Should You Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector in Your Home?
The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY!
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the “Silent Killer in our homes “because it is tasteless, odourless and colorless which makes it completely undetectable by humans. CO is produced by burning fuel such as:
- Gas
- Natural Gas
- Oil
- Propane
- Wood or Wood Pellets
As we know there are a lot of homes that depend on these types of fuel to heat our homes, which typically makes Carbon Monoxide poisoning more dangerous in the winter months.
There are other sources that Produce CO as well such as:
- Generators
- Blocked Chimney Flues
- Vehicle Exhausts
Recently this topic hit a little close to home, which is what prompted me to write this and share how important it is to be aware of this potential deadly gas that can harm us.
My mother took her dog for a walk the other evening, as she was returning home, she could hear alarms going off inside her house. They did not sound like smoke alarms, so she was puzzled as to what was making the noise. She entered the house and followed the noise to her Carbon Monoxide Detector which was saying Carbon Monoxide was detected and said to leave the house and call 911. She was so confused as everything seemed fine before she went for a walk. She unplugged the monitor and took it outside (thinking maybe it was malfunctioning) then she took it back and plugged it in and it started the alarm again. She then proceeded to call 911 and went outside to wait. It did not take the fire department long to get there and start testing. Turns out there were high levels of CO in her home with the highest readings being downstairs. The fire department proceeded to air out the house until the levels went back to normal. The cause was not found at the time, however as a precaution a furnace tech was brought in to inspect the furnace.
The moral of the story is ABSOLUTELY you should have Carbon Monoxide Detectors in your home or even your cottage!
Even though we know that CO poisoning is undetectable by humans because we can’t see, taste or smell it, there are some symptoms that you could notice. Such as:
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Very tired
The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is to install a detector in hallways outside of bedrooms where your family members sleep. They are very easy to install and range in all different prices. You can find them at any of your hardware stores.
Helpful Tips
- Never idle a car in a garage even with the doors open.
- Keep doors between house and garage closed. The door should be made of steel and close automatically behind you.
- Never use power machines that use fuel indoors.
- Regular maintenance and inspections are very important to ensure that your equipment is working safely and properly.
- Keep an eye for any leaks, cracks, blocked vents and tears to tubes or venting pipes.
- During the winter check your exhaust vents regularly to ensure they are not blocked by ice/snow.
Stay Warm & Stay Safe!