Carbon Monoxide

No matter where you live or what time of the year it is, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a hazard. If gas stoves are used in your property or establishment (which is common), there is an average of 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm) present in the air. But why is carbon monoxide dangerous and, more importantly, how can you make sure that levels are kept low in your building?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It is also toxic. You can't smell it, taste it, or see it- that means CO can kill you without you being aware of its presence. Low levels cause symptoms that are commonly mistaken for the flu while high levels can cause severe damage and can even be fatal.

CO comes from a variety of household appliances such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, automobiles, and even cigarette smoke.

Preventing CO from rising to dangerous levels in buildings is relatively easy. Here are some helpful tips from the United States EPA to help you:

• Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
• Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.
• Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
• Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
• Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.
• Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
• Do not idle the cars inside garage.

Rainforest Plumbing & Air technicians are trained to handle carbon monoxide containment and perform maintenance on appliances that produce it. Give us a call today at (480) 615-7766 to schedule service!





Other cooling and heating topics you may be interested in:
Gas Piping | Air Quality | Leaking Ducts | Gas Leaks | Refrigerant Leaks