There are many ways in which you can avoid carbon monoxide buildup at your home as that can prove to be extremely dangerous, and even fatal, if not contained on time:

Any chimneys and vents need to be kept clear of any blockage like snow or bird’s nest etc.

Equipments that are meant to be used outside the house should never be used inside, like BBQs, lawnmowers, lanterns, snowblowers etc, as that can lead to generation of excess carbon monoxide.

At the time of installation, you must ensure that your gas furnace is adequately vented and that heat exchangers do not appear cracked.

If you are making any changes to your house’s ventilation system or adding a new appliance which uses fuel, you must consult your plumbing and heating technician prior to the same.

Your venting systems, chimneys and all fuel-burning equipments must be inspected and maintained at regular intervals.

Before starting the engine of your vehicle, the garage door must be fully opened.

You must keep yourself and your family aware of Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms in order to promptly diagnose the same and operate the detector correctly.

Get your Furnace Checked now -before it’s too late Calgary!

This year, an estimated 400 to 500 people will die needlessly due to carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands more will be hospitalized.  It is the number one source of accidental poisoning and Autumn is the time of greatest risk.

Why Autumn?  Simple.  People are firing up their gas furnaces, boilers, wood stoves, space heaters, and other seasonal combustion appliances for the first time in six months or more.  You fire them up and everything appears to operate fine.  Things appear safe.  But carbon monoxide is insidious.  You cannot see it, smell it, or taste it.  It is particularly dangerous to unborn children, babies, and small infants.

How Furnaces And Boilers Can Place Your Home At Risk

Older furnaces relied on a natural draft, which is the tendency of warm air to rise to vent carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products safely outdoors.  Problems occur when leaks are present.  If the vent pipes are jarred loose, leaks occur.  With metal constantly being heated to high temperatures, there is a potential for metal fatigue in the heat section resulting in cracks.  The combustion gases themselves can condense in the chimney under certain conditions corroding the metal, causing leaks.

Visible Indicators

Visible indicators of a potential carbon monoxide leak include rust or water streaks on your furnace vent or chimney, a furnace panel that’s loose or missing, soot or debris in or around your furnace, loose or disconnected vent pipes, loose masonry on masonry chimneys, and moisture inside of your windows.  If any of these signs are present, get a professional to perform an inspection immediately!

Invisible Problems

While you can observe these visible signs, you cannot assess whether there is internal damage to your equipment, malfunctioning components, or hidden blockage or damage in the vent or chimney.  It is critically important to have a professional perform a safety check on your furnace at the start each heating season.  This is uniformly recommended.  Usually, it is done as part of seasonal maintenance work on your furnace, which includes tuning the burners for maximum efficiency, adjusting the blower, cleaning and adjusting the pilot assembly, checking the gas pressure, ensuring the thermocouple is correctly positioned, setting visible dampers for heating season, calibrating the thermostat and setting the heat anticipator, replacing or cleaning the filter, and a variety of other tests and seasonal adjustments.

Backdrafting

Under certain conditions, it’s also possible for your house to depressurize.  When the pressure in your house is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, flue gases can backdraft into your home.  When you feel a draft coming from an unused fireplace, for example, your home is depressurized.

Newer, modern gas furnaces and appliances are more efficient and thus release less waste heat.  Because the heat is insufficient to create a natural draft to push out the combustion by-products, the furnaces and boilers have power vents and sealed combustion systems.  They draw their combustion air from outside the home and use an extra fan to exhaust the combustion gases.  The chance of a carbon monoxide spillage from backdrafting is dramatically less with these furnaces.

Symptoms Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are severe headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and/or faintness.  If moderate levels of carbon monoxide that are capable of creating these symptoms persist, death is a possibility.  The signs of low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning are shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches.

These are similar symptoms to the flu, causing some to mistake carbon monoxide poisoning with normal illnesses.  If the symptoms occur when you’re home, disappear or decrease when you leave home, and come back when you return home, this is a sign that you might be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, and not the flu.  If others in your household are experiencing similar symptoms at the same time, this is also an indicator that you might be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Take Action Immediately

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, open doors and windows, turn off the combustion appliances, and leave the home.  Go to an emergency room and tell the doctor you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.  A blood test administered soon after the exposure to carbon monoxide can provide confirmation.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are an excellent back up, but they do not replace the need to have your furnace checked regularly.  Yet, a carbon monoxide detector is a small investment for the peace of mind it provides.

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At least 1200 homes in the UK could be potential death traps for the residents living in them! These homes have concealed flue boiler systems, which are prone to carbon monoxide leaks and have already caused two known deaths so far. The Health and Safety Executive has issued warnings after this fact came to light. The homes which have been deemed ‘immediately dangerous’ will have to be assessed for safety by the relevant officials and remedial action will be taken if required.

There are some steps you can take to ensure that you stay safe within your home from such accidents. The HSE recommends annual gas checks on your appliances by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified to spot leaks. For tenants, the landlord must undertake to carry out this periodic check. He or she is required to give you a copy of the gas safety check certificate.

