Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that prevents our bodies from effectively using oxygen. It is extremely toxic and can cause serious illness or death when at high levels. The only way to detect the gas is through a carbon monoxide detector. This is something all families should be concerned about in regard to indoor air quality.
How Is Carbon Monoxide Introduced Into a Home?
Your home’s indoor air quality can be affected by CO through multiple sources, including your:
- Gas-fueled heating system
- Wood fireplace or stove
- Gas stove or water heater
Signs That Carbon Monoxide May Be in Your Home
CO gas affects individuals differently according to their age, overall health, level of exposure, and duration of exposures. Younger children, elderly adults, individuals with heart disease or respiratory problems, and even your pets are most at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. At low and moderate levels, you or members of your family may experience fatigue, reduced cognitive function, blurry vision, and chest pain. However, at higher concentrations, which can be fatal, individuals may experience:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Impaired coordination
- Flu-like symptoms
Preventing CO’s Impact on Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality
Everyone should have a home CO detector that triggers an alarm if dangerous levels arise. However, the trick is not to have CO gas reach a dangerous level to begin with. Preventive maintenance of your home’s heating system is one of the best ways to ensure that your furnace is not releasing CO into your home. This yearly service inspects your furnace and looks for issues that could lead to increased CO levels, such as leaks, cracked or rusted burners, and improper ventilation. Our technician will also test for the presence of CO in the air.
Serving the SW Florida Area Since 1983
Gulf Shore Cooling, LLC in Fort Myers provides professional heating and cooling services to all of southwest Florida. We offer an annual energy savings agreement that helps ensure that your HVAC system is efficient and clean. This involves indoor air quality maintenance throughout your home. Our highly-skilled, NATE-certified technicians excel at tuning up, repairing, and installing all types of heating, cooling, and indoor air quality equipment. We are a Lennox Premier Dealer, Rheem Pro Partner, and Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer. Contact Gulf Shore Cooling, LLC to set up a time for us to do carbon monoxide testing on your home.
