Carbon Monoxide at Home: What EPA Says and What to Do

You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, which is why symptoms are often the first sign.

EPA says carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal are burned. Appliances that are maintained and used properly usually produce non-hazardous amounts; dangerous levels result when appliances malfunction or are used incorrectly. EPA adds that idling cars also produce it, and that more people die from that than from malfunctioning appliances (EPA).

• Moderate levels. EPA lists severe headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, nausea or fainting (EPA).
• Lower levels. EPA lists shortness of breath, mild nausea and mild headaches (EPA).
• Easy to miss. EPA says the symptoms resemble flu or food poisoning, so carbon monoxide may not be suspected. Symptoms that appear only at home and ease when you leave are a warning sign (EPA).

EPA names fetuses, infants, older adults, and people with anemia or a history of heart or respiratory disease as higher-risk groups (EPA). Only a doctor can say whether symptoms are caused by carbon monoxide.

1. 1Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house.
2. 2Go to an emergency room and say you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. EPA says a blood test soon after exposure can often confirm it.
3. 3Be ready to tell the doctor whether symptoms occur only at home, whether others have similar symptoms, which fuel-burning appliances you use, and when anyone last inspected them.

These are EPA’s steps (EPA).

EPA says to have fuel-burning appliances inspected by a trained professional at the start of each heating season: oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. It also says to confirm that flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition and unblocked (EPA).

EPA’s list of things not to do includes idling a car in a garage even with the outside door open, heating the home with a gas oven, using a charcoal grill indoors, sleeping in a room with an unvented gas or kerosene heater, and running gasoline-powered engines, including generators, in enclosed spaces (EPA).

After a storm, EPA says to keep a generator outside and at least 20 feet from buildings (EPA). See storm and flood damage.

EPA calls detectors a backup, not a replacement for proper use and maintenance of appliances. It says detector technology is still developing and detectors are not generally considered as reliable as smoke detectors, recommends looking for UL certification, and advises following the manufacturer’s instructions (EPA).

If an alarm sounds, EPA says to confirm it is the carbon monoxide alarm and not a smoke alarm, and to check everyone for symptoms. If anyone has symptoms, get them outside and seek medical care. If no one does, ventilate the home, turn off potential sources and have a qualified technician inspect appliances and chimneys (EPA).

A suspected poisoning is a medical and safety emergency first. H&H Environmental has operated since 2005 and provides indoor air quality services: testing, sampling, inspection, laboratory analysis, consultation, and air-purification-related services. This guide does not say that those services include carbon monoxide, so call and ask about your concern. For fire and smoke damage, see fire and smoke services.

On a New York mold project, H&H performs either the mold assessment or the mold remediation — never both on the same project. See mold services.

H&H is based in Saugerties, in Ulster County, and focuses on eight New York counties. Call and tell us where the property is, and we will confirm availability.