Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

By Shelley Frost

January 18, 2018

You've heard of carbon monoxide poisoning, but do you know how it happens? Being informed about this potentially deadly gas can help keep your family safe. Learn more about how CO can enter your home and what you can do to prevent it with carbon monoxide safety tips.

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What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that's created by burning fuel, including gas, oil, kerosene, charcoal and wood. CO is a byproduct of the combustion process. It has no odor, color or taste, so you can't detect it yourself. That makes it especially dangerous because it can make you seriously ill.

How Does CO Get in Your Home?

Many items in and around your home produce CO. Any gas appliances in your home, including dryers, furnaces, stoves and fireplaces, can release carbon monoxide into the air if they're not properly vented or if there's an issue with the equipment.

Vehicles also produce CO while they're running. If you leave your car on in your garage or near an entrance, some of the gas could enter your home. That's true even if you open your garage door before you start your vehicle.

You can also create a buildup of CO if you use certain outdoor items, such as grills, generators and gas-powered tools, in or near your home. For instance, some people place gas generators inside the home when they should be kept outside.

What Are the Dangers of CO?

Carbon monoxide is poisonous to humans. It can build up inside your home, causing you to breathe it into your lungs. When that happens, the CO displaces oxygen, which can cause death. Symptoms of CO poisoning include:

Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Shortness of breath
Dizziness or confusion
Weakness
Vision impairment
Disorientation
Loss of consciousness

The symptoms often start out feeling like the flu or other illnesses, but they can become progressively worse with continued exposure.

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What Are Some Safety Tips to Protect You and Your Family From CO Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable. Take steps to protect your home with these carbon monoxide safety tips.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Because you can't detect CO with your senses, you need carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Place a detector on each level of your home and in every sleeping area. Test the detectors regularly to ensure they're working properly. Battery backups ensure you constantly have monitoring in your home.

Maintain Your Gas Appliances

Keeping all of your appliances well-maintained can prevent issues that allow carbon monoxide to enter your home. Schedule regular maintenance on your furnace, fireplace and other appliances. Make any repairs immediately if the inspections reveal issues.

Shut Off Vehicles in the Garage

It might seem safe to run your vehicle in the garage with the door open, but deadly carbon monoxide can still build up inside and enter your home. If you want to leave your vehicle running, move it out of the garage and away from your house.

Keep Outdoor Items Away From Your Home

Any outdoor items that use combustion to operate should stay away from your home. Never use those items inside your home or garage, as the buildup of CO inside can happen quickly. Move grills, gas-powered lawn equipment, gas power tools, generators and other items away from the house. A general guideline for portable generators is to place them at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, vents or other entrance points into your home.

Check the Vents

Your gas-powered appliances need to be vented outdoors to keep carbon monoxide levels low. If those vents become blocked, the exhaust can't escape properly, which could cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home. Check the vents regularly to make sure they're clear. For instance, dryer vents can become clogged with lint, which can affect the venting process. When using your fireplace, make sure you open the flue enough.

Get Medical Help If You Experience Symptoms

Even with carbon monoxide safety precautions in place, you could experience a leak for various reasons. If you suddenly feel the symptoms of CO poisoning, get out of the space immediately. Seek medical attention to determine if the cause is carbon monoxide poisoning and receive treatment to avoid any long-term effects.

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