Servicing your appliances and keeping them in good working condition is important to stay clear of the risk of dangerous emissions like CO in your home. Get your chimney cleaned completely at least once a year to ensure free flow of smoke and fumes to the outside.

Make sure you hire Gas Safe registered technicians for all repairs and new installations. These technicians can detect leakages in existing gas appliances and ensure leak proof installation of new devices.

The HSE also strongly recommends using CO alarms within your home. Make sure you get alarms that are approved by the appropriate regulatory authority and carry the mark of credibility and reliance. These devices should comply with British Standard EN 50291 and should be certified to be effective leak detectors.

Remember, CO is a silent killer and you may not even know you are breathing it in. Take the right precautionary measures now to stay safe at home.

The death of a young dance teacher in West London sent shock waves across the nation in February 2008. The death was a tragic and wholly unexpected occurrence no doubt. But what made it even more horrifying is that the young woman died within the ‘safety’ of her own home.

Investigations revealed that the dance teacher died from inhaling poisonous carbon monoxide gas, a silent killer in her home. The gas was traced to the concealed flue boiler system that had been installed in the home.

In 2007, another resident had died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a home which used a similar boiler system. It was only after the 2008 tragedy that this earlier one was viewed in a different light – as having been caused by faulty evacuation of dangerous gases from the boiler. Surprisingly, both homes had all the necessary gas safety certificates.

Concealed flue boilers can become killing machines if they are not installed properly or in the right places. Gas fired central heating devices such as these can be producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) if they are not functioning properly. If the flue which carries this deadly gas out of the house has breaks or gaps, then the CO can escape into the ceiling and enclosed spaces where it is ‘concealed’ from view. You can imagine how easily the same gas can permeate into your living spaces through gaps or openings in the ceiling or enclosure.

Because these flues are concealed, it is virtually impossible to gain access to these areas on a regular basis for periodic checks by qualified professionals. Although warnings have been issued and many builders using this system have run checks and installed CO leak detectors, the fact remains that the concealed flue boilers have cost two lives recently and may still be endangering lives of many others. If your home has a concealed flue boiler system, you should run a thorough check on it immediately. It could save your life.

Residents of a condo in Town of Milton recently faced the lethal menace of CO poisoning. The deadly carbon monoxide fumes entered the living areas of one of the flats. The residents of this contaminated flat succumbed to the lethal gas.

James Folk and his fiancée Joan Leith, both retired, lived in the flat. The couple was found lying unconscious in the house when relatives opened up the door after failing to get any response despite repeated knocks and calls.

Authorities found high levels of carbon monoxide inside the flat when they tested it post the tragic event. The couple was believed to have left their minivan running through the night by accident. The exhaust fumes from the van filled the garage and then permeated the home too, causing them to breathe in the killer fumes. The worst part is, the couple probably had no idea what was happening and couldn’t have even managed to make any attempt to save themselves.

Neighbors shudder to think that this could have so easily happened to them as well. CO has no odor, no color and it is virtually impossible to detect it in your atmosphere before it is too late. Inhaling excessive amounts of the gas can be fatal and it all happens too quickly for you can react and move out to safety.

Prevention is the best solution where CO air contamination is concerned. It is recommended to install CO alarms and undertake periodic checks of gas appliances to prevent leaks. All potential sources of CO should also be kept out of access to indoors, where the CO can accumulate to lethal levels.

Although there has been a significant decrease over the years in deaths due to accidents in the home, approximately 400 to 500 people will still die senselessly and without notice due to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. This number is garnered from the thousands of people who were hospitalized due to the effects of accidental CO poisoning, with Fall being the time of year that provides the greatest risk.

Fall is by far the most dangerous time of year for carbon monoxide issues in your home. People are feeling the winter chill seeping into their homes, and as such as starting up furnaces, wood stoves, portable heaters, and boilers for the first time since Spring. Although they start up quickly and appear to be safe and working well, carbon monoxide could be seeping into your home. It’s lethal, because you cannot see it, smell it, or hear it escaping into the air around you. For the little people in your family, including unborn babies, CO is extremely dangerous.

Your furnace or boiler can place you at risk

How new is your furnace? Older heating equipment was based on a system of natural draft. Warm air rises to vent CO efficiently to the outdoors, thus removing the threat of CO in your home environment. Issues would occur when leaks were present. Perhaps your vent pipe was shaken loose, or your pipes experienced metal fatigue from constantly being heated up and therefore caused large cracks. Gases condensing under your chimney can cause leaks, and also corrode metal.

Signs of wear you can see

Taking a look at your furnace vent or chimney, check for rust or water streaks, panels that appear to be missing, or debris scattered around your furnace. Also be sure to look for disconnected pipes, loose hardware that is on your chimney or furnace vent, and moisture inside your interior windows. If you have any doubts at all, it’s always the best course of action to get a professional to perform an inspection immediately.

