Other Content

What I should know about carbon monoxide (CO)

Where does carbon monoxide come from?

CO can be produced by the combustion that occurs from fossil fuel burning appliances like a furnace, clothes

dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heater. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough

fresh air in your home to allow complete combustion, the trace amounts of CO produced are typically not

dangerous. And normally, CO is safely vented outside your home.

Problems may arise when something goes wrong. An appliance can malfunction, a furnace heat exchanger can

crack, vents can clog, or debris may block a chimney or flue. Fireplaces, wood burning stoves, gas heaters,

charcoal grills, or gas logs can produce unsafe levels of CO if they are unvented or not properly vented. Exhaust

can seep into the home from vehicles left running in an attached garage. All these things can cause a CO problem

in the home.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas. It is a common by-product of incomplete combustion,

produced when fossil fuels (like oil, gas or coal) burn. Because you can't see, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide

can kill you before you know it's there. Exposure to lower levels over time can make you sick.

Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?

Carbon Monoxide robs you of what you need most: oxygen, which is carried to your cells and tissue by the

hemoglobin in your blood. If you inhale CO, it quickly bonds with hemoglobin and displaces oxygen. This produces

a toxic compound in your blood called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Carboxyhemoglobin produces flu-like

symptoms, for example: headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion, and irritability. Since symptoms are

similar to the flu, carbon monoxide poisoning can be misdiagnosed. As levels of COHb rise, victims suffer vomiting,

loss of consciousness, and eventually brain damage or death.

Who is at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning?

Everyone is at risk because everyone needs oxygen to survive. Medical experts believe some people maybe more

vulnerable to CO poisoning: unborn babies, infants, children, seniors, and people with heart and lung problems

due to higher metabolic rates.

How can I help protect against carbon monoxide poisoning?

Early warning is important: Install one or more alarms The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

recommends that every home have at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal installed

near the sleeping area. Choose a CO alarm that is tested and listed by a Nationally Accredited Lab such as ETL or

UL.

Have your appliances checked regularly. Have a qualified appliance technician check all fossil fuel burning

appliances, venting and chimney systems at least once a year, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

PAGE 1
What I should know about carbon monoxide (CO) Where does carbon monoxide come from? CO can be produced by the combustion that occurs from fossil fuel burning appliances like a furnace, clothes dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heater. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow complete combustion, the trace amounts of CO produced are typically not dangerous. And normally, CO is safely vented outside your home.
PAGE 2
Where should I look for potential sources of carbon monoxide in the home? A forced air furnace is frequently the source of leaks and should be carefully inspected by a professional. • Have a professional measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the flue gases. Have a professional do the following: • Check furnace connections to the flue pipes and venting systems. • Check furnace filters and filtering systems.
PAGE 3
• A broken thermostat can keep the furnace running continuously, depleting the oxygen supply inside the house. This may lead to backdrafting. • In multiple family dwellings like apartments or townhouses, where living spaces share walls and pipes, carbon monoxide from one unit may go into a neighboring space through floorboards, cracks, or underneath doors. How does a carbon monoxide alarm work? It's not a smoke alarm. CO alarms are not a substitute for a smoke alarm.