Carbon monoxide (CO) is the colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is produced anytime a fossil fuel like wood, charcoal, or propane is burned. Since most homes rely on these types of fuels, it’s certainly possible that you and your family could be exposed to carbon monoxide. If exposed to a large amount of CO, a full-grown human can be killed in as little as five minutes. That’s a sad fact. A sadder fact, though, is that carbon monoxide can easily be detected and exposure can be easily prevented.
One of the most effective solutions to avoid carbon monoxide exposure is to ensure that fuel-burning appliances have proper ventilation. Additionally, you can ensure that there are functioning CO detectors on every level of your home, especially within close proximity to heating appliances. If you have them installed, be sure to test and replace them as needed. Also, it’s good to be sure that your smoke detectors include CO detecting functions.
