Don't let your home poison you
Here's a heartfelt plea in light of the recent spate of carbon monoxide deaths: Don't become the next statistic.
CO can kill when appliances that burn fuel -- gas, oil, wood, etc. -- are used improperly or stop working well, or when a car is left to idle in an enclosed space, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Because it's odorless, the only warning you'll get is the symptoms that develop as you're being poisoned.
"At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. ... Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health," the EPA says on its website. "Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause."
Two people were killed and three badly sickened by carbon monoxide in a Baltimore rowhouse this week after leaving open the door of a gas oven that was turned on, possibly to heat the second-floor apartment.
Carbon monoxide, apparently from a faulty furnace, killed two others in Pikesville earlier in the month.
And eight people were hospitalized after CO exposure in Pigtown yesterday, though fortunately they appear to have escaped serious injury.
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of running afoul of this silent killer:
Usually the first thing people suggest is buying carbon-monoxide detectors and putting them throughout your home. The EPA, however, seems pretty unenthusiastic about the devices. They aren't foolproof, and the quality varies pretty dramatically, the agency says, so do some research before buying and don't let them "lull you into a false sense of security."
Here's what it suggests as higher priorities:
DO have your fuel-burning appliances -- including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves -- inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.DO choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.
DO call the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) at www.cpsc.gov for more information on how to reduce your risks from CO and other combustion gases and particles.
DON’T idle the car in a garage -- even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors -- even in a fireplace.
DON'T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.
That's a pretty long list. But even if you do just some of those things, it's better than throwing up your hands and merely hoping for the best.
Wonk reader pigtown shared a close-call experience last year:
I had carbon monoxide poisoning a few years ago. I moved into a house that had been empty for several years and the furnace hadn't been turned on. When I finally began heating the house, the furnace would only be on for a few minutes and then go off.I came home one day to find my dog unconscious and took him to the vet immediately, but when I got there, he was better. Finally, I called the HVAC company and they found the problem.
Good thing I'd just come back from living in the UK where I wasn't used to heat!
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Comments
that dog was the canary in the coal mine! so glad to hear he recovered, because you'd think most dogs are smaller than humans and probably more susceptible to CO's effects.
if people won't take the necessary steps to keep themselves safe, maybe the idea of saving their pets will motivate them.
Posted by: man! | December 30, 2010 8:56 AM
Landlords in Baltimore County are now required (effective October 2010) to have carbon monoxide detectors installed in all rental units in the County. Although not mandatory in other jurisdictions, landlords across the state would be well advised to head to Target/Walmart or your local hardware store and purchase at least one monitor for each rental unit. You can find a monitor for as little as $25.00.
Posted by: Ed Price | December 30, 2010 10:59 AM
Good point, Ed. Thanks.
Posted by: Jamie Smith Hopkins | December 30, 2010 11:00 AM
My CO detector is in the basement next to my furnace, it doubles as both a smoke & CO detector and I had it hardwired with my other smoke detectors so when one goes off, they all go off.
Posted by: PigtownGirl | December 30, 2010 12:30 PM
My house is ALL electric. So it's not possible to have CO problems, right?
Posted by: Heather | December 30, 2010 1:26 PM
Unless you're doing some of the other things from the EPA "don't" list (like idling your car in the garage or using things with gas-powered engines indoors), I think you're right, Heather. At least, that's what my husband keeps assuring me every time there's a CO death and I say, "Are you SURE there are no sources of CO in our place?"
Anyone with expertise like to weigh in?
Posted by: Jamie Smith Hopkins | December 30, 2010 2:11 PM
I have mixed feelings about the requirement to install CO detectors in rental properties. As the EPA has listed on the website many of the CO detectors they tested either sounded at too low of a level or did not alarm at ALL dangerously high levels. The technology is not reliable.
Even if the detectors did work, concentrations of over 400PPM kill, but many detectors attempt to sound an alarm at 70PPM. Even if the alarm were reliable, what if a smoke detector functioned the same way? That may be great for a homeowner, but it's a liability for a landlord.
I installed my detectors at the beginning of the year(early, so I got to experience the Joy of CO detectors before heating season), and already had a couple of false alarms (supported by the tests done by the FD to responded to the calls). Nevertheless, the FD did extensive property damage to the building, and I ended up spending a lot of money as a result.
I suspect there will be more incidents of freaked out tenants as more of the alarms are installed around the city. While I can say "hey the tests say X, the EPA says Y" it's difficult to have to deal with a tenant who is understandably terrified when an alarm goes off in his/her apartment.
CO detectors are not as accurate as smoke detectors. The lawmakers should have taken into consideration the fact that some CO alarms can be triggered by dust, cooking, motion, perfume or simple malfunctioning of the sensors before enacting another requirement based on a few (sorry if that seems callous) unfortunate accidents.
I recommend that if you are a landlord affected by the law, you install the detectors within reach of the occupants. Because of the way the sensors work, plug-in detectors are also acceptable.
That can save a lot of trouble since you may have to replace the detector, as I did. I would NOT recommend the combo Smoke/CO detectors. The fire department told me to have those replaced. If the CO detector portion malfunctions, you want to make sure that you don't have to rush to get a new smoke detector as well.
It also makes sense to have your heating system checked by a professional each year and to notify tenants of the ways to prevent CO poisoning listed in Jamie's article.
Here's an interesting article regarding CO false alarms: http://www.longbeach.gov/commercial/conservation_safety/carbon_monoxide.asp#6
Posted by: JuanitaBeasley | December 30, 2010 3:10 PM