Carbon Monoxide Protection

Not many things can disrupt home comfort more than living in an unhealthy environment, which is why it is important to keep your home free of carbon monoxide gas. Even people who own newer homes have to be careful to make sure their families are not exposed to this dangerous, silent, odorless, and tasteless killer. It is especially important during the winter months when windows are shut for months at a time, and the only air circulation is coming from your furnace. In order to ensure that you and your family are safe from carbon monoxide gas, you must make the time to maintain your carbon monoxide detection units, check appliances for potential leakage, and call professionals to come make any repairs that may be necessary.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It is important to make sure you have enough carbon monoxide detectors in your home, especially in or near your home’s sleeping areas. It is recommended that you have at least one detector per floor of your house and to put them near the main sleeping area and in any separate bedrooms. Some states even require you to have a carbon monoxide detector inside each bedroom. Remember that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are not the same thing; although, they can be included in the same unit. So it is important to check to see if the units in your home are carbon monoxide detectors or smoke detectors or both. Thinking that you are protected when you really are not can be a fatal mistake. When you are certain that your home has the appropriate protection from detectors, check them frequently, and change their batteries twice a year.

Checking for Leaks

Carbon monoxide gas is created while many kinds of fuel are being burned, so there are several main areas in your home where you should be making checks that everything is running properly. Otherwise, you may have a carbon monoxide leak and not know it. Common fuel burning units that create carbon monoxide are furnaces, gas ovens, and fireplaces. For all of these things, it is important to make sure the units have the ventilation they require to move the gas out of your home—make sure nothing is blocked up, especially for your fireplace. Also, if you happen to see any cracks in your furnace, especially if you can see flame through them, call and have a professional come and fix it right away, since carbon monoxide will be leaking through the crack.

Repair and Replacement

If you are having issues with carbon monoxide leaks in your home or are worried about old and faulty systems that may not be as efficient as newer ones, you should consider having a professional come and inspect your furnace, oven, or fireplace to make sure they are safe to use. If they are not, talk about your options, but remember if the units are becoming hazards because of their age, you should consider buying a replacement furnace or oven. A newer model will most likely provide you with additional energy savings as well as protect you from unwanted carbon monoxide gas. Sometimes safety and savings walk hand in hand.