Cold Weather Brings the Quiet Killer: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A Real Threat to You and Your Family!

It's much easier to protect yourself from dangers you can sense. You can smell the smoke from a fire, see a venomous snake or hear a train whistle at a railroad crossing. But, every year, when people heat their homes during the winter months, the cold weather brings The Quiet Killer. This murderer can't be seen, felt, heard, smelled or tasted. It's a silent, but deadly visitor than can reside in your home without you knowing it. Until tragedy strikes, that is.

It's name is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is produced by many types of home heating systems including natural gas, fuel oil, propane, wood, coal and kerosene. In fact, most anytime a material is burned, the fire produces carbon monoxide. Heating systems are vented. This prevents the carbon monoxide from entering your home. But if the vent wasn't installed properly, it becomes clogged, or your furnace or other heating source isn't operating properly, this Quiet Killer can leak into your home.

Carbon monoxide is also a result of back-drafting. Back-drafting happens when there's not enough air inside a fireplace or a heating system. Instead of the carbon monoxide and other toxic gasses leaving your home through a chimney or venting system, the back-draft can pull these pollutants back into the indoor air.

To make sure your fireplace or heater isn't back-drafting, perform this test: after you've lit the heating source, wait a few minutes then place your hand near the vent or chimney. If the vent or chimney feels cold, allow the fire to burn down, turn off the heater and call a licensed professional.

The best way to prevent odorless, colorless carbon monoxide from entering your home is to have your heating system inspected by a licensed professional. You should schedule an inspection every year before you begin to use your woodstove or furnace. The professional should also inspect your chimney to make sure it's not blocked by a build-up of creosote, bird nests, et cetera. He should also look for damage and make sure it's working properly.