Monday, January 29, 2007

Safety Measures

When talking home safety, there's no such thing as doing too much. Monitoring your home's carbon monoxide level may be one of the most important actions you take to protect yourself and your family. CO2 is undetectable without a CO2 alarm or special instrumentation. If levels build up in a home, it can be dangerous resulting in severe flu-like symptoms or even death.

Keep your household safe by following these safety tips:
- have your furnace cleaned and checked annually by a professional. If any leaks are found, repair them immediately.
- install an exhaust fan that is vented to the outside over a gas stove.
- periodically check other gas appliances, for example gas fireplaces or space heaters.
- install CO2 alarms outside of every sleeping area - these will detect any elevated levels of the gas. If an alarm rings, immediately open windows and doors for ventilation. And of course test these detectors on a regular basis, at least monthly, or even weekly when the house is tightly sealed in the winter. Replace the batteries as needed.