Carbon Monoxide

It is that time of year again. Winter has arrived. As cozy and warm as a nice fire might sound, remember the hidden danger that may be lurking in your home: carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled—but at high levels, it can kill a person in minutes. According to the home safety council “nearly 70% of people burn fuel to heat their homes and more than two-thirds of those do not have carbon monoxide detectors.”

Below are some tips on how to keep your family safe this winter:

1. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector. The unit should be listed by an independent testing lab such as UL, ETL, CSA or another lab.
2. Use gas appliances properly. If you have a gas range or oven, don’t try to use it to heat your home.
3. Never use a charcoal (or any other kind of) grill indoors! The amount of carbon monoxide put out by grills is extremely high.
4. Have your heating system serviced yearly. Before you fire up the furnace for the first time, have a qualified technician perform an inspection.
5. Have chimneys and flues cleaned. Even if carbon monoxide is not a problem, a dirty flue chimney or flue can be a hazard in other ways.
6. Make sure you open your damper before using your fireplace.
7. Never idle your car inside the garage.

And most important, never ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling ill.