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Carbon Monoxide You can’t smell it. You can’t taste it. You can’t see it. But you can do something about it.
Should you worry about carbon monoxide?
Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from natural gas appliances
is statistically rare. However, it is essential to perform regular
maintenance on your home gas appliances to ensure your safety–including
having your gas furnace checked at least once a year by a licensed
heating contractor or SDG&E.
What causes carbon monoxide (co)?
CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is formed when natural gas, propane, wood or other fuels don’t burn completely. In the case of your home gas appliances, carbon monoxide can be created by improper installation, poor maintenance, or other appliance misuse or failure.
Effects of co poisoning
Carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the blood and can quietly poison you and your family. The early stages of carbon monoxide poisoning can produce flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and mental confusion. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to death by asphyxiation.
Signs that may indicate the presence of co
- A yellow, large and unsteady burner flame (with the exception of decorative gas log appliances).
- An unusual pungent odor when the appliance is operating.
What to do if you suspect co is present in your home
- Immediately turn off and stop using the suspected appliance.
- Seek medical attention if anyone in the home experiences possible
carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.
- Contact a licensed heating or plumbing contractor immediately
or SDG&E at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343) to have the appliance inspected.
- Don’t use the suspected appliance until it has been inspected,
serviced and determined to be safe by a licensed heating or plumbing
contractor or SDG&E.
Preventing co exposure
To help ensure safe and efficient operation, a licensed
heating or plumbing contractor or SDG&E should check your gas
appliances every year. Failure to perform annual maintenance on
your gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon monoxide.
- Have your gas appliances such as the furnace and water heater
checked at least once a year by a licensed heating or plumbing
contractor or SDG&E.
- Periodically check your gas appliances to see that they’re
in good working order.
- You can do this by making sure pilot lights and burner flames
are a clear blue, although small flecks of orange are normal.
However, a pilot light with a soft yellow burner flame can be
a potential sign of carbon monoxide.
- You also should check for significant build up of soot in the
appliance, another sign of incomplete combustion. If your heater
has a yellow pilot light flame and/or significant build up of
soot in an appliance, shut off the appliance and call a licensed
heating, plumbing or other qualified contractor, or SDG&E
at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).
Furnace safety
A clean and well-maintained furnace is a safe furnace that can save you money on your monthly gas bill. Here are some recommended tips to help ensure the safe and efficient operation of your natural gas furnace:
- Have your gas furnace checked at least once a year by a licensed
heating contractor or SDG&E.
- Many gas furnaces utilize air from the room to operate. Lint and dust carried by the air, or items stored in or around the furnace can obstruct airflow. In order to operate safely and efficiently, your gas furnace must be kept free of dust and lint build-up or other obstructions stored near the furnace such as newspapers or cleaning equipment.
- Most forced-air furnaces have a filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout the home. Check the filter monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use; clean or replace if necessary.
- When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the front panel/door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly. Never operate the furnace without the front panel/door properly in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Most newer forced-air furnaces have a safety switch that prevents furnace operation when the filter compartment door/panel is not in place. Some older forced-air furnaces do not have a safety switch and can be operated with the filter compartment door/panel off or not properly in place.
- These older furnaces, when installed in a closet and operated
with the panel/door not in place, will circulate carbon monoxide
throughout the house.
- Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame is yellow,
large and unsteady, the furnace needs to be inspected immediately
by a licensed heating or plumbing contractor or SDG&E and
the condition corrected to ensure safety.
Gas logs – just for looks
Gas log flames are designed to be more natural looking so they are more yellow than the flames in your appliances. A soft, yellow flame from a gas log could mean your gas logs are producing CO, especially if there is soot. But as long as your chimney is clean and drafting properly, and the chimney damper is completely open, the CO should be drawn up the chimney, and out of your home. Therefore, it’s very important to always keep your chimney damper open when you are using a gas log and make sure your chimney is drafting properly.
Of course, an open damper also will draw heat out of your home. So use your gas heater to warm your home and your gas logs to set a mood. And always keep the damper fully open when the fireplace is in use with wood or gas logs.
Other sources of co
Using other fuel-burning equipment or vehicles can create CO exposure. This potentially deadly condition could occur by:
- Running an automobile in a closed garage attached to the home
- Using a charcoal barbecue for cooking or heating inside
- Heating your home with an unvented kerosene heater
Appliance safety tips
- Have all gas appliances and venting repairs done by a qualified and licensed heating or plumbing contractor.
- When using your gas fireplace, make sure the damper is open.
- Never use your gas oven, range or outdoor barbecue to heat your home because they are not designed for that purpose.
Appliance maintenance is always the homeowner’s responsibility. However, SDG&E will perform appliance safety checks on request.
Please Note: SDG&E accepts no responsibility for any changes in condition and/or performance of the appliance(s) after our inspection. Our inspection does not guarantee the continued safe operation of the appliance(s) and SDGE is not responsible for maintenance, cleaning or repairs of customer-owned equipment. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to regularly inspect, clean and affect any necessary repairs on their appliance(s) in order to ensure optimum safety and performance. SDG&E also accepts no responsibility for unforseen failures and negligent customer maintenance, including but not limited to alterations, modifications, improvised repairs and/or incorrectly fitted filters or other components.
Carbon monoxide home alarms
The decision on whether or not to purchase and install a carbon monoxide alarm is one of personal choice. Alarms may provide an extra level of safety, but they also require routine maintenance and replacement at least every three to five years to perform properly. Even with alarms in place, regular gas appliance maintenance is still required. Inspection and routine maintenance are still the best defense against accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from natural gas appliances.
Purchasing a co alarm
Make sure the device you select has an audible alarm. Alarms that only change color or provide digital displays when CO is present are of limited use, because you have to be looking at them frequently to know of the potential danger. Since victims of CO poisoning are often overcome as they sleep, the best device is purchase an alarm that will wake you up in case of potential danger.
Use your CO alarm as an extra safety measure, but not as a substitute for well-maintained gas appliances and common sense. No equipment is foolproof. Trust your body’s own warning signs. If you notice the symptoms of CO poisoning, take steps immediately even if the alarm hasn’t signaled that CO is present.
Please remember: carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless but you can take steps to avoid problems.
For more information
For more safety information or information on energy efficient products and services contact us at 1-800-611-SDGE (7343) or by e-mail at infor@sdge.com. SDG&E is committed to providing you with safe, reliable energy and exceptional customer service.
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