Five Signs That Carbon Monoxide is Present in Your Home

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most harmful gases you might find in your home. And what is most terrifying about it is that it is entirely invisible, odourless, and flavourless. You won’t be able to feel it, smell it, or taste it, and that is why it is commonly referred to as the ‘silent killer.’ Carbon monoxide is created when fuels such as gas, wood, oil, or coal don’t get fully burned. Incomplete burning can occur in everyday appliances, such as gas stoves, boilers, heaters, or even chimneys with fireplaces. 

In enclosed or poorly aired environments, the gas gathers quickly and reaches toxic levels before you even know it’s there. Thousands of individuals worldwide get sick from carbon monoxide poisoning every year, and hundreds die every year as well. The best part is that most of these instances could be avoided. If you know what to look for, you can react quickly and save yourself and your loved ones from it. 

In this blog, we discuss five of the most prevalent signs of whether you might be harbouring carbon monoxide in your home, in terms that anyone can understand.

Members of the Household Are Becoming Ill for No Apparent Reason

One of the most typical and one of the earliest signs of exposure to carbon monoxide is that individuals in the home feel ill, particularly when spending many hours indoors. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms often mimic widespread illnesses such as flu or food poisoning, which renders them more difficult to recognize. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, pain in the chest, as well as confusion, are examples of symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

In many instances, more than one person in the household experiences these signs at once. The only difference between flu and exposure to carbon monoxide is that when individuals experience CO poisoning, individuals tend to feel fine once outside of the building and breathing outside air. If symptoms reappear upon re-entry into the building, it is an unmistakable sign that something is amiss in the air inside.

Even domesticated animals can look tired, weak, or restless, and they may become ill before humans do. If every person in the household is ill and there is no apparent medical reason, particularly in colder months when systems used to heat homes are turned on, examine carbon monoxide as a potential cause.

The Carbon Monoxide Alarm is Ringing

The most straightforward and effective method of detecting carbon monoxide in your home is by using a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sense levels of CO in the air and sound an alarm when it is no longer safe to be there. When an alarm goes off, it produces an extremely loud, constant beeping that you shouldn't ignore. Too often, however, individuals dismiss it as an untrue alert or that it just needs its battery replaced. But an installed and checked CO detector only triggers an alarm when there is cause to be concerned about it. 

The alarm is warning you that there is an unsafe level of carbon monoxide in the air. The appropriate action is to switch off any appliances that might be leaking CO, open every door and window to allow fresh air to flow in, get outside as quickly as possible, and dial emergency numbers or get in touch with an expert in gas safety. Never delay or think that something might be wrong with it. Alarms like these save lives, and you could be ignoring warning signs that it's about to kill you! If you don't have one, get one fitted to bedrooms, corridors, and close to any fuel-burning appliances in your home.

Issues with Heating Equipment and Gas Appliances

Another clear sign of carbon monoxide is when your fuel-burning appliances are not functioning as they normally do. Appliances like gas stoves, gas boilers, water heaters, and wood-burning stoves can all emit carbon monoxide if they are damaged, poorly installed, or not properly maintained. A few signs that these appliances may be emitting carbon monoxide include yellow or orange flames where there should be blue, black soot or discoloration of areas near the appliance, burning smells, and pilot lights that often blow out. You may also experience that your appliances are not working as well as before or are taking longer to do even basic functions. 

Such signs indicate that fuel is not burning properly, which is ideal for creating an environment where CO can be formed. Regular inspections of your appliances by a professional are necessary—at least once every year—to check for signs of damage or incomplete combustion. Using broken gas appliances in poorly ventilated rooms increases your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. If your equipment is showing any unusual behavior, do not turn a blind eye, and do not try to repair it yourself unless you know what you are doing.

Inadequate Ventilation or Obstructed Chimneys and Flues

One of the main causes of carbon monoxide accumulation in houses is poor ventilation. Appliances, when burning fuel, require an uninterrupted supply of oxygen in order to burn efficiently and emit nothing but waste gases and water vapor. If it is poorly ventilated, or chimneys, vents, or flues get blocked, then the carbon monoxide is trapped and starts accumulating in the air. In most instances, you may notice signs of poor ventilation like condensation on windows, stale air, or stuffy feeling in rooms when the heater comes on. 

On other occasions, you may notice smoke that remains in the room rather than rising up into the chimney, indicating that the exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide, are not being safely evacuated from inside the home. Dirty chimneys and blocked up flues result from dirt, bird's nests, leaves, or structural damage, which, if not cleared or inspected regularly, become an extreme safety risk. In order to avoid build-up of CO, always keep vents and airways open and unobstructed. 

Do not block air vents with pieces of furniture or close windows during winter. In homes that use fireplaces or wood stoves, regular chimney cleaning is crucial. A properly working, clean flue is one of the most effective safeguards against carbon monoxide.

Strange Behavior or Illness in Your Pet

Small pets such as cats or birds can serve as an early warning for carbon monoxide. Since they are smaller and more sensitive to changes in air quality, they might experience symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning before humans in exactly the same area where they were exposed. If your pet dog or cat is suddenly extremely tired, won't eat, vomit, or is having trouble breathing, these can be signs that the air contains CO. 

Other abnormal behaviors such as concealment, running back and forth, collapsing, or whining excessively should be taken as warning signs. If you notice your pet behaving abnormally and also experience headaches or dizziness, evacuate the area directly and receive medical attention for your pet as well as yourself. Birds, in extreme exposure, can even die suddenly with no other indication of disease.

Since your pet won't be able to speak or describe that it is not feeling well, you must look closely at it. If you find that there is more than one animal that's not well, and symptoms occur indoors but disappear when outside, the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning become extremely likely. Don't forget to include your pet in your emergency plan, and never wait to evacuate if you have any indication of a CO issue.

Conclusion

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is lethal, but that doesn't mean you are powerless against it. Knowing the five universal warning signs—inexplicable illness in individuals, sounding CO alarm, malfunctioning appliances, inadequate ventilation, and strange pet behavior—can assist you in being aware of the danger and taking action to prevent great damage. Awareness is as crucial as prevention. Ensure that your fuel-burning appliances are installed and inspected regularly by experts. 

Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home, particularly where you sleep or work for extended periods of time. Clean chimneys and vents, and never heat or cook outdoors indoors. In case of doubt, it is wise to evacuate the building and consult an expert. Carbon monoxide levels become life-threatening within a matter of mere minutes, yet, equipped with the correct information and safeguards, you can keep your loved ones and home safe from this silent killer. Precautions taken in time and awareness might turn out to be your most critical choice ever.