With the beginning of the new year what better time to replace the batteries in your Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas, and contributes to a high rate of Alaskan resident deaths. Due to the cold climate Alaskans depend heavily on combustion heat (wood, fuel oil, and natural gas) to stay warm during the winter months. Combustion heating increases the risk of CO exposure.
The Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office warns that household appliances such as furnaces, stoves, hot water heaters, and grills can emit dangerous carbon monoxide gas. To prevent poisoning, install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and near every sleeping area and check them regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly.
The symptoms of CO poisoning can be difficult to detect, and are often mistaken for other illnesses. Carbon monoxide can accumulate in indoor spaces, usually as the result of faulty combustion heating and exhaust systems.