When it comes to your family’s safety at home, the silent and invisible threats are difficult to protect them from. Carbon monoxide is one of the deadliest threats because it is virtually undetectable and often times you don’t realize something is wrong until it’s too late.
It’s difficult not to be a little afraid of this invisible threat. It makes your heart beat a little faster when someone talks about this silent killer affecting your family, doesn’t it?
Instead of letting your heart race and panic set in, continue reading to learn how to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Know the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Since carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, it’s not something you can watch out for. What you can do, however, is be aware of the symptoms of poisoning so you can get out of your house before it’s too late.
Lesser carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Shortness of Breath
- Nausea
As carbon monoxide levels increase, symptoms worsen and include confusion, fainting, loss of coordination, vomiting, and eventually death.
Instead of waiting it out, leave the house and go see a doctor about your symptoms. Be sure that you evacuate the house completely, including pets, if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak in your home.
Keep in mind that heating systems, boilers, gas appliances, water heaters, and open fires are all possible sources of carbon monoxide.
Now that you’re aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, let’s take a look at the two main actions you can take to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Have Your Furnace Inspected and Maintained
One of the best things you can do to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to have your furnace system inspected and maintained regularly. At Irish Heat and Air, we have a 21-point inspection that keeps your system in great shape and detects any potential problem before it becomes deadly. We recommend you schedule seasonal maintenance for the best results.
Install the Nest Protect Smoke Plus Carbon Monoxide Detector
In addition to having your furnace maintained and inspected, you may want to go a step further and have a carbon monoxide detector installed. This is a great way to detect any trace of carbon monoxide before it makes your family sick or worse.
We love the Nest Protect Smoke Plus Carbon Monoxide Detector because it is easy to use and connects to your smartphone, so you always know what’s going on inside your home. As an added bonus, it’s also a smoke detector that alerts your family when there’s smoke or fire detected in your home.
There are additional actions you can take to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home such as always open the damper on a fireplace, only grill outside, and never operate a generator inside. Remember, warnings are warnings for a reason.
Now that you know more about carbon monoxide poisoning, we hope you feel equipped to protect your family from it. Do take the time to have a carbon monoxide detector installed sooner rather than later. If you haven’t already, be sure to call us to schedule seasonal inspection with our heating and cooling team and maintenance on your furnace.
