Carbon Monoxide from Columbus Ohio Furnaces Part2

This is part 2 of our series on Carbon Monoxide. You can read Part 1 here.

CO Alarm Installation

The best defense against CO poisoning is to install a CO Alarm in your home. Similar to a smoke alarm, CO alarms are relatively inexpensive and may be purchased at most building supply store, big box retails stores, or hardware stores.

Select a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory (UL Labs).

Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide. Batteries should be tested twice yearly to ensure adequate protection. We recommend you change the battery when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time in the Spring and Fall. I date the 9-volt battery in my alarms with a permanent marker to tell me the last time it was changed.

CO alarms should be placed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area. You should also have one on each level of your home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards, especially your basement. For ideal protection, install CO alarms that are interconnected throughout your home: when one sounds, they all sound.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for location and mounting height.

You may want to consider purchasing a combination CO alarm/smoke alarm for extra convenience. If you decide to go with a combination alarm, they must be installed in accordance with requirements for smoke alarms.

Just as an aside, a CO alarm is not a substitute for a smoke alarm and vice versa. And it’s important to know the difference between the sound of your smoke alarm and the sound of the CO alarm.

CO Alarms: Testing and Replacement

Test your CO alarm at least once a month and replace the battery, or replace the alarms themselves if they fail to respond correctly when tested. Sensors in CO alarms have a limited life and must be replaced much more frequently than a smoke alarm. Replace the CO alarm according to manufacturer’s instructions or when the end-of-life signal sounds.

Get to know the difference between the sound of your home’s CO alarm and its smoke alarms, as well as their low-battery signals. If an audible low battery signal sounds, replace the batteries right away or replace the device. If the CO alarm still sounds after replacing the battery, get to a fresh air location and call 9-1-1 or the fire department.

Columbus ohio family furnace - protect from CO

Protect your family with the proper Carbon Monoxide alarm in Columbus, Ohio.

To keep Carbon Monoxide alarms working well, follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, such as vaccuuming from time to time. And be sure to keep any storage materials clear from the CO alarm to allow any gasses to circulate (and trip the alarm if needed).

CO Precautions

It is imperative to have fuel-burning heating equipment such as fireplaces, portable heaters, space heaters, water heaters, wood stoves, coal stoves, chimneys, and gas furnaces in your Columbus home inspected by a professional every year.

We recommend a service contract to our customers to ensure your home heating equipment and AC equipment is getting checked out twice yearly.

Carbon Monoxide Prevention Tips

Open the damper for proper ventilation before using a fireplace.
Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home. The range generates too much CO gas that could kill people and pets.
When purchasing new heating and cooking equipment, select products tested and labeled by a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL Labs.
All fuel-burning vented equipment must be vented to the outside to avoid CO poisoning. Be sure to keep the venting for exhaust clear and unblocked.
If you need to warm up a vehicle, pull it out of the garage immediately after starting it. Never run a car, truck or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. On days with snowy, wintry weather, be sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle isn’t blocked with snow, ice or other frozen materials. The CO gas might kill people and pets.
Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.
Barbecue grills should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents and other building openings. Some grills can produce CO gas. Never use grills inside the home or the garage, even if the doors are open. This presents a dual-threat of both fire and CO danger.
Gas-fired portable generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas, away from all doors, windows, vents and other building openings to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the home.
Immediately move to a fresh air location (outdoors or by an open window or door). Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for.
Call 9-1-1 or the Columbus fire department(or your local FD) from a fresh air location (outdoors or by an open window). Remain at a fresh air location until emergency personnel arrive to assist you.

What to Do If Your CO Alarm Sounds

The dangers of carbon monoxide can be lessened with these simple steps. If you would like to have your Columbus-area furnace or other gas-burning appliances checked out by a professional, contact Pickerington Heating & Cooling with our convenient Request an Appointment form or call (614) 837-4026 24 hours a day for immediate service.