Check your Carbon Monoxide Detectors this Winter

While you should have properly functioning carbon monoxide detectors throughout the year, it’s especially important during the cold winter months. You may have heard of carbon monoxide being called the silent killer because it is odorless and colorless, making a detector necessary for detection. In this post, JP Heating & Air Conditioning discusses carbon monoxide and why carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter.

Carbon monoxide can be produced by a gas furnace, gas stove, generator, or any other combustible fume source. So, it’s no surprise that in the winter the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases because of the closed off environments we tend to spend time in while combustible fume sources are operating. What’s more, is that even when you have symptoms of poisoning, you may just write them off as getting the flu. Like influenza, also more prevalent in the winter, carbon monoxide poisoning may give you a headache, make you feel dizzy and nauseous, or cause you to vomit. Thinking the household has come down with the flu, you continue to stay and sleep in your home while the carbon monoxide continues to be produced. Typically, people die from carbon monoxide poisoning while they are asleep.

So, what can you do? The number one thing is to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home that has a bedroom. You should also not bring appliances that belong outside, such as grills or generators. Your furnace should also be checked by a professional each year to ensure it is operating properly. For your detector, you should be aware of what sound signals a low battery (which should be replaced right away) and what sound signals that there is carbon dioxide in your home. Once you hear the alarm indicating there is an unsafe level of carbon dioxide, take your family outside and call 9-1-1 immediately. If you feel like you may have the symptoms and are unsure of next steps, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

At JP Heating & Air Conditioning we perform furnace checkups. During these checkups, we test for carbon monoxide and check areas in your furnace that could be a potential risk for carbon monoxide. We recommend a furnace check every year. Give us a call to schedule yours today!