The silent, yet deadly, poison
Why a carbon monoxide monitor in your home may not be enough to protect you
Reports of death due to carbon monoxide poisoning is a tragic reminder of the need to properly maintain gas furnaces in our homes.
“This is just sad, very sad,” said Mike Hartman, president of Thomas E. Clark Plumbing and Heating.
Technicians from his company evaluated the cause of a recent CO -related death. “It was a simple venting problem.”
Carbon monoxide (CO), often referred to as “the silent killer,” is a highly poisonous gas that is colourless, odourless, tasteless and non-irritating.
It is produced from burning fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood.
It inhibits blood from absorbing oxygen into cells, tissue and vital organs. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CO kills hundreds and causes serious illness in thousands of people each year.
In Canada, at least 50 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning annually, yet up-to-date Canada-wide statistics aren’t readily available since, according to Pierre Voisine, a director with Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, there is no national database for such information.
Albert Donnay, a consulting toxicologist, believes that more than 200,000 emergency-room visits per year should be attributed to CO poisoning, and the death rate is closer to 2,000 per year. He said he thinks the numbers are higher than reported because CO -related illnesses often go undiagnosed and are treated incorrectly.
“Families may develop chronic flu-like symptoms, headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and weakness from low levels of CO,” said Donnay. “Doctors don’t know to ask about CO in their homes.”
Some experts agree with these higher estimates.
“Tens of thousands don’t realize that CO is the cause of their medical problems,” said Jim Davis, a senior trainer with the National Comfort Institute, which trains HVAC contractors, fire departments, engineers and home inspectors in the proper testing of appliances that use CO -producing fuels.
“The damage is cumulative over time and affects your memory, heart and lungs.”
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR HOME HAS CO?
Davis said that you must use the proper testing equipment when searching for CO leaks. “You should be using a combustion analyzer,” he said.
Davis explained the difference between an analyzer and a monitor. “A monitor just tests the CO levels in a house,” he said.
“An analyzer determines if there is proper combustion efficiency, ventilation and fuel-air mixture. You want to know if your furnace is mechanically sound.”
According to Davis, a combustion analyzer should always be used during installation and maintenance of appliances.
HOW OFTEN DO HOMEOWNERS
CONSIDER THE NEED
FOR HVAC MAINTENANCE?
Hartman suggests having your systems checked twice a year.
“Right before the season starts,” Hartman said, referring to winter and summer.
Hartman said that there are indications of possible CO leaks that can be observed visually by a homeowner.
“Look for rust on top of the heater or on the smoke pipe going from the heater to the chimney,” Hartman said.
Also, he said bubbled and flaking paint on the top of the heater could indicate a venting problem. If left unchecked, he said, the venting problem could turn into a CO problem.
These visual indicators do not replace regular maintenance by a licensed professional. Furnaces are not the only appliances that cause CO illnesses and deaths.
Idling a car or putting a gas generator in an attached garage is a deadly mistake. High levels of CO get trapped inside a garage and slowly leak into the house.
Commercial garages must adhere to regulations that require large fans to turn on when CO reaches specified levels.
There are no such regulations for residential garages.
There are more sources of CO in homes, including but not limited to, gas ovens, lawn mowers, snowblowers, fireplaces, grills and indoor pools.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND FAMILY
Residential CO monitors are available online or at hardware stores. Most of them are designed to meet the minimum standards set by Underwriters Laboratories.
According to Donnay, these monitors are not sufficient for keeping you safe.
“These monitors only warn you when it is too late. People are lulled into a false sense of security that if the alarm does not go off then there is no CO in the house,” he said.
Donnay recommends buying a commercial-grade monitor that senses low levels of CO, and one that has a digital display to monitor CO data in your house. He also recommends buying a portable CO monitor to attach to your key chain or belt.