Carbon Monoxide (CO), the silent killer, has been tagged as one of the most dangerous gases in the planet. It is completely an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. It is produced when a carbon atom combines with an oxygen atom and is a consequence of the partial combustion of carbon-containing compounds. Not only car engines produce carbon monoxide but also our daily household activities such grilling BBQs, burning wood in the fireplace and using a gas range for cooking contribute to the heavy build-up of this killer gas to our surroundings.
Because it is impossible to see, smell or even taste carbon monoxide, it can kill somebody (at high levels) before he becomes aware of the presence of the gas. At lower levels of concentration, CO causes mild effects of dizziness, headaches, nausea and fatigue. Every year, more and more people lose their lives; others end up in the hospitals, because of carbon monoxide poisoning.
With all these information, can you be sure that your home is free from CO accumulation? The answer is actually up to you. If you already have installed a carbon monoxide detector, then there is nothing much that you would worry about.
Carbon monoxide detectors work by sensing the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) gas in the atmosphere at relatively high levels and then, they raise alarms before the critical levels of the gas accumulate in one place. Some other types of CO detectors can even send alarms to a daily monitoring security system in your area in case that you are not at home when that happens. This way you will be notified about the situation.
Equipping your homes with carbon monoxide detectors doesn’t just mean complying with the building requirements of your city/state; it also means security that you and your whole family are safe from the dangers of the silent killer. It might just be a second line of defense for you but it is a very necessary one.
If is often advisable to keep a carbon monoxide smoke detector, an ionization smoke detector and a photoelectric smoke detector in your home for all round protection.