Carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people every year in the United States. Tragically, some of these fatalities occur right here in the Detroit-Metro area of southeastern Michigan. Since most carbon monoxide poisonings take place in the fall and winter months as people turn their furnaces back on, it is important to inspect your heating systems to ensure they are working properly so that carbon monoxide will not seep into your home.
Here are some things that you should inspect and can readily see in your home or apartment. It is important for you to perform this inspection now before the ground is covered with leaves and snow which will make several of these tasks more difficult.
Things to look for when inspecting your home include:
- No upward draft in the chimney or appliance vents
- Excessive condensation on walls and windows, except in bathrooms
- Excessive soot and debris on fuel-burning appliances
- Rust and corrosion on flue pipes
- Yellowish orange flames on the burners of gas appliances (flames should be blue)
- Smoky odors
- Excessive soot buildup in fireplaces
- Bricks at the top of the chimney that are discolored or damaged
- Water leakage at the base of flue pipe or chimney vent
Physical symptoms of being exposed to carbon monoxide include:
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain and tightness
- Physical collapse and unconsciousness
If you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide:
- Immediately turn off all appliances.
- Open all windows and doors.
- Vacate your house or apartment immediately.
- Call 911 and seek help from qualified medical professionals.
- Contact a professional HVAC representative to conduct an inspection as soon as possible.
If you are concerned that there is a carbon monoxide problem in your home, contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling immediately before a problem becomes an emergency. We have been providing 24-hour service, 365 days a year, to residents in Troy, Grosse Point, Dearborn and southeastern Michigan since 1945, and we know how to keep your family safe.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.
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