You may have heard of the risks of carbon monoxide (CO), but how can you check if it’s in your home? Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless poisonous gas that’s produced from burning gas or oil, and it can be deadly when it reaches unsafe levels. Even though CO might seem difficult to detect in your home, there are a lot of warning signs and preventative steps you can take to protect yourself. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the signs of carbon monoxide in your home, the symptoms of CO poisoning, and what you can do to prevent buildups.
Things You Should Know
- Black and yellow stains, yellow flames (instead of blue), and blown-out pilot lights in gas appliances can all be signs of a carbon monoxide leak. [1] X Research source
- Condensation build-up on windows near gas appliances can also indicate a leak. If you have a fireplace, you might notice smoke build-up, too.
- Watch out for flu-like symptoms that occur specifically around gas appliances. This can be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning. [2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Average CO levels in your home if you have a gas stove are usually 5–15 ppm. If you don’t have a gas stove, then the range is around 0.5–5 ppm. [24] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source You’ll notice symptoms of CO poisoning if levels are 70 ppm or higher. [25] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Products Safety Commission Independent U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research Go to sourceThanks
Warnings
- Infants and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, and respiratory problems are more at risk of CO poisoning. [26] X Research sourceThanks
- If you suspect a CO leak in your home, avoid trying to find the source of it on your own so you don’t get CO poisoning. Contact emergency services and let them find the leak. [27] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Products Safety Commission Independent U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research Go to sourceThanks
References
- ↑ https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html
- ↑ https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
- ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html
- ↑ https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/carbon-monoxide-safety/
- ↑ https://ontariocountyny.gov/544/Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning
- ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html
- ↑ https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
- ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html
- ↑ https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/carbon-monoxide
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/where-should-i-place-carbon-monoxide-detector
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html
- ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649163/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/carbon-monoxides-impact-indoor-air-quality
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw193731
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15663-carbon-monoxide-poisoning
- ↑ https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/carbon-monoxide-poisoning
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/carbon-monoxides-impact-indoor-air-quality
- ↑ https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
- ↑ https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/carbon-monoxide
- ↑ https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
About This Article
One of the best ways to detect carbon monoxide is to install a CO detector close to the ceiling on every level of your home. If you don’t have a CO detector, it’s important to know the health symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include headache, muscle weakness, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, and loss of consciousness. In order to prevent CO accumulation, keep your vents clear of dust and debris, clean your fireplace and chimney, and make sure that ovens are working. To learn how to read your CO detector display, keep reading!
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