Hidden dangers from wear and tear you CAN’T see

The most dangerous part of a faulty furnace is that you cannot view internal damage. Even the most handy homeowner can’t establish whether there is hidden, internal damage to the inside parts of your furnace, your vents or blockage in your chimney. It is vitally important to your health and family safety to have a professional check your furnace at the beginning of your yearly heating cycle to ensure it’s proper functioning. Generally the check on your furnace is thought of as ongoing maintenance, including: Tuning the burners, adjusting the flow of the blowers, cleaning the pilot light, checking for adequate gas pressure, setting the dampers, replacing and cleaning your filter, and many other small heating system checks that ensure that your furnace runs properly.

The definition of Backdraft

You may not realize it, but your home has the ability to depressurize. Backdraft occurs when the pressure in your house becomes lower than the pressure of the atmosphere outside of your home. In cases of depressurization, flue gases can cause backdraft. If you sit in front of your fireplace and feel a draft coming in, your home may be depressurized.

If you have a new furnace and appliances, your home will be more efficient and will not release waste heat to the degree that older furnaces do. As the heat waste is not substantial enough to create a natural draft to release combustible gases, these furnaces have power vents and sealed systems. Extra fans are used to remove the gases, and the chance of backdrafting CO spillage is much less with these new furnaces.

Newer, modern gas furnaces and appliances are more efficient and thus release less waste heat. Because the heat is insufficient to create a natural draft to push out the combustion by-products, the furnaces and boilers have power vents and sealed combustion systems. They draw their combustion air from outside the home and use an extra fan to exhaust the combustion gases. The chance of a carbon monoxide leaks from backdrafting is dramatically less with these furnaces.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms

If you have an acute headache, vertigo, signs of confusion, upset stomach, or faintness, you may have carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon Monoxide is dangerous because once you begin to feel the symptoms; death is a very real possibility. Symptoms also occur with minimal exposure, including inability to catch your breath, slight nausea, and minor headache.

Be aware that the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, and you can mistake these symptoms for a normal illness. Watch for when you exhibit symptoms, such as when you leave home or return home. Feeling ill in your home is a clear sign of CO poisoning. As well, if others are feeling in the same way as you, this is a very good indicator that your symptoms are due to your environment.

Don’t wait to act on your symptoms

If you feel as though you have been exposed to CO, open all doors and windows in your home and turn off any appliances that might be combustible. Leave your home and go to the nearest hospital, telling the physicians that you suspect carbon monoxide exposure. The emergency staff may perform a blood test to confirm CO poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You should always have carbon monoxide detectors installed, and although they are good back up plan, you should always have your furnace checked regularly. Check out our Calgary furnace rebates for energy upgrades while you are at it.

You may experience these symptoms:

From: Jain, K.K. (1990) Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Warren H. Green, Inc., St. Louis, MO

Symptoms that may indicate you have Chronic Carbon Monoxide poisoning are fatigue, lack of energy, limited drive to perform usual activities, diagnosed clinical depression, or hormone specific disorders. Symptoms develop over time, and often are only diagnosed after a lengthy exposure to CO. Often, the discovery of CO poisoning is made by accident, as it’s not always measurable in the blood or the air.

Out of all of the appliances in your home, your furnace works the hardest. During the cold winter months, your furnace can turn off and on nearly 9000 times. Because of how much you rely on your furnace and how hard it works, it absolutely needs a safety check on an annual basis.

Carbon Monoxide testing is not something to be taken lightly. Findings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which recently analyzed CO poisonings from 1992 to 1996, found that the furnace issues made up almost 74% of poisonings that were attributed to appliances and other products.

Low levels of CO, such as those below 10%, are barely noticeable in your home. You won’t have symptoms, and you won’t be able to detect any scent in the air. However, just because you don’t feel sick does not mean that the CO is harmless. Hospital research has shown that extended exposure to continual low levels of carbon monoxide has been linked to brain damage.

The subjects showed symptoms such as changes in behavior and inability to remember short term thoughts. Unfortunately the study had no reference point for how long the subjects were exposed for brain damage to occur, as they were unaware of when they were first exposed to CO.

When you reach a CO level of above 10%, the person exposed will have flu-like symptoms tiredness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, headache and coughing. A good measure of whether or not it’s the flu is finding that your pet exhibits symptoms, as there is no way for your pet to get the flu. Any CO level above 20% is considered lethal, so it is imperative that you get your heating system checked on a regular basis.

There is real tragedy in hearing of a family dying due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning, if only for the simple fact that it is completely preventable. As the winter season sets in and we crank up our furnace, the reports of Carbon Monoxide poisonings begin to trickle in.

How do you know you are suffering from CO poisoning? Flu like symptoms mimic CO exposure, including nausea, headaches, dizziness, and being unable to properly breath. If you leave your home or get fresh air, your symptoms will disappear. A group or family within a home that share the same symptoms should immediately have their house checked for CO.

Bear in mind that infants, children, and the aged population have a lower tolerance for CO. Women who are pregnant should be on the lookout for symptoms as well, because the risk to their fetus from CO exposure is great.

Once you suspect that you have been exposed to CO, go outside and get fresh air immediately. Open all doors and windows in your home, turn off all appliances, and do not return to the building.

A hospital or medical clinic will help you assess your level of CO by confirming it with a blood test. Be sure to visit the hospital if you are concerned you have been exposed.