Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and toxic gas. As a result, CO can not only undermine Indoor Air Quality, but can do great harm before you’re aware it exists. At high enough concentrations, it can kill. At lower levels, it can make you very ill. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and/or fatigue (sounds a lot like the flu, doesn’t it?). There is evidence that Carbon Monoxide poisoning could be the leading culprit in explaining haunted houses.
Carbon monoxide can harm anyone exposed to high levels in a short period of time, or lower levels over an extended period of time. Children, the elderly, and the infirm show increased risk, but no one is immune. Carbon Monoxide remains the leading cause of poisoning throughout the world.
Carbon Monoxide is a product of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. If you have a flame-producing device, including a range, oven, clothes dryer, furnace, fireplace, grill, space heater, and/or water heater that uses natural gas, propane, kerosene, charcoal, or wood as a fuel, you have a risk for high levels of CO. If you have an attached garage or use a gasoline fired generator you have a risk for high levels of CO. If you smoke in your home, you have a risk for high levels of CO.
Carbon Monoxide alarms are available for the home, but their overall reliability remains in question. One report, sponsored by the Gas Research Institute, Des Plaines, IL, found “a significant portion of some widely installed alarm brands did not alarm in CO poisoning incidents with potentially lethal consequences. In particular, they did not adequately protect at low relative humidity. Digital display readings on some alarms showed little relationship to actual CO levels.” Most CO alarms are intended to protect healthy adults, many have a limited useful lifespan, and the test feature only tests the alarm, not the CO detector. Buyer beware.
That being said, many jurisdictions require CO alarms be installed at time of construction or remodeling, and we would never recommend otherwise. But it should always be kept in mind that they are not failsafe mechanical devices. Adequate mechanical ventilation in the home can reduce the danger of CO, but not eliminate it.
Any home with combustion appliances, meaning almost every home in the US, should be tested regularly for Carbon Monoxide levels. As part of our Home Performance Evaluation, Sustainable Home Solutions checks ambient levels throughout the home, levels at individual combustion appliances, and performs a “Worst Case Combustion Appliance Zone” analysis to determine how exposed your indoor environment is to dangerous Carbon Monoxide.
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Call us today at 831-462-6236 to schedule a Home Performance Evaluation. We'll work to create the safe, comfortable, resource efficient home you deserve. A home that is more durable, while being less costly to operate and maintain. A home you can live with.