Most home require several CO detectors
Q. This time of the year, I always hear about families suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. How do I know if my family is at risk? Should I install carbon monoxide detectors and where should I locate them?
A. More than 500 people are killed each year by carbon monoxide gas (CO) poisoning. Many thousands more are poisoned, but do not die. Even if someone lives after severe CO poisoning, there can be lasting health problems such as blindness and other neurological issues.
If you have any combustion appliances, such as a furnace, gas or oil water heater, gas or wood-burning fireplace, gas range, etc., you should install CO detectors. The most frightening aspect of CO poisoning is CO is an odorless and colorless gas. There really is no way for your senses to detect it other than by the symptoms you may or may not recognize in time.
People often mistake the initial symptoms of CO poisoning as just the flu or a head cold. The symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, etc., so homeowners go to bed to rest, but the risk still exists. Without a CO detector, the CO concentration may slowing increase while they sleep and then it is too late to revive them when they are found.
Have your furnace professionally serviced regularly. The technician can test the combustion process and actually test for CO gas. If natural gas and propane burn properly and completely, very little CO gas is created. Newer furnaces with induced draft combustion fans and sealed combustion are definitely safer than old ones with a chimney, but still, have them checked.
It would be wise to install CO detectors wherever you have combustion appliances running. This typically is in the utility room or basement where the furnace and water heater are located. Locate one near a fireplace, particularly an unvented gas fireplace, even if the fireplace has an oxygen depletion sensor.
If the chimney is checked and cleaned, a typical open wood-burning fireplace gets plenty of combustion air so less CO gas is created. Also, if the chimney is blocked, you will likely smell the smoke. An airtight wood-burning stove or fireplace is another story. The amount of combustion air can be reduced to get a longer burn resulting the possibility of more CO gas generation.
Even though CO gas is not generated in the bedroom, while you are at it, place a CO detector by your bed. Installing communicating CO detectors can give you earlier warning because you may not hear one go off in the basement while you are sleeping on the second floor. With a communicating detector, when one senses unsafe levels of CO gas, all of the detectors sound the alarm. The better ones also electronically record the CO levels for later analysis.
The following companies offer carbon monoxide detectors: First Alert, (800) 323-9005, firstalert.com; Kidde, (800) 880-6788, kiddeus.com; Dicon Global, (800) 387-4219, diconglobal.com; Quantum Group, (800) 432-5599, qginc.com; and S-Tech, (800) 203-7987, ppi-stech.com.
Q. I just moved into a house that has old, cast-iron hot water radiators in the rooms. I don't know if they are efficient or not. Is there anything I can do to make them more efficient and look better?
A. Hot water heat with the large cast iron radiators can be as energy efficient as any other heating system. The overall efficiency depends upon the efficiency of the boiler and how well it is maintained.
Placing metal radiator covers over the radiators can improve their efficiency and make them look better. These covers block heat loss to the outside wall behind the radiator and direct the heated air out the front.
• Write to James Dulley at 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.