Carbon monoxide detectors fuel safety

A Friday night phone call has caused an area heating and air conditioning company owner to preach the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.

"I had a friend who rents a house call and say he wanted to borrow some electric heaters because his house wouldn't stay warm," said Bart Bosco, owner of Total Comfort Heating and Cooling of North Bend and Columbus. "I told them to check the filter first and they said it was plugged."

He told the friend to change the filter in the furnace, but it didn't help, so Bosco went over to the house to take a look at the furnace.

"I touched the chimney and it wasn't even warm," he said. "The heat exchange was dirty, the burners full of dirt and rust and the chimney was partially plugged up. (The heater) was not venting into the chimney, but into the house."

Any one of those heater problems wouldn't have caused carbon monoxide to filter into the house, but the combination of all three did.

"I cleaned it all up, opened a few windows to air out the house and everything was fine," Bosco said. "If they found an electric heater and warmed up the house, who knows what would have happened?"

He made them promise to get a carbon monoxide detector before he left.

"If you think something's not working right with your heating system and you have a gas furnace, call a technician," Bosco said. "The biggest thing people can do is have a carbon monoxide detector in their house.

"If you don't (maintain your car), it won't work right," he said. "If you don't maintain your heater, it won't work right either."

A faulty heater leaking carbon monoxide into a house could cause illness or even death, said Lt. Jeff Schlautman of the Fremont Fire Department.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion.

"The recommendation is that you at least have your furnace checked and cleaned yearly, especially as the furnace is getting older," Schlautman said. "You should have at least one carbon monoxide detector near your sleeping quarters. One near the furnace area would give you an early detection."

Carbon monoxide detectors sound an alarm when unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide are in the air. He said to look for detectors that are United Laboratories approved, which are available for less than $30 at most local hardware and department stores.

"We're at a time of year when this becomes a big issue," said Jeff Kuhr, director of the Three Rivers Public Health Department. "If you have any fear that your furnace is deteriorating, get someone in to check it."

He also suggested at least one UL approved carbon monoxide detector and to use the test button on the unit as often as possible.

"If the alarm goes off, people need to get fresh air immediately — get outside and call a technician," Kuhr said. "If symptoms like headaches, dizziness and vomiting arise, call the fire department and move to a location with fresh air and make sure everyone (in the home) is accounted for."

As with a smoke detector, Schlautman suggests changing the battery in a carbon monoxide detector in both the spring and fall when the time changes.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning that should cause people to seek medical attention include:

* Dizziness and ringing in the ears.

* Blurred vision and burning eyes.

* Persistent throbbing headaches.

* Tightness across the forehead.

* Pale skin.

* Nausea and vomiting.

* Confusion, disorientation and loss of muscle control.

* Fainting and unconsciousness.

* Sleepiness and never feeling rested.

* Rapid heartbeat or pulse, fluttering or throbbing of the heart and tightening of the chest.

* Shortness of breath.

* Chest pain when exercising.

* Intoxicated appearance.