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March 2007
Happy Spring and welcome to the latest edition of Appliance Analysis Findings.
CO Poisoning, Alarms, and Detectors
Every year, more than 200 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide (CO) produced by fuel- burning appliances (furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters) and several thousand more go to hospital emergency rooms for treatment for CO poisoning. There are affordable, easy-to-use products to protect consumers.
CO alarms are designed to alert you when CO levels become life-threatening. CO detectors or monitors are designed to alert you to the chronic presence of low levels of CO, which can be dangerous for pregnant women, children, seniors, or those with heart or respiratory problems.
CO alarms are much easier to find than detectors in part because originally the detectors resulted in numerous calls to utilities and first responders. Subsequently, standards where changed 9 years ago to favor alarms.
CO alarm/detectors are available. They are slightly more expensive than standard CO alarms but they can save your life or the life of a loved one especially if you have potentially vulnerable people living in your home.
For more information visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site
(http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/466.html) or visit the American Lung Association of Minnesota (http://www.healthhouse.org) to order a CO alarm/detector.
What Can Cause CO Poising?
CO occurs wherever there is incomplete combustion. Any of the following could be the cause of CO poising in your home:
- a defective chimney
- improperly installed gas appliances
- car running in an attached garage
- barbecue used in an enclosed area
- gas or wood-burning fireplace
- corroded or disconnected vent pipe
- blocked vent
- cracked heat exchanger
- portable heater (especially one fueled by gas, propane or kerosene)
As a preventative measure you should consider the following safety precautions:
- install appliances according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes
- never burn charcoal, use portable fuel-burning camping equipment, or use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors
- never leave a car running in an attached garage
- never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home
- never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools
If you fear the worst has already happened contact Appliance Analysis and we will inspect the scene to determine any suspicious potential cause of death or injury.
Let Self-Cleaning Ovens Do the Work
Helping your self-cleaning ovens could do more damage than you know. Cleansers and other chemicals can ruin the porcelain inside your oven. Then when the oven hits the extremely hot temperatures of 850-900 degrees in the self-cleaning process chunks of porcelain up to 6 inches can start popping off. It will destroy the oven and may cause injury.
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