In the winter season, we all tend to close our doors and windows, so that we can feel cozy and comfortable. Winter is also the ideal season to light up the fireplace (in case you have one) while sipping a cup of coffee or tea.
While all of the above-mentioned actions might look normal at first glance, you must remember that due to the closing up of all doors & windows, the overall build-up of carbon-monoxide will be very high. Newer homes will have smoke detectors that can detect the increase in the saturation of carbon monoxide, but if any home doesn’t have smoke detectors, then an increase in carbon-monoxide levels will go undetected.
It’s Much More Dangerous Than You Think It Is
A popular home inspector in Cambridge states that carbon-monoxide or CO can easily poison human beings if exposed to a certain amount over time. The gas is said to be odorless, colorless and tasteless, which means – without you even knowing, the gas could be around you all the time.
In case you feel tired or nauseated along with a headache, then most probably you’ve been a victim of CO poisoning. Moments like these are when you need to rush to the outside or open doors & windows, to get more fresh air.
Knowing The Sources Of CO
Carbon-monoxide is generally created due to the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. CO is produced when you burn items such as wood, kerosene, propane, natural gas, charcoal grills, and so on. Without proper ventilation inside your home, the gas tends to build up and thereby affect the human body.
However, if you have proper ventilation inside your home, there’s nothing to worry much about. But, since during the winter season, ventilation inside homes becomes a tough situation, which is why you need to be alert especially when burning these kinds of items.
In the summertime, you’ll not face such issues with CO build-up inside your home because most of your windows & doors will be kept open, thereby generating a massive amount of air ventilation.
Preventive Measures To Consider
The best way you can prevent the build-up of CO in your house is by directly avoiding it. You can always hire a professional home inspector for inspection – who will help you provide peace of mind while also keeping you alerted in case of any significant problems.
Some prevention tips include:
- Service your HVAC systems at least once per year.
- If you don’t have smoke detectors, then it’s better to install some of them. Install those models that have CO detection capability.
- Change batteries inside the smoke detectors at least once per year.
- Never leave any vehicle running inside your garage without keeping the garage door open.
