A colorless and odorless gas, carbon monoxide is a serious health threat that results in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in the U.S. each year. To protect your family, be sure to change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector every six months. You should also familiarize yourself with the following ways in which CO exposure can occur in the home.
Poorly Maintained Appliances
You probably know that your gas line can leak carbon monoxide into the home. However, you may not realize that other appliances pose a serious threat as well. To keep your home and family protected, arrange to have appliances like stoves, water heaters and dryers inspected regularly. If any of your appliances are damaged, don’t hesitate to replace them with newer models.
Unclean Chimney
When was the last time you looked inside your chimney? When not cleaned properly, your chimney and fireplace can become clogged with debris, causing a CO gas buildup in the home. Before using your fireplace at the start of the winter season, be sure to have the flue professionally cleaned and inspected. Additionally, you should make sure the damper is open and free of dust and dirt.
Indoor Generators
Portable generators can seriously increase your risk of carbon-monoxide exposure in the home. To protect their families, homeowners should ensure generators are installed correctly and inspected on a regular basis. Additionally, you should refrain from using a generator inside the home and make sure your CO detector is always in good, working order.
Gas-Powered Yard Equipment
Finally, the vehicles and lawn equipment in your garage are major sources of CO. To protect yourself and your loved ones, remember to leave garage doors open while utilizing gas-powered equipment. You should also avoid running cars, generators or lawn equipment within close proximity of an open window.
Let Del-Air Help Protect Your Family
Tampa AC repair experts at Del-Air take pride in providing a higher quality of service. From handling preventative maintenance to servicing all your emergency HVAC needs, we strive to improve performance while lowering energy bills. Keep your family safe and comfortable with more HVAC tips from Del-Air, and by calling 888-831-2665 to schedule an appointment with our experts.
