ATTENTION CONSUMERS:
CARBON MONOXIDE ALERT!
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Carbon Monoxide(CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that bonds to the hemoglobin in your bloodstream, displacing the oxygen in your cells and finally causing death!
CO is caused by incomplete combustion fuels. The most common sources of CO emissions are appliances around your home such as:
 Gas Furnaces or Boilers
Oil Furnaces or Boilers
Water Heaters
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Cracked heat exchangers, blocked flue pipes, and leaking or restricted chimneys can cause dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide gas in the home.
We suggest having your Heating system inspected annually for added life of the equipment, efficiency, and for SAFETY.
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The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission
CPSC Warns That The Deadly Threat Of Carbon Monoxide Can Be Stopped By A Yearly Professional Inspection
September 20, 1996
Release # 96-189
Washington, D.C. -- Having your home inspected each year at
the beginning of the heating season can help avoid deadly
carbon monoxide gas from leaking into your home, according
to Chairman Ann Brown of the Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
"CO poisoning from the use of fuel burning appliances kills
at least 200 people each year and sends more than 5,000 to
hospital emergency rooms for treatment," Brown said.
"Consumers can avoid this tragedy by having their
fuel-burning appliances inspected by a qualified
technician each year, and by purchasing and installing CO
detectors that meet the requirements of the Oct. 1, 1995
Underwriters Laboratories standards."
CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any
fuel. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to
the flu, and include dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea
and irregular breathing. High level exposure to CO can
cause death.
"Modern heating equipment is sophisticated and requires
special training and tools for proper maintenance," Brown
said. "CPSC recommends that consumers should not service
their own appliances, but instead have a qualified
professional perform an inspection."
A yearly inspection of your home by a professional should
include a careful look at the following sources of carbon
monoxide:
- Furnaces, hot water heaters and stoves. If they burn
natural gas, heating oil, wood or other kinds of fuel, these
appliances are potential sources of CO.
- Chimneys, flues and vents. Have flues and chimneys
inspected before each heating season for leakage and for
blockage by creosote or debris. Creosote buildup or
leakage could cause black stains on the outside of the
chimney or flue. These stains can mean that pollutants are
leaking into the house. Have all vents to furnaces, water
heaters or boilers checked to make sure they are not loose
or disconnected.
- High Temperature Plastic Venting (HTPV) pipes. CPSC
has received reports that high temperature plastic venting
(HTPV) pipes -- which are used in mid-efficiency appliances
-- may separate or crack. This could allow CO from the
furnace to enter a home. The CPSC is currently
investigating this problem. Homeowners with a gas-fired
mid-efficiency furnace or boiler installed between 1987 and
1993 should have them inspected for cracking or separating.
- Improper ventilation. Make sure that your appliances
have adequate ventilation. A supply of fresh air is
important to help carry pollutants up the chimney, stovepipe
or flue, and is necessary for the complete combustion of any
fuel.
Finally, consumers should be aware that charcoal grills can
also be a potential source of CO. Never use charcoal grills
in enclosed spaces such as a home, garage, vehicle or tent,
and never bring grills with live coals indoors after use.
Never use charcoal grills as an indoor heat source.
"Carbon monoxide is a deadly threat, but it can be avoided
by having a yearly professional inspection of your home fuel
burning appliances and by installing a CO detector that
meets the most recent UL standards," Brown said.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects
the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death
from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's
jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a
product-related injury and for information on CPSC's
fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800)
638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To
order a press release through fax-on-demand, call
(301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and
enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this
release and recall information at CPSC's web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov or via Internet gopher services at
cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to
info@cpsc.gov.
Provided as a Hannabery HVAC Safety Tip
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