Healthy Homes Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer and other Combustion Gases 1 April 2014.

Healthy HomesCarbon Monoxide: The Silent Killerand other Combustion Gases

<your name here>

1

April 2014

Learning Objectives

Knowledge: Describe health symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning

Comprehension: Identify locations in your home for carbon monoxide (CO) and other combustion gases.

Application: List proper locations and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms. Identify when a professional should inspect the home for problems. Identify additional resources for families.

2

Resource:Help yourself to a healthy home

• Indoor Air Quality

• Asthma & Allergies

• Mold & Moisture

• Carbon Monoxide

• Lead

• Drinking Water

• Hazardous Household Products

• Pesticides

• Home Safety

3

Seven Tips for Keeping a Healthy Home

Keep It:

Dry

Clean

Pest-free

Ventilated

Safe

Contaminant-free

Maintained

4

What are Combustion Gases?

What types of combustion gases are found in homes?

Where are these gases found in homes?

What do they smell like?How do we know if these gases are dangerous?

5

Combustion Gases

Combustion gases are from the burning of fuels (natural gas, propane, wood, oil, kerosene, and coal) in the home

These gases typically include:

Carbon Monoxide (CO)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Particulates (soot, smoke)

6

Combustion Gases

Most of these gases are

INVISIBLEINVISIBLEThey cannot be seen or smelled!

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is especially dangerous in that families are often exposed to very harmful and sometimes lethal levels without knowing about it.

7

I smell gas, what is it?

When you are smelling gas, you are often smelling the un-combusted (un-burnt) gases from gas appliances, water heater, or furnace.

This smell (sometimes like sulfur) is a chemical added by the gas company so that you are aware of a gas leak.

If you smell gas or believe there is a gas leak, leave the house and call 9-1-1 immediately.

8

Health Warning signs of Carbon Monoxide exposure

9

Carbon Monoxide is DANGEROUS

Carbon monoxide exposure is measured in parts per million in the surrounding air

CO Levels: (ppm)

0 – 5: normal amount of carbon monoxide in a healthy home

30+: most carbon monoxide detector alarms will sound

30 – 70: flu-like symptoms

70 – 150: headache, fatigue, nausea

150 +: disorientation, unconsciousness, death

10

Health Warning signs of exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

11

• Ear, Nose, and Throat Irritation

• Increased Respiratory Infections

• Shortness of Breath• Bronchitis

Questions for You and Your Familyabout exposure to CO and other Gases

Ask yourself (and family) these questions:

Are you or your family’s health symptoms experienced by more than one family member?

Are these symptoms more severe in family members who spend a lot of time in the home?

Are these symptoms less severe when you or your family is away from home?

Are these symptoms experienced by visitors to your home?

Always seek advice from your Physician !

12

Locations of Carbon Monoxide and other Combustion Gases inside Homes

Carbon monoxide and other combustion gases are commonly found in these locations in a home:Gas appliances:

Ovens Ranges and Stoves (cooktops) Dryers

Furnaces, Boilers, and Water Heaters

Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves

Garages (Car Exhaust)

Space Heaters

13

Locations of Carbon Monoxide and other Combustion Gases

Carbon monoxide and other combustion gases are also found in these locations:Temporary Space Heaters

Grills and Meat Smokers

Lawnmowers, Snowblowers, and Gas-powered Generators

Cigarette Smoke

14


15


Carbon monoxide and other combustion gases are a severe health hazard (and possibly fatal) due to:

Unvented appliances, furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, or space heaters

Appliances, furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, or space heaters not working properly or needing repair

Vehicles and gasoline powered items running in garages or inside the house

Charcoal grills or meat smokers running in garages or inside the house

Blocked chimneys and flues

16


17


18


19


20

Two men trying to keep warm are found deadBy Bill BryanST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH12/04/2006

Two men died early Sunday, apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning, after they lighted a pile of charcoal briquettes in a metal mixing bowl to keep warm and then fell asleep, St. Louis police said.

Checking for Carbon Monoxide and other Combustion Gas Problems

In most cases, Carbon Monoxide and other combustion gases can be detected and checked by the following:

Proper installation, location, and maintenance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms) in your Home

Yearly inspection of all gas appliances, furnaces, water heaters, stoves, ovens, and fireplaces by a qualified or licensed contractor

21

Carbon Monoxide Detectors(Alarms)

Install and maintain Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms inside your home to provide early warning of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home.

Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and the sound of CO alarms.

22


Installation methods of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms):

Wired to the Home Electrical System (often called hard-wired) with a battery backup. (best installation)

Plugged into a home electrical outlet with a battery backup.

Battery only (no other electrical input).

