Detect Carbon Monoxide in Your Home with Ease

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an insidious and often fatal hazard that can occur in your home. If undetected, carbon monoxide can cause various health problems and even death. That's why it's imperative to understand how to detect this odourless, colourless gas in your home. In this blog post, we'll go over the basics of detecting carbon monoxide around your home and what you should do if you think you have a leak. We'll also look at some simple precautions you can consider to help keep the home safe from potential harm. Read on to learn more!

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that can build up in your home if you have fuel appliances, such as a natural gas furnace or a propane stove. CO is also produced when burning wood or other materials in a fireplace or stove.

Here are some familiar sources

• Gas stoves, ovens, Gas furnaces and water heaters − These appliances can produce carbon monoxide if you do not vent them properly.

• Fireplaces and wood stoves − Burning wood can produce carbon monoxide if you do not open and vent the flue properly.

• Automobile exhaust − If a garage is attached to the home and a car is left running inside, carbon monoxide can seep into the house.

• Generators − Your portable generators for power outages can produce carbon monoxide if you do not use them outside in a well-ventilated area.

• Blocked chimneys − If the chimneys are blocked or clogged, they can cause carbon monoxide to build up in the home.

• Tobacco smoke − Smoking cigarettes or cigars indoors can produce carbon monoxide.

Symptoms of CO poisoning

The following are common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning −

• Dull or throbbing headache

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

• Nausea and vomiting in higher concentrations

• Feeling tired or weak

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• confusion, disorientation, and difficulty thinking clearly

• loss of consciousness

• seizures

• death

That's why you must know how to detect carbon monoxide in your home.

How to Detect Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

If you think there might be carbon monoxide in your home, open a few windows and leave the house immediately. You can also call the fire department to come and inspect your home for carbon monoxide.

Install a CO detector − A CO detector is an inexpensive and effective way to protect your family from CO poisoning. Be sure to place detectors near sleeping areas so you can be alerted if there is a CO leak while you are sleeping. Test the detectors monthly and replace the batteries every six months.

Pay attention to symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning  − The symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and confusion. If you experience any of these symptoms, leave your home immediately and call the helpline number. Enter your home only after it has been deemed safe by emergency personnel.

Monitor appliances that use fuel − Appliances that use fuel, such as natural gas furnaces and propane stoves, can produce carbon monoxide. Monitor these appliances for proper functioning and make sure they are vented properly to the outside of your home.

Use CGI  −  Another way to test for carbon monoxide is to use a handheld device called a combustible gas indicator. This device measures the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and gives a reading on a scale from 0 to 1,000 parts per million (ppm). If the readings are above 50 ppm, there may be a problem with your furnace or other fuel-burning appliances.

If you have any concerns about possible carbon monoxide poisoning, contact your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

Understanding Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Several types of CO detectors are available in the market, each with its own pros and cons. We have made a breakdown of the two most popular types of carbon monoxide detectors to help you make a quick decision −

1. Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Pros −

• Easy to install – simply plug into any standard outlet.

• No batteries are required.

• Often the most affordable option.

Cons −

• Can be less reliable than other types of detectors, as they can easily be unplugged or knocked out of the socket.

• Not ideal for use in larger homes or buildings, as only one detector is usually needed per floor.

2. Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Pros −

• More reliable than plug-in detectors, as they are hardwired into your home’s electrical system and have backup batteries.

• Generally more expensive than plug-in units, but still relatively affordable.

• Can be interconnected with other hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home so that if one goes off, they all will sound an alarm.

Cons −

• Installation can be more difficult and require professional help. If there is a power outage, hardwired detectors will not work unless they have backup batteries installed (which can add to the cost).

How to use CGI for Detecting Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A combustible gas indicator (CGI), also known as a gas detector or gas sniffer, is useful for detecting CO in the home. Here's how to detect carbon monoxide at home using a combustible gas indicator −

• Turn off all gas appliances and heating systems in the home.

• Turn on the CGI and allow it to warm up for a few minutes.

• Hold the CGI near the home's gas appliances and heating systems to check for leaks.

• If the CGI detects a leak, it will emit an alarm and show a reading on display.

• Move the CGI around the room to check for any other sources of carbon monoxide, such as a blocked chimney or a running car in the garage.

• If the CGI detects carbon monoxide, evacuate the home immediately and call the local fire department.

Though a CGI can detect carbon monoxide, it is not a substitute for a carbon monoxide detector.

Best Practices to Avoid CO Buildup in Home

• Schedule regular inspections − Run a periodic inspection of all fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and gas stoves, at least once a year through verified professionals to ensure they are functioning properly and are properly vented.

• Clean appliances regularly − Keep your stoves and ovens clean to avoid any buildup of grease or other debris that can affect their performance.

• Check chimneys and vents − Check chimneys and vents regularly for any obstructions or blockages that could prevent proper ventilation of carbon monoxide.

• Use appliances properly − Follow the manufacturer's instructions for using all appliances, including not using stoves and ovens to heat the home, not leaving cars running in attached garages, and not using generators indoors.

• Address any warning signs − Be aware of warning signs, such as a yellow flame instead of a blue flame in gas appliances or soot buildup around vents, and address them immediately by contacting a qualified technician to inspect the appliances.

Conclusion

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and can be dangerous if left undetected. That said, it gets important to know how to detect carbon monoxide in your home. Start by installing a carbon monoxide detector, which will alert you of any gas levels present that could be hazardous. Additionally, regular maintenance on all fuel-burning appliances in your home, such as furnaces or water heaters, should help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide exposure in the long run. Taking these steps now can save you from potentially serious health risks caused by CO poisoning.