Safety inspectors say all it takes is a small leak before carbon monoxide can creep into your home, but they say it serves as a reminder for homeowners to play it safe when it comes to home heating.
Safety inspectors say all it takes is a small leak before carbon monoxide can creep into your home, but they say it serves as a reminder for homeowners to play it safe when it comes to home heating.
There's no doubt carbon monoxide can be dangerous, but fire officials say this time of year more of the potentially fatal fumes can leak into homes in high amounts.
"You can't smell it taste it, see it, you can only see the effects and you have to be alert," said Traverse City Fire Chief Jim Tuller.
Tuller says many residents don't even know they're being poisoned until it's too late. That's why he's reminding residents of the possible health hazard. "Signs and symptoms are headache, not a normal headache but all the time everyday, feeling queasy dizzy, confused," said Tuller.
He says if you think you're being poisoned get outside for fresh air and call 911. But before you end up in an emergency he says you can reduce you're risk of poisoning with a carbon monoxide detector. "There's no law or rule that says you have to have one but it's a very good idea very cheap insurance," said Tuller.
He says look for the "UL" label on the back it means the detector was tested and certified to warn you before you get sick. But you have to make sure it's in the right spot when you bring it home.
Fire officials say you should install a detector near areas where you have the most flammable appliances running like a utility closet where the furnace and water heater are.
And Tuller suggests a regular check of those heating utilities where the carbon is coming from could also stop dangerous levels from getting in.
"You can prevent it by having you're furnace checked in the fall before it's used, have you're chimney checked have you're wood burning stove cleaned on a regular basis," said Tuller. Simple tips he says that could end up being a lifesaving effort.
For more tips on how to prevent poisoning go to http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/CO_DETECTOR_IN_YOUR_HOME_206602_7.pdf
