Protect Your Family From Poisonous Gas

With the tragic deaths last weekend of a father and two sons in South-Central Los Angeles by carbon monoxide (CO) gas, we are reminded of the danger posed by this material in our homes. According to the Journal of the American Medical Assn., carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning in the United States, resulting in 1,500 deaths and 10,000 illnesses each year.

CO is an odorless, colorless gas that is emitted as a byproduct of combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline, heating oil, coal and wood. CO deaths and injuries often occur when undetectable exhaust fumes seep into the living areas of a home from a faulty furnace, water heater, chimney or other appliance.

To help minimize the risk of this deadly gas entering the home, the Southern California Gas Co. recommends that their customers contact them at least once yearly to arrange a free safety check of all gas appliances. This is a measure that few homeowners realize the importance of. Many people let their furnaces, for example, go for years without doing any inspections or maintenance, often with tragic consequences. The gas company’s toll-free phone number can be found in your local white pages.

Additionally, they strongly suggest immediate gas shut off to any appliance from which a gas odor is detected or that has a loose or cracked exhaust pipe until one of their technicians or a licensed plumbing contractor performs a safety inspection.

Other recommendations experts make to prevent CO poisoning are:

1--Never use any unvented propane or kerosene heater or cooking/barbecue device indoors.

2--Have your chimney inspected for safe or clean operation at least once yearly, and have any problem of smoke leakage into the room resolved by a licensed contractor before further use.

3--Never run an automobile or other gas-powered device inside a closed garage.

4--Use carbon monoxide detector(s) in your home. These detectors resemble and work like smoke alarms, emitting a loud alarm when the gas is detected. They are available from most large home centers in either battery or AC power format. At least one alarm should be placed on each level of the home, close to sleeping areas and in or near other rooms that get a lot of use. The battery powered models are made to last up to three years on a battery module and have the advantage over the AC design of providing protection even during a power outage. Either type is designed to be installed by the novice. Prices range from $50-$90 each.