Q. What is carbon monoxide, and why should I be concerned about it?
A. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal when inhaled. It’s sometimes difficult to determine if carbon monoxide is the culprit because its symptoms are similar to flu and allergies. Low levels can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness, and muscle ache. Higher exposure levels can impair judgement, cause paralysis or coma, and death.
Q. How does carbon monoxide get into the home?
A. Carbon monoxide buildup can occur several ways:
- When flues or chimneys become blocked, so exhaust cannot be vented to the outside
- When a fuel burning furnace has a cracked or rusted heat exchanger, allowing combustion gases into the living spaces
- When fuel-burning space heaters, ovens, ranges, or grills are operated in the home without adequate ventilation
- When car exhaust from an attached garage enters the home
- When combustion equipment is not working properly and causes incomplete combustion
- When there’s a negative pressure balance between the inside and outside of the home, preventing adequate venting of combustion gases
Q. What causes carbon monoxide to build to dangerous levels?
A. Harmful build-ups of these gases can occur when: exhaust from combustion equipment is not vented to the outside of the home, and when combustion equipment is not in good working order and is not regularly inspected for safe operation.
Some homes may have a problem with “back drafting.” That’s when the air pressure inside the home is less than the air pressure outside, causing combustion by-products from furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and similar equipment to spill back into the room rather than being vented outside. Back drafting can also occur when natural draft appliance exhaust is pulled back into the house by mechanical ventilation — like a down-draft kitchen power vent.
Q. Is there a way to detect if my home has carbon monoxide build-up?
A. There are carbon monoxide alarms you can install, which will alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It is important to choose and place an alarm wisely and maintain it to assure accurate sensing of carbon monoxide.
Q. What signs can help me determine if carbon monoxide is affecting my health?
A. Carbon monoxide may be the problem if you feel bad only when you’re inside the home, and the symptoms gradually disappear after you have left, or if more than one person in the home has similar symptoms. Remember carbon monoxide-related symptoms are like those of the flu.
Q. How can I reduce the risk from carbon monoxide?
A. The most important practice is to keep all combustion equipment well-maintained and inspected for safety.
- Experts recommend having your combustion heating systems inspected by a trained professional every year. Such inspections should look for blocked openings to flues and chimneys; cracked or disconnected flue pipe; signs of soot around openings in your furnace or boiler; rust or cracks in the heat exchanger; soot or creosote build-up; and exhaust or gas odors.
- Always operate combustion equipment for its intended purpose and make sure it has been installed correctly.
- Never use unvented combustion appliances indoors.
Q. Where can I get more information about carbon monoxide?
A. Contact your local Extension Office or your state department of health. The time to take action is now.