Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and How to Avoid It: Tips from Your HVAC Contractors in Colorado Springs

Since carbon monoxide (CO) gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless, we must all take precautions to protect ourselves, and the people we care about, from falling victim to poisoning. Our homes, where we spend much of our time, might have gas-powered appliances. Therefore, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning and know how to avoid it with the help of HVAC contractors in Colorado Springs.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Breathing in carbon monoxide gas is dangerous for anyone, but particularly for individuals who’ve been drinking alcohol or are sleeping. Although CO is known as a silent killer, there are ways to tell if you’ve inhaled the gas. Common signs of CO poisoning are flu-like, including weakness, trouble breathing, blurry vision or a dull headache. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, sick enough to vomit or even confused.

An unfortunate end result is loss of consciousness leading to brain damage or even death. If you or someone in your household are showing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, move outdoors for fresh air and get medical assistance as soon as possible.

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Even though you’ve done your research and know the importance of taking care around sources of carbon monoxide gas, it would behoove you to go the extra mile. One of your best lines of defense against a possible CO poisoning is to consult local HVAC contractors in Colorado Springs—the professionals can come to your home and perform a thorough top to bottom assessment. Here are some of the key steps that can be taken:

• Install carbon monoxide detectors: It is imperative that you place carbon monoxide detectors near appliances that run on natural gases, gasoline or propane. Like smoke alarms, each room in your home or business should have a CO detector on the ceiling or wall.
• Test devices and change batteries: Perform weekly tests and change the batteries in your CO detectors when necessary. A good way to remember this is to do it at the same time when you check your smoke detectors—test alarms weekly and replace batteries every six months during the twice-yearly time change.
• Inspect household appliances: All appliances that can release carbon monoxide—which results from the incomplete burning of some types of fuels—require annual inspections for gas leaks and damage to connectors. Water heaters, gas stoves, furnaces and power generators are some units that have the potential to produce CO.
• Properly ventilate rooms: Because small, tight spaces are most likely to see dangerous gas accumulation, make sure there’s proper ventilation at all times, even when you are not utilizing a space. This includes opening up the garage door when warming up a car or when using fuel-burning engines that produce combustion fumes. Also remember to maintain air vents for good circulation in your home, and to crack windows and doors when cooking on gas stoves or using any gas-powered appliances.

Protection from dangerous carbon monoxide gas can seem simple with CO alarms, but you must remain vigilant with symptoms and stay up to date on replacing batteries and performing weekly tests. For proper carbon monoxide device installation and maintenance by qualified HVAC contractors in Colorado Springs, give the team at BullsEye Plumbing Heating & Air a call today.