What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas molecule made up of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas that is harmful to humans in high concentrations. It is generally produced through the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials.

We encounter small amounts of carbon monoxide daily, which are typically harmless. However, if you breathe enough carbon monoxide, you can get something called carbon monoxide poisoning.

How Is Carbon Monoxide Produced?

Anything where carbon burns but does not completely oxidize into carbon dioxide can create carbon monoxide. Here are some examples of common household products that can create carbon monoxide:

• Natural gas furnaces and water heaters
• Gas stoves
• Space heaters
• Camping stoves
• Car exhaust
• Fireplaces
• Charcoal grills
• RV generators

The risk of these products producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide increases if they are not installed properly or not used for their intended purpose.

How Dangerous Is Carbon Monoxide?

Over 100,000 people seek emergency treatment each year for carbon monoxide poisoning, with 14,000 requiring hospitalization. Over 600 people died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in 2022.

Accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning have been on the rise since 2012. This sounds scary, but if you take the right precautions and recognize the symptoms, you can significantly reduce your risk.

Statistics provided by USAFacts.org.

What are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms often mimic common illnesses like the flu. If you suspect that you or a family member has carbon monoxide poisoning, consider whether you were near carbon monoxide sources such as a malfunctioning furnace or a running car in an enclosed space.

Young children and the elderly are at a higher risk than a healthy adult.

Early Symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Flushing of the face and neck
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Muscle pain

Severe Symptoms:

• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Movement problems
• Breathing problems
• Death

If you suspect that you or a family member has carbon monoxide poisoning, exercise caution and seek emergency medical attention immediately. The process of diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning is done through a blood test. A common treatment is breathing pure oxygen.

How Can I Protect My Family from Carbon Monoxide?

1. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The best thing you can do is have a working and tested carbon monoxide detector. While carbon monoxide is undetectable by human senses, detectors can identify it, and an alarm will go off if it reaches unsafe levels.

If the alarm goes off, immediately evacuate yourself, your family, and any pets. Then call the fire department and they will test the levels of carbon monoxide and let you know when it is safe to return.

2. Ensure Proper Ventilation

Make sure that areas around products that can produce carbon monoxide are well ventilated, especially gas stoves and similar items where the flame is visible. Carbon monoxide becomes dangerous at high concentrations. Proper ventilation dilutes the gas, preventing it from reaching harmful levels.

3. Schedule Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance and inspections of these appliances are important, especially as they age. For example, a natural gas furnace lasts about 15 years and the older it gets, the more likely a problem will form that could be dangerous.



4. Consider Safer Alternatives

You can also start looking into replacements for certain items that switch the fuel to make them safer. For example, replacing a natural gas furnace with an electric heat pump provides the same heating function while also offering air conditioning and eliminating carbon monoxide risk.

We at Modern Energy hope this information helps keep you and your family safe.