Sunday, November 21, 2010

Carbon Monoxide and its Characteristics

By Catherine Fernandez


Most people do not know it but carbon monoxide is present in their homes in different quantities. All fuel burning gadgets that we use in our homes to produce heat or to energize our homes produces carbon monoxide and becomes dangerous when they leak either from the appliance itself or thru the plumbing.

When the level of contamination is too small, it can mix with the air and scatter harmlessly. But with inadequate ventilation and when the volume of the leak is large enough, it can lead to brain damage, malfunctioning of other vital organs or even death. When leaks remain undetected over a long period of time, even small carbon dioxide seepage can cause headaches, dizziness and other health signs that are very similar to flu.

When the house involved lacks proper ventilation, even a little volume of leak can cause health damage when the leak remains undetected over time. Flu like symptoms like headache, vomiting and shortness of breath are the most often complaints. Carbon dioxide intoxication can be fatal when the volume is high and the victim is not given immediate medical care.

The BBB or Better Business Bureau urges annual appliance checks and plumbing reviews. The bureau also recommends hiring only licensed HVAC and plumbing contractors to do the job to ensure that the inspection is done correctly and avoid scams.

Luckily, there are several things that a homeowner can do to protect himself and his family. The BBB in a recent recommendation urged regular repair schedules on appliances and machineries that produce carbon monoxide. Plumbing reviews must be done together with such maintenance checks. Most appliance manufacturers provide scheduled maintenance that can also include replacement parts during the guarantee period. Experts in fact recommend calling them to do the maintenance even after the guarantee period because they understand their products better than other technicians.

It is also important to call the service technician once you become aware of any malfunctioning in any of the fuel burning appliance at home. Especially when you suspect that there are some leaks involved, you should avoid using these appliances until they are inspected. Do things right from the start by having a professional install new appliances, especially those that can produce carbon monoxide. Fitting heating devices in particular involves a lot of technicalities that are better left in the hands of a professional HVAC contractor

An improperly installed appliance is one of the biggest causes of carbon monoxide leaks and other accidents. Fitting a new appliance that produces carbon monoxide as a by product needs the expertise of a professional HVAC and plumbing contractor. In Bridgeville, PA, authorities recommend hiring only licensed contractors to get the best possible service in installing and maintaining your appliances and avoid scams.

Regular preventive maintenance might look costly at first glance but a closer study of this option shows that it is cheaper than a major repair that can result from poorly maintained equipment. Since carbon dioxide is a toxic substance and every household is considered in harms way because of the appliances that we are using, prevention is always a better option. A carbon monoxide detector combined with regular appliance maintenance will give you peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are safe.




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