptoms are persisting, getting your heating system checked would be a good idea. Some of the most common symptoms are headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and confusion. Pets, young children and elderly members of your household are more susceptible to CO poisoning, so if any of your family members are experiencing these persistent symptoms, please call a professional today.
· What Do I Do? Preventing CO poisoning is fairly simple. The first step is to get a CO detector. Unfortunately, many of the detectors that are sold at the hardware stores are not very reliable, so we recommend calling a professional HVAC company to learn which ones are the best to help your home. It’s also a great idea to get your furnace inspected each year, especially if it is over 5 years old. You can also call Xcel Energy to come check out your system if you suspect a problem.
If you have more questions, or would like to schedule an appointment for a furnace inspection, please call Dan Schmied at Sensible Heating & Cooling today. Dan can be reached directly at [email protected] or 720.876.7166.
