Your Guide to Carbon Monoxide Safety

In your home, one of the greatest threats to your health and safety is carbon monoxide (or CO) poisoning. It’s a gas with no smell, color, or taste that can kill you in concentrated amounts. 

CO is produced whenever fuel burns and is most commonly associated with cooking and heating appliances in the home. Another dangerous source of carbon monoxide is vehicle emissions. 

There are two different levels of poisoning:

1. Consistent low to medium concentration
2. Sudden high concentration

If you have a slight carbon monoxide leak, it can cause a myriad of symptoms including:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Agitation
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Chest Pain
• Difficulty breathing

However, if you are experiencing high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning, you may experience the above symptoms, plus confusion, lack of coordination, and loss of consciousness.

The most frightening part about high concentrations of CO is that the victims struggle to save themselves. Over 400 people die from it every year in America according to the CDC.

But education, early detection, and prevention can save lives. That’s why today, we are discussing carbon monoxide safety.

Your Home Inspection

During a  home inspection, we comb through the entire house, checking every major component’s form, function, and safety. Along with the plumbing and electricity, we also check your fuel-burning appliances. 

Gas burning appliances like your water heater, furnace, and kitchen stove are all subject to analysis. Every home is different. For instance, if there is a boiler in a bedroom closet, the door should close by itself and be weather-sealed for maximum protection from CO poisoning. 

Checking for CO

When we inspect a residential property, we use a combustible gas detector to test the carbon monoxide levels around all accessible gas piping. We take our time to check every joint in the pipes to be as thorough as possible. 

The exhaust vents are also meticulously inspected for leaks, gaps, or damage in your attic. 

Finally, we check the vents outside that connect to the dryer, furnace, and kitchen stove. If these are blocked or covered, it will restrict airflow and prevent carbon monoxide from leaving the building. No matter how sealed the pipes are, the gas could build and back up into your house if it has no way to escape.  

Your inspector will report their findings to you in the home inspection report and offer their recommendations to keep you safe.

Don’t Forget the Chimney

Please note that a home inspection does not include a chimney inspection. This is a service that you will need to schedule separately. 

A chimney inspection is crucial for carbon monoxide safety. According to the National Safety Council, you should have your chimney checked and cleaned once every year. Dirt in the chimney can reduce the chimney’s ventilation and increase the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.  

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

According to InterNACHI, all of your alarms should plug into an electrical outlet and have a battery backup system in case of a power outage. It’s crucial to have a power backup because CO leaks are more common during blackouts.

The carbon monoxide detector should be placed outside of every bedroom, but over three feet from a bathroom door if it has a tub or shower. 

The reason for this is simple. No one wants to needlessly panic over a false alarm in their birthday suit. Steamy or humid air coming from your hot shower or bathtub has a high chance of tripping the detector.

Skip the hallways if you have a gas-burning appliance in your bedroom. Put the carbon monoxide detector inside of your room instead. 

Home Inspection Service in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Brooksville

Your inspector is an incredible ally who is always in pursuit of your best interest. 

Their duty is to detect code violations, safety hazards, and major repairs. We protect you from health risks and financial crises associated with residential and commercial properties. 

Your health and safety are too important to cut corners and rush this process. Missing a gas leak is not acceptable. Call on a trusted inspection service that won’t put you at risk. Schedule an inspection with Divinity Inspection Service today!