6 Signs of Potential Carbon Monoxide Problems and 6 Health Warnings

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It has no smell. The symptoms of carbon monoxide can easily be mistaken for the flu. Protect your family with carbon monoxide alarms within 10 feet of every sleeping area and know what to watch look out for. Here are 6 signs of a potential CO problem and 6 health warnings of CO poisoning.

6 Signs Of Potential CO Problems In Your Home:

1. Look For Soot. It can be a sign that fueled appliances or your fireplace are not venting properly. Look for streaks of soot around fuel-burning appliances and fallen soot in your chimney.
2. No Updraft In The Chimney. You need that updraft to carry the CO out of your house and to vent your fires.
3. Excess Moisture And Condensation Of Windows, Walls And Cold Surfaces. This can be a sign that your furnace isn’t venting outside so moisture is building.
4. Rusting On Flue Pipes Or Appliance Jacks. Again, a sign of poor venting.
5. Orange of Yellow Flames In Combustion Appliances. A flame this is burning properly is blue.
6. Damaged Or Discolored Bricks At The Top Of Chimney. This could be a sign of a chimney leak.

Venting to the outside keeps carbon monoxide from entering to your home. All of the above may be signs of venting problems or they could come from other causes. However, if you see them, it’s worth having a professional check them out to keep you and your family safe.

6 Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

1. You Feel Better When You Are Away From Home. You might think you’re coming down with the flu since you feel nauseous and fatigued or you’ve been having severe headaches. If these signs go away when you’re away from you home, it could be a sign that carbon monoxide in your home is making you ill.
2. Everyone Is Sick At The Same Time. Flu tends to pass from person to person in a sequence. If everyone gets ill at the same time, CO may be to blame.
3. The Person Who Is Home The Most Is Most Effected. Symptoms may progress to the confusion, irritability and impaired judgement and coordination. The person who is home the most would be exposed to the most CO so be aware.
4. Indoor Pets Appear Ill. Pets are also effected by carbon monoxide poisoning.
5. You Don’t Have All The Symptoms Of The Flu. The flu usually includes a fever, body aches and swollen lymph nodes as well as headaches, nausea and fatigue. Carbon monoxide does not cause these symptoms.
6. You Feel Worse Or Have More Symptoms When A Fuel-Burning Appliance Is Used. Carbon monoxide enters your home when the appliance is in use.

Start every winter season safely. Your fuel-burning heater should have a safety check performed by a licensed furnace company (HVAC company) before you start using it to stay warm. Be sure you have carbon monoxide alarms by bedrooms. Stay warm, cozy and safe.