A Carbon Monoxide Q&A For Your Family

If you have a fuel-burning furnace, boiler, water heater, cooking range, or any other device in your Massachusetts home, it emits at least some carbon monoxide as it runs.

With properly functioning equipment in a sufficiently vented space, these emissions harmlessly escape your home via the flue – but if that carbon monoxide builds inside your home, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning – a dangerous and possibly deadly threat to your family.

Here’s what you need to know about carbon monoxide, including its dangers and how to prevent them.

What is carbon monoxide (CO)?

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel, including heating oil, gasoline, coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane, or natural gas.

What causes CO to accumulate?

A buildup of CO typically occurs due to poor ventilation or broken equipment. Some causes of CO buildup include overuse of unvented appliances, a broken or improperly maintained heating system, using outdoor appliances within or just outside the home, a backdraft near the heating appliance, or a blocked flue or vent.

What are the signs that you have a CO problem?

Although both oil and gas combustion produce carbon monoxide as exhaust, they differ in how they display when a build-up has begun: in a gas system, there is little visible display if too much carbon monoxide has accumulated, which is why it is critical to install CO detectors at every level of your home (see below). If oil-burning equipment is not functioning properly, it will produce smoke and soot – a natural CO warning to people in your home. If you see soot on your oil-burning equipment, contact us immediately for service.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Symptoms of CO poisoning become more severe as exposure to the gas increases. Mild symptoms include flu-like headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness; moderate symptoms include severe headaches, drowsiness, confusion, and disorientation; extreme case symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions, heart failure, and in rare cases death.

What should I do if someone exhibits CO poisoning symptoms?

If you or someone in your home is experiencing CO poisoning symptoms,

• Get fresh air immediately. Open windows and doors, turn off fuel-burning appliances, and leave the house.
• Call your fire department or 911 and report your symptoms to your doctor.
• Inspect all your fuel-burning appliances before turning them back on.

What should I do if my CO alarm sounds?

Always assume your CO alarm is operating correctly! If it sounds,

• Leave your home immediately
• Call your fire department or 911
• DO NOT reenter the premises until responders have given you permission
• If the source of the CO is determined to be a malfunctioning appliance, DO NOT use that appliance until a professional services the equipment

How do I avoid CO problems?

• Maintain fuel-burning appliances ­every year
• Repair or replace poorly functioning appliances immediately
• Install CO detectors throughout your home, following the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, testing, and maintenance. If you have propane-fired equipment, install propane detectors, too.
• Study the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning, and teach your family what to do if they experience them.

At Pioneer Oil and Propane, your safety is always our priority! If you have any questions about carbon monoxide safety, or believe that any of your appliances require expert heating equipment repair in Worcester County, ME, contact us today.