Most people have more questions than answers about carbon monoxide (CO):  what causes, just how serious is the risk, and what’s the most effective means of early detection.

To understand the national scope of CO poisoning, here are some facts and figures from National Fire Protection Agency:

• People with a limited ability to use oxygen are at a greater risk of CO poisoning.  That includes infants, pregnant women, and anyone with a respiratory disorder.
• A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.
• In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 80,100 non-fire calls during which carbon monoxide was detected.  The number of calls increases every year, but that’s likely due to the growing number of home CO detectors.

Carbon monoxide can be caused by any fuel burning device, and not just your home heating system.  One way to minimize the problem is to make sure you never operate such equipment in unvented spaces, as carbon monoxide needs an outlet to escape you home to avoid doing you any harm.

You can’t smell or otherwise detect carbon monoxide on your own.  Which means one of two things can happen should a leak occur.  First, you will start to experience such symptoms as  dizziness, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath.  Or, you can install one or more hard-wired vs. battery-operated CO detectors in your home before this deadly gas has a chance to cause you harm.

The Benefits of Low Level CO Detectors.

Hard-wired, low-level CO detectors are much better suited to ensuring your family’s safety than the battery-operated models available at your local home improvement center.

Retail store model don’t trigger the alarm until CO levels hit 70 parts per million…and by that time, damage can already have occurred.  By contrast, low-level detectors – the kind available at and installed by Absolute Air – trigger at only about 100 parts per million, giving you plenty of time to open windows, evacuate your home, and call your local fire department.

Prevention IS the Cure

Another way Absolute Air can help ensure your family’s greater health and safety is with our multi-point heating system tune-up and inspection, which includes checking for gas and carbon monoxide leaks.  Contact us today to schedule service:  after all, that’s what we’re here for.

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