High levels of natural gas exposure can cause natural gas poisoning, which is characterized by fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation.
Natural gas is always lighter than air, and will rise in a room if allowed to escape from a burner or leaking fitting. On the contrary, propane is heavier than air and will settle in a basement or other low level. Incomplete combustion can occur when the gas mixture is richer than 10%.
An open window will help slow down carbon monoxide poisoning as it will allow for better ventilation in your home and will expel some of the gas before you inhale It. Opening two or more windows will ensure good ventilation and further reduce the amount of gas in the room.
Technically, your system won't produce carbon monoxide if your furnace is not running. Many of these tragedies occur when a furnace is on, but problems can also arise when an appliance is off but not properly vented. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no color, odor or taste.
Dogs aren't able to sense or smell carbon monoxide, so they're not able to alert their owners to its presence before it happens or when the first leak of carbon monoxide is evident, but it is true that dogs will be affected by carbon monoxide much quicker than humans.
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas. Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including: boilers.
Household appliances, such as gas fires, boilers, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers, and open fires which use gas, oil, coal and wood may be possible sources of CO gas. It happens when the fuel does not burn fully. Fumes from certain paint removers and cleaning fluids can cause CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Sources in the Home
- Clothes dryers.
- Water heaters.
- Furnaces or boilers.
- Fireplaces, both gas and wood burning.
- Gas stoves and ovens.
- Motor vehicles.
- Grills, generators, power tools, lawn equipment.
- Wood stoves.
While old or poorly maintained gas furnaces and other older appliances are often the sources of CO, new heating appliances also cause CO problems. Many of these failures arise from improper installation. Once the source of CO is located, it is important to discover how it enters the house.
Something smells like rotten eggs! Gas can often give off an unpleasant odor, often described as rotten eggs or sulfur. While natural gas is normally odorless, gas manufacturers are required to add a chemical called mercaptan, which gives it that distinctive smell.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:
- Breathing problems, including no breathing, shortness of breath, or rapid breathing.
- Chest pain (may occur suddenly in people with angina)
- Coma.
- Confusion.
- Convulsions.
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness.
- Fainting.
The air from the furnace circulates around the outside of the heat exchanger. If there's a crack in the exchanger, the air runs across the burner and causes incomplete combustion and, in turn, creates a carbon monoxide buildup. Older appliances typically have poorer ventilation than newer units.
CO alarms only detect the poisonous, odourless by-products from burning processes called carbon monoxide (CO). CO gas is created when flammable gas is burned without enough oxygen. CO detectors cannot detect flammable gases.
When you're looking for gas leak signs in your home, keep in mind that it might not have physical signs or smells. You can find a damaged gas pipe, dead houseplants, and if a smell is present, it'll be rotten eggs and sulfur. Near the gas line, you might see a white or dust cloud, and a whistling or hissing sound.
Any fuel-burning equipment or appliances, including wood stoves, fireplaces, space heaters, barbecue grills, furnaces, water heaters, boilers or ranges have the potential to produce CO, but when natural gas equipment is installed, operated and maintained, it usually will not produce CO.
It is sometimes called the "silent killer." CO inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. CO can be produced when burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil or wood. CO is the product of incomplete combustion.