23


Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms):

Alarm only

Alarm and digital readout or CO in parts per million (ppm)

Sniffer (used by fire personnel or inspectors)

24

Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms)

25


Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms) should be tested monthly by pressing the “test” button. If you are not sure how to test the alarm, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

You should also regularly vacuum or dust the surface of the alarm to make sure there is no dust blocking the holes in the alarm.

The batteries should be replaced each year. A common day is the end of daylight savings in autumn.

26


Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Alarms) should be replaced every 5 – 7 years.

All detectors (alarms) have either a manufacturing date or expiration date so that you can determine if it is still useable

27

When the Carbon Monoxide Detector(Alarm) Makes Noise

What to Do When the CO Alarm Goes Off (makes noise):

LEAVE THE HOME IMMEDIATELY!Call 9-1-1 from outside the home. Report that your CO alarm is soundingWait outside the home for the fire department to arrive, find the source of the problem, and ventilate the home.Go to the emergency room or urgent care if you are experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning

28

Yearly Inspection for CO and Combustion Gases

Items typically included in a Yearly Inspection by a qualified or licensed contractor:

Proper functioning, repair, and cleaning of all gas appliances, furnace, water heater, stoves, ovens, dryers and other sources of CO and gases. Combustion air openings are not blocked.

No blockage in flues and all flue joints are sealed and not leaking gases. Flues are properly ventilating to the outside.

Burners in appliances have mostly blue flames instead of yellow.

29



CO and gas leakage in all gas appliances, furnace, water heater, stoves, ovens, dryers and other sources of CO and gases, are below required and at safe levels. No backdrafting.

Chimneys and flues for fireplaces or wood stoves are intact and not falling apart. Chimney flues are properly ventilated to the outside. Smoke is not coming back into the room when the fireplace or stove is burning. Fireplace/stove doors are tightly fitted.

30



Range hoods above gas stoves are installed and properly ventilated to the outside.

Observe if homeowner is using unvented temporary heaters, indoor charcoal grills, or using appliances for space heating.

Excessive moisture or condensation in home due to malfunctioning heating systems.

31



Carbon Monoxide and gasoline fumes are not entering the house from air leaks between the garage and the rest of the home.

Temporary and permanent space heaters are ventilating to the outside.

Rust, soot, or dirt is not observed on the furnace, boiler, flues, or water heater.

32

What You can Do between Inspections

Between Yearly Inspections by a licensed or qualified contractor, you should observe conditions, take precautions, and be aware of problems in areas that contribute to CO and combustion gases in your home.

For example:

33


Look for flames in appliances, furnace, water heater, ovens, and ranges (cooktops) that are mostly yellow and not blue.

Look for cracks, gaps, holes, or missing pieces in flues, chimneys, and vents.

Check to make sure that flues, chimneys, and vents are connected and ventilate to the outside. Check that dampers are open when using fireplaces and wood stoves.

Look for excessive humidity or condensation in the air or on windows.

34


Look for rust or water streaking on chimneys and flues.

Clean fireplace and wood stove chimneys and flues regularly (at least yearly).

Check for loose panels on furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and appliances.

Verify monthly that Carbon Monoxide detectors (alarms) are working and free of dust.

Check that generators are safe distances away from windows and doors to your house.

35


Check that generators are safe distances away from windows and doors to your house.

Never use unvented gas appliances or charcoal grills in the home, attic, or crawlspace. Do not use any gas camp stove or equipment inside your home.

Never run any car, vehicle, or gas powered engine in a closed garage or other enclosed space.

Never use ovens, cooktops, or grills for space heating.

36


When using gas appliances, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, or stoves, follow manufacturer’s instructions for operation and routine maintenance.

Do not try to alter, install, or repair appliances, fireplaces, stoves, furnaces, water heaters, or other combustion items.

Do not place items against or block the air intake or exhaust of any gas appliance, water heater, or furnace.

37

Additional Resources on CO and Combustion Gases

Carbon Monoxide Hotline: 1-800-438-4318

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Carbon Monoxide (CO) http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – Carbon Monoxide Information Center http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/

American Lung Association – Carbon Monoxide Indoors http://www.lung.org/healthy-air/home/resources/carbon-monoxide-indoors.html

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Sources of Combustion Products http://www.epa.gov/iaq/combust.html

US Department of Housing and Urban Development - About Carbon Monoxide http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes/healthyhomes/carbonmonoxide

38

Thank you!Questions? Comments?

39

Act today to eliminate dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide and other Combustion Gases in your Home

Healthy Homes Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer and other Combustion Gases 1 April 2014.

Documents

Transcript of Healthy Homes Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer and other Combustion Gases 1 April 2014.