CO Detection: Why You Should Be Vigilant All Year Long

Colorless, odorless, tasteless and deadly, carbon monoxide (CO) can pose a serious risk to you and your family if you are not aware of how it can be released in your home and how to use CO detection devices to reduce your risk. Many people do not realize that you can be at risk of CO poisoning all year long and not just during the winter months. CO can be created any time a fuel is being burned – this could be wood, gas, oil, coal or charcoal.

Some potential sources of CO are idling cars, barbecues, open wood fires and faulty domestic heating systems. While many people are aware of the risks of CO poisoning during the winter months from faulty furnaces or space heaters, they don’t realize the risk from other sources throughout the year may be just as deadly. Barbecuing inside, for example, carries a high risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; this is a risk whenever fuel is burned in an enclosed area where CO can build up.

If you do get exposed to enough CO, explained simply, the carbon monoxide molecules get into your blood stream and take the place of oxygen molecules. You start to get less oxygen to your body and your brain. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and confusion. High CO levels can result in unconsciousness or death.

The good news is that CO detection is both simple and cheap. Detectors can be purchased and used in every area where you are at risk. This could be your truck, boat, living room or garage. These detectors will signal an alarm when carbon monoxide levels rise above a trace-amount level, alerting you to seek fresher air and turn off the source of the CO build-up before it begins to effect our body. While cheap and simple, CO detection can save lives.

Stack Heating & Cooling is a family business that has been serving the Cleveland area since 1976. Please contact us for advice on CO detection and other heating and home comfort queries.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about CO detection and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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