What You Should Know About
Carbon Monoxide Testing
 Carbon
monoxide (CO) poisoning has been one
of the more under-publicized
household hazards until two recent
events put it in the spotlight. One
was the accidental death in
September 1994 of tennis star Vitas
Gerulaitas, who succumbed to CO
while sleeping in a rented home. The
other was an ordinance that went
into effect October 1, 1994, in
Chicago requiring CO detectors in
all residences heated by any fossil
fuel burning equipment - in effect,
all except solar or electrically
heated homes. The Chicago law was in
reaction to a tragedy that occurred
in 1991 when a family of 10 was
wiped out by CO poisoning from a
faulty furnace installation.
Have you ever had your furnace
checked for carbon monoxide leakage?
Carbon monoxide is odorless and can
be deadly. Its possible that your
furnace could be leaking low levels
that are too low for your in-home
carbon monoxide detector to detect.
Have a Pann Home Service
plumber check your system today,
and ensure your family's safety.
Carbon Monoxide Testing -
Protecting Your Family
Carbon monoxide can be present in
your Greater Boston area home
without leaving a trace because it
is an odorless, tasteless and
colorless gas. It kills more people
annually in the United States than
any other type of poisoning. The
only side effects of carbon monoxide
poison are flu-like symptoms
(nausea, headaches, and lethargy)
which are easily misdiagnosed or
ignored. This potentially lethal gas
can build up in any home that uses
oil, propane, gas, wood or
coal-fired appliances.
 Carbon monoxide is produced from the
incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels when a furnace, water heater,
or stove malfunctions. You can
defend against carbon monoxide
poisoning by inspecting and
servicing your combustible
appliances regularly and by
installing carbon monoxide detectors
in your home.
These detectors cost about $50 each
and are designed to detect carbon
monoxide in a single room or area.
Ideally, a home should have one of
these detectors in each bedroom, in
the kitchen and in rooms located
near combustible appliances (not in
the same room as the appliance,
however). If the detector identifies
a certain level of carbon monoxide,
a light will come on and an alarm
will sound.
More advanced detection alarms are
available. Some will sound a warning
at a predetermined low level of the
gas to indicate a potential problem.
This alarm is useful in that it
warns of low level accumulation of
carbon monoxide and can prevent a
more serious situation from
developing. Also consider installing
a battery-operated alarm that mounts
on your central air cleaner. This
will monitor the furnace return air
from your entire house. If you have
a security system in your home, a
carbon monoxide alarm can probably
be connected directly into the
system. Battery and hardwired models
are available.
If the carbon monoxide alarm in your
home does go off, leave your home
immediately, and seek medical
attention. Call your local fire
department from a neighbor's phone.
Firefighters are equipped to detect
carbon monoxide, locate the source,
and stop the emission of the gas. If
you are even more concerned, speak
with one of our technicians about
making your home safe.
If you are looking for a Boston
plumber or need carbon monoxide
testing please call us today at
800.286.5959 or click on the link
below:
|
