Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is released by home appliances, automobiles, heaters, etc. If you breath in carbon monoxide, it can collect in your bloodstream, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious condition that can lead to severe life-threatening complications. Its risk increases more in the winter as people start using heating appliances for an extended period.
Every year, almost 500 people die from this poisoning. Many people don’t even realize that their home has a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In this article, we will walk you through some of the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning and how you can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and other dangers in your home.
To learn more or schedule furnace maintenance to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, contact the St. Louis heating and air conditioning professionals at Galmiche & Sons today.
Top Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Faulty furnaces and home appliances: Poorly maintained or faulty home appliances like gas furnaces, boilers, gas fireplaces, water heaters, etc. are a leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keeping these systems well maintained is a key step when asking how you can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Unvented space heaters: Many fuel burning space heaters are not intended for use indoors or in enclosed spaces. Having unvented space heaters like these in your home can become of one the biggest cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. If these heaters burn fuel in areas with no ventilation, it will degrade the quality of the air in your home, leading to various health hazards.
- Clogged chimney: A clogged chimney that keeps the harmful smoke trapped inside your house can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
How Can You Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – 4 Simple Ways
- Be careful with fuel-burning appliances: All fuel-burning appliances like forced-air furnaces, gas stoves, gas water heaters, etc. should be properly maintained and checked by a professional once a year. This will help in preventing any major damage or risks. As such, it is crucial to call your HVAC professional to schedule annual maintenance for your furnace at least once per year, usually at the beginning of the heating season.
- Don’t leave your car in a closed garage while its engine is running: During winter, many people warm up their cars in closed garages. Doing so can be dangerous, especially if your garage is connected to your home. It can cause CO to build up inside your house, leading to a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Avoid using unvented space heaters: Avoiding the use of unvented space heaters is another way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure to get your space heaters properly vented by an experienced professional or select space heaters that are designated as safe for inside use.
- Use carbon monoxide detectors: During winter, the risk of CO poisoning is maximum. So, to ensure that your house remains safe and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the use of carbon monoxide detectors is a must! Make sure to get at least one CO detector installed on each floor. These detectors will record the carbon monoxide exposure in your home and alarm you in case of a carbon monoxide leak.
Contact Galmiche & Sons to Maintain Your Heating Appliances Professionally
Properly marinating your heating appliances, such as your gas furnace, and venting your heaters is the best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, we can help you with it if you live in St. Louis.
Galmiche & Sons was established in 1950 in St. Louis, and we have been providing expert HVAC services since. Whether you want to vent your heaters, install your furnace, or get your heating appliances inspected and professionally maintained, our highly trained professionals can help you with everything.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or get a free HVAC maintenance quote. You can also call us at 314-993-1110.
