How can I help protect against carbon monoxide poisoning?

Early warning is important: Install one or more alarms The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that every home have at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal installed near the sleeping area. Choose a CO alarm that is tested and listed by a Nationally Accredited Lab such as ETL or UL.

Have your appliances checked regularly. Have a qualified appliance technician check all fossil fuel burning appliances, venting and chimney systems at least once a year, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Where should I look for potential sources of carbon monoxide in the home?

A forced air furnace is frequently the source of leaks and should be carefully inspected by a professional.

• Have a professional measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the flue gases.

Have a professional do the following:

• Check furnace connections to the flue pipes and venting systems.

• Check furnace filters and filtering systems.

• Check forced air fans for proper installation and to assure correct air flow of flue gases.

• Check the combustion chamber and internal heat exchanger for cracks, holes, corrosion or dirt/debris.

• Check burners and ignition systems and pilot lights.

• Check fireplaces for closed, blocked or bent flues, soot and debris.

• Check all venting systems to the outside of your home. This includes checking flues and chimneys for cracks, corrosion, holes, debris or blockage. Animals and birds can build nests in chimneys, preventing gases from escaping. Vibrations can shake vent pipes loose from gas dryers or water heaters, preventing CO from being vented properly outside.

• Check all other appliances in the home that use fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, propane, wood or kerosene. Appliances include water heaters, clothes dryers, kitchen ranges, gas heaters, ovens or cooktops, wood-burning stoves, gas refrigerators or alternative power sources such as generators.

• Be sure space heaters are vented properly. Unvented space heaters that use a fossil fuel such as kerosene or propane can release carbon monoxide into the home.

• Barbecue grills should never be operated indoors under any circumstances.

• Stove tops or ovens that operate on fossil fuels should never be used to heat a residence.

• Check the clothes dryer vent opening. Lint may block proper venting outside the house

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