Carbon Monoxide

What should I know about carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like oil, gasoline, wood, charcoal and natural gas. Exposure to CO can sometimes be fatal because it stops blood from taking oxygen.

Vents, equipment, chimneys and rooftop stacks that aren’t properly installed, used or maintained will cause most CO problems associated with heating equipment and appliances.

Should I have my home's chimney cleaned?
Yes. A blocked chimney is extremely dangerous because it won’t allow the burned gases including CO to escape your home properly, which can lead to CO poisoning. To avoid any serious mishap, make sure your chimney is professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. This keeps it from becoming clogged by fallen leaves, branches, nests or debris.

If you’ve switched from oil to gas and use the same chimney, a clean chimney is especially important. When oil burns, it leaves soot on the chimney’s inner-walls. Over time, this soot can fall off, accumulate and clog the chimney. If a chimney is clogged with, CO can’t escape. As an added safety measure, install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. CO detectors are an inexpensive safety precaution.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
CO poisoning symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, drowsiness and other similar symptoms. If you or others experience these symptoms, go outside to fresh air immediately. Seek prompt medical attention and call SJG to report the incident.