Preventing Carbon Monoxide Buildup in Your Home
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that is naturally created when fuels such as wood, natural gas, oil, and charcoal combust. If enough carbon monoxide builds up within a space, the gas can poison and even kill the people and animals who breathe it.
Carbon Monoxide Sources in the Home
Because of its relationship with burning fuel, the most common sources of carbon monoxide in the home are usually related to heating and cooking, such as furnaces, water heaters, gas and wood burning stoves, and fireplaces. Vehicle exhaust in garages is another common source of carbon monoxide poisoning.
When operating correctly, the appliances in your home do not pose a health risk. Combustion furnaces, for example, use a flue pipe to vent CO outside, but when your appliances aren’t working properly, carbon monoxide can leak into your home and climb to dangerous levels.
The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Home
Because it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, many people do not know when their homes contain dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. However, they may experience common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as impaired vision and coordination, reduced brain function headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion.
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Buildup in Your Home
Responsible homeowners can prevent carbon monoxide buildup in their homes by conducting routine CO testing through a trusted home improvement company. It is also important to invest in carbon monoxide detectors to help safeguard your home and those who live there. If you don’t have a CO detector in your home, Wisconsin Home Improvement and Focus on Energy will provide you with one for every floor of your home. When high CO levels are present in your home, it is critical to take steps to repair your home’s systems in a way that prevents future CO buildup.
Carbon Monoxide Testing
Homeowners concerned about carbon monoxide buildup in their homes should schedule a combustion safety test in their homes to detect overall CO levels and help them understand the risks and problems. Combustion safety testing for carbon monoxide is a standard part of Wisconsin Home Improvement’s full home energy audit process. The audit also allows us to determine if other factors, such as poor ventilation, are having a negative effect on the CO levels in your home.
Next Steps to Consider
Preventing carbon monoxide buildup is an important part of creating a safe and healthy home. At Wisconsin Home Improvement, we can help you determine your current CO levels as well as give you a more complete understanding of your home’s indoor air quality through our home audit process. Call us today to schedule a visit and learn more about what services we can provide for carbon monoxide management. We can walk you through the home audit process as well as let you know about finance options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions we get about home insulation improvements and how insulation works. If you have a question and don’t see the answer below, please let us know.
How can carbon monoxide build up in a home?
Carbon monoxide builds up in a home when appliances that burn fuels such as wood, natural gas, or propane are not properly ventilated, trapping the CO inside.
How can I protect my family from carbon monoxide?
The best way to protect yourself from carbon monoxide is to install home CO detectors and get regular air quality checks. If a CO detector goes off or a quality check indicates high levels of carbon monoxide in the home, it is important to ventilate your home to dissipate the CO as soon as possible. You also need to find the source of the CO buildup and repair it.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas created by the incomplete combustion of fuel, such as wood, natural gas, oil, etc. CO can be found in the fumes that come from many appliances in your home.
How do I remove carbon monoxide from my house?
The easiest way to remove carbon monoxide from a home is through ventilation. You will need to open up doors and windows and use fans to actively circulate the CO-filled air out of the house and allow fresh air to take its place. However, unless you also manage the source of the CO through replacement, repair, or permanent ventilation solutions, the volume of CO in the home will increase again.
What are the signs of a carbon monoxide leak in the home?
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, it is impossible to detect it without testing the air itself. However, those inside the home may experience symptoms of CO poisoning, including impaired vision and coordination, reduced brain function headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion.
What is the best way to prevent carbon monoxide?
Any home that uses fuel-powered appliances cannot prevent carbon monoxide from forming. However, properly installing these appliances and ensuring adequate ventilation for them will ensure that the CO that they do produce does not accumulate in the home.
When should I get an indoor air assessment of my home?
If you are concerned about the carbon monoxide levels in your home, get a home air quality check right away. CO poisoning, if left untreated, can cause cardiac problems that will lead to death.