The Dangers of Excessive Home Weatherizing and Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning
Be alert to the dangers of excessive home weatherizing and
carbon monoxide poisoning
For a variety of reasons, including reducing energy consumption
and saving money, homeowners are informed of the benefits of
weatherizing the home. Despite these advantages, there is a
major negative to making your home too airtight, it being,
carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a potentially fatal gas that
can go undetected in your home. In order to avoid carbon
monoxide poisoning, be aware of the signals signifying its
dangerous presence.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is difficult to detect
without the assistance of a special detector alarm. When
inhaled, carbon monoxide immediately begins to deplete the
amount of red blood cells in your blood. Depending on the amount
of time you have been exposed to the gas, you may begin to
experience a number of symptoms of varying concentrations. A low
level concentration symptom may include headache or shortness of
breath, while a high level concentration is signified by
unconsciousness or brain damage. In between these two extremes,
there may be nausea, vomiting or drowsiness. Unfortunately, the
low level concentration will produce symptoms that could easily
be confused with a flu-like illness, making it entirely possible
to misdiagnose your condition. Each year there are many fatal
cases of carbon monoxide poisoning due to individuals failing to
identify the true cause of their illness and to their continued
exposure to the deadly gas.
In addition to the symptoms of illness, a number of other signs
can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide in your house.
Although carbon monoxide is problematic to detect, a stuffy,
stale smell in your house may be a warning of its presence and
not necessarily an indication that you should clean out the
closets. If you have already taken measures to reduce moisture
in your house, and you still see dripping water condensation on
your windows, carbon monoxide may be present in your home.
Moreover, closely inspect your stove to see that the normal blue
flame you get upon ignition has not been replaced by a yellow
burner flame. Or, if the pilot light in your furnace continues
to go out, turn off the suspect equipment, evacuate everyone
from the house and call a licensed heating contractor. A close
inspection of your house may reveal that the source of carbon
monoxide comes directly from your stove, fireplace, furnace or
even your car. Although you would not know it, it is possible
that your appliances have not been installed properly.
When your home is too airtight, dangerous carbon monoxide gases
begin to seep into the air without you being aware of it. Like
you, your house needs to be able to breathe. Excessive
weatherizing has the potential to block the necessary flow of
air needed for the safe operation of all appliances and heating
equipment. Clear the air in your house with proper ventilation,
know the dangers of excessive weatherization and don't give
carbon monoxide the chance to harm you and your family.