If you’re like many other Los Angelenos, chances are that that in addition to sheltering your car, your garage also houses your gas dryer or furnace. Unfortunately for homeowners who have attached garages, these carbon monoxide-producing appliances can put your household in danger. Here’s how you can keep your family safe from the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.Why is my home in danger?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is poisonous to humans and can result in illness or death. Any fuel-burning appliance is capable of producing CO when it is not well-ventilated. This is because the gas is produced when the combustion process cannot be completed due to a lack of oxygen. Because many homeowners leave their garage doors closed, this can pose a threat when the garage is attached to the home. If your dryer is running in a closed garage or if you are “warming up” your car, there is a chance that the deadly gas could seep into your home through cracks in the wall or around your doorway. And due to the fact that the symptoms of carbon monoxide are similar to the flu (headache, nausea, fatigue), you may not notice until it’s too late.
How can I prevent carbon monoxide from entering my home?
For safety, follow these tips:
- Never run your car or your gas dryer in a closed garage.
- Seal any air leaks around the doorway leading to your home to prevent the gas from entering.
- Schedule annual preventive maintenance to ensure that your furnace does not have leaks that could contribute to CO emissions.
- Install a CO detector certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) on each level of your home so that it can easily be heard by all in the event of an emergency. It’s smart to choose a device that will monitor the levels of CO in your home at any given time so that you are aware of any problems before they become serious and can take action.
For more advice on preventing CO poisoning, contact us at Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating. We’ve been serving LA residents since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Carbon Monoxide and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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