Carbon monoxide kills over 400 people every year. It is a real danger in the winter when there isn’t much ventilation in your home. What makes this gas so dangerous, is its lack of warning signs. It doesn’t have any color or odor, so if you don’t know how to look for it, you could fall victim to its poisoning. This is why it is so important to safeguard your family and be prepared. Jacob's Ladder Heating & Cooling is here to share some tips that will help protect your family from carbon monoxide.

Know the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

You need to be educated on the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, so that in any case, you will be able to catch it quick and get out of your home as soon as possible. Here is a list of signs that you should be watching for.

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Rapid Heart Rate & Chest Pain
• Vision Problems
• Seizures

It Matters Where Carbon Monoxide Detectors are Placed

You shouldn’t even consider not having a CO monitor in your home. In fact, you should have one located on every floor of your home so that no matter where you are, you can hear it with ease. You should have these detectors placed near sleeping quarters so that you won’t run the risk of sleeping through the alarm during the night. Another consideration to be made when placing the alarms are any appliances that use gas. They should be placed 15 feet away from these appliances or you will be getting false alarms constantly. Don’t place them near a drafty window or a bathroom area with high humidity either. The importance of CO monitors is real; don’t skip this essential step.

Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors & Alarms Regularly

If it’s been a while since the last time you checked to make sure your monitors are still working, you better start testing them. If during the testing process, you aren’t getting any response from your alarm, check the batteries to make sure they are still good.

Fix Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Furnace with Proper Heating Maintenance

If you have any heating systems that use natural gas, propane, wood, oil, coal or charcoal, these systems need to have regular maintenance to check for any possible leaks. Other areas that should be closely monitored are any appliances that could be damaged or outdated. Here is a list of possible systems and appliances that need inspection:

• Furnace
• Fireplace
• Water Heaters
• Boiler
• Wood Burning Stoves
• Charcoal & Propane Grills
• Ovens & Ranges
• Automobiles
• Generators

Furnace Inspections, Maintenance Tune Ups, Installations, Replacements, Emergency Heating Repairs & More in Oak Park, West Bloomfield, Huntington Woods, Southfield & Greater Detroit, Michigan

During the cold weather, it is absolutely necessary that proper maintenance be performed on your heating system. Choosing a trustworthy HVAC company like Jacob's Ladder Heating & Cooling to handle maintenance on your heating system will help safeguard your family from the danger of CO poisoning. We have the resources and experience to keep your heating system running efficiently and get rid of any chance that a leak could cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home. The experts at Jacob’s Ladder Heating & Cooling also have the training and equipment needed to perform a complete CO inspection and testing to put your mind at ease. Call us today for all your HVAC related needs!