Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a odorless and colorless gas, so its not always easy to detect. It can be produced by burning any fuel without proper combustion. Few incidents are caused by faulty appliances. In fact, most CO fatalities are related to automobiles and fires.

Aside from physical symptoms, there are also signs to look for in your home:

Physical Symptoms:
Headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, watery eyes, disorientation, and convulsions. Because these seem like flu symptoms, they can easily be overlooked.

Environmental Signs:
Backdraft from a fireplace, furnace, or water heater.
Yellow flame on natural gas appliance that is creating soot.
High humidity/condensation on cold surfaces.
Soot from a fireplace or heating system
A lingering pungent smell.

Trouble Can Start When
1. Appliances are not properly installed, maintained, and used.

2. A chimney is plugged with debris such as squirrel or bird nests.

3. Vent pipes are rusted--causing spaces, gaps, or leaks.

4. Vehicles, lawn mowers, or grills are operated in a closed structure.

5. Wood-burning fireplace, using too much oxygen, causes a backdraft from other appliance flues.

6. The furnace air intake is blocked. Furnace room doors should be louvered.

7. A gas range is used for space heating.

Placing a CO Detector:
1. At least one detector should be located near the primary bedroom so alarm would wake you if you were sleeping.

2. If bedrooms are in more than one area or if multiple furnaces are used, place additional detectors near those areas.

3. Place detectors at least 5 feet from any bathroom. Excessive humidity and aerosols can cause false alarms in some detectors.

4. Keep away from open windows/doors--they can affect a detector's reliability.

If the CO Alarm Sounds

1. DO NOT PANIC.
--Check to see if anyone is experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning.
--Leave the premises if anyone needs immediate medical attention and call 911.
Then call your gas utility/other qualified contractor to have appliances checked.

2. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY
--Open doors and windows to ventilate the building.
--Turn thermostat down to lowest position.
--Turn off all unvented appliances (range, auxiliary heaters).
--Check flues for obstructions.
--Check for soot around base of water heater and furnace.
--Check for a vehicle operating in the garage.

3.CHECK THE SURROUNDINGS:
--Is the detector properly placed away from kitchens, bathrooms, furnace areas?
--Are there heavy smokers in the house?
--Were cleaning agents or aerosols used recently near the detector?
--Is the weather humid or wet? Is a dense fog making it more difficult to for the home to vent low levels of CO?

4. Keep away from open windows/doors--they can affect a detector's reliability.

If your alarm sounds and you are unable to determine the problem, have your appliances and equipment inspected by your gas utility, fuel supply company, or heating contractor. There is a fee for this service. Explain that your detector is sounding and describe any symptoms or conditions that exist.

False Alarms:
Unnecessary calls for false alarms can cost dollars as well as lives. A call to the fire department can cost the community as much as $600. If it turns out to be a false alarm, it could waste precious time to respond to a real emergency.