| Perhaps the most serious safety
concern associated with your gas or oil burning furnace,
kerosene heater or wood-burning stove is Carbon Monoxide
poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas
that can be fatal if not detected early. CO is produced by the
incomplete combustion of fuels. Hence, the danger with
household appliances fueled with gas, oil, kerosene, or even
wood. If not properly maintained, these appliances can produce
dangerous levels of CO in the home.
Each year in the United States alone approximately 5,000
people are treated for CO poisoning in emergency rooms. This
number is probably lower than the total of people actually
affected by the hazard because many individuals who suffer
from the flu-like symptoms are misdiagnosed and never receive
treatment. In 1989, 220 deaths were attributed to CO poisoning
from gas-fired appliances.
There are three things you can do to protect your family
from this subtle, silent killer:
1. Make sure your systems are correctly installed. - Proper
installation is vital to the safe operation of combustion
appliances. New appliances are equipped with installation
instructions that should be carefully followed. Conform to
local building codes as well. Follow manufacturer’s
instructions to guarantee proper venting as required. And
always use a qualified service technician to install
combustion appliances. If in doubt, call a technician to make
sure your system is correctly installed. 2. Make sure your
systems are properly maintained - Have your home’s central and
room heating appliances, including water heaters and gas
dryers checked annually by a qualified service technician.
This annual inspection should include your furnace, thermostat
controls, automatic safety devices and all other electrical
and mechanical equipment. Here are a few other tips:
Check chimneys and flues for loose connections, blockages,
and corrosion.
Subscribe to an annual inspection/tune-up service
agreement so you don’t forget to have your system maintained
on a regular basis. 3. Install one or more UL Certified Carbon
Monoxide Detectors in your home. – CO detectors measure both
high concentrations of CO over short periods of time and low
concentrations of CO over long periods of time. Since the
effects of CO can be cumulative, both methods of protection
are vital. Detectors are designed to sound an alarm before the
level of CO in a victim's blood becomes crippling. Beware of
low-priced detectors that change color instead of sounding an
alarm. These detectors require frequent checking and won’t
alert you to a sudden buildup of CO in the air. Expect to
spend between $57.67 and $155.00 for a UL rated CO detector.
For more information on air quality and Carbon Monoxide
protection, See our CO section under Indoor Air Quality and
our CO detectors in the Product
Catalog | 
