Recommendations / 25/06/2020

Is carbon monoxide more common in winter?

ATLANTA — Carbon monoxide (CO) exposures and poisonings occur more often during the fall and winter, when people are more likely to use gas furnaces and heaters, says a recently released report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Why are carbon monoxide levels higher in winter?

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, based on satellite observations. Because the northern hemisphere contains much more land than the southern hemisphere – which is mostly covered by ocean – the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases overall during the northern winter [2].

Is carbon monoxide poisoning only a risk in cold weather?

Carbon monoxide – odorless, colorless and tasteless – is a deadly hazard all year round, but it becomes a particular threat during cold weather, when space heaters, furnaces and stoves become the must-have appliances.

What raises carbon monoxide levels in a home?

Many things contribute to the level of CO in the air, both outdoors (like pollution) and indoors (like tobacco smoke). High levels can also be produced from the burning of wood, gas, and other fuels. Poor heating systems or those with improper ventilation can lead to dangerous levels of CO in the air.

Do CO detectors work in cold weather?

Our smoke, carbon monoxide, and combination alarms will perform between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops, the battery may be impacted by the cooler temperature and chirp as it will read as, “Low.” Reasonable exposure within this temperature range will not cause permanent damage to your alarms.

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous in winter?

When appliances and furnaces are improperly adjusted and used in poorly ventilated areas, dangerous amounts of CO can build up in the blood, replacing oxygen, and may cause asphyxiation.

Are CO2 levels higher in winter or summer?

There’s more carbon dioxide in the winter and a bit less in the summer. That’s the collective breathing of all the plants in the Northern Hemisphere. “Plants are accumulating carbon in the spring and summer when they’re active, and they’re releasing carbon back to the air in the fall and winter,” Graven explains.

At what level of carbon monoxide is it dangerous?

As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms become more noticeable and can include headache, fatigue and nausea. At sustained CO concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.

At what temperature should a heat detector be activated?

Heat Detectors react to the change in temperature caused by fire. Once the temperature rises above 135 degrees F (57 C) or 194 degrees F (90 C), the heat detector will send a signal to an alarm panel and trigger an alarm.

Does temperature affect smoke detectors?

Temperature and batteries have a direct relationship. If the temperature drops, the battery in the smoke detector has a more difficult time keeping it working. When batteries are low, in a smoke detector, the smoke detector usually beeps every few minutes as a signal that the batteries are low.

Why is carbon monoxide poisoning more likely to occur during the winter months in the northern hemisphere?

Anything that produces combustible fumes is a source of carbon monoxide poisoning. In the winter where we tend to be in closed environments and many of these devices are used inside, we’re at greater risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide has very similar symptoms to the flu.

Where does carbon monoxide come from in the home?

Indoors, carbon monoxide is formed by unflued gas heaters, wood-burning heaters, and contained in cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide levels are typically highest during cold weather, because cold temperatures make combustion less complete and traps pollutants close to the ground.

What’s the highest concentration of carbon monoxide you can get?

Maximum air-free concentration from gas kitchen ranges (ANSI). Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 minutes. Death within 1 hour. Smoldering wood fires, malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, and kitchen ranges typically produce concentrations exceeding 1,600 ppm.

What’s the best way to measure carbon monoxide?

A useful and inexpensive solution for measuring CO is a Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector. Designed for personal use, this battery operated CO detector quickly tells you if CO levels are high in the house, basement, garage, RV or cabin cruiser boats with inboard motors.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure?

U-L listed detectors must sound a full alarm within 90 minutes or less. Most alarm more quickly. Time to alarm varies with manufacturer, with some manufacturers electing to sound the alarm more quickly. Slight headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea after several hours exposure.

Where does carbon monoxide poisoning occur the most?

CO exposure is responsible for more fatal unintentional poisonings in the United States than any other agent, with the highest incidence occurring during the cold-weather months (1). Although most of these deaths occur in residences or motor vehicles (2), two incidents among campers in Georgia illustrate the danger of CO in outdoor settings.

What should the carbon monoxide level be in a gas range?

Kitchen ranges are required to produce no more than 800 parts per million (ppm) carbon monoxide in an air-free sample of the flue gases. Continued operation of a kitchen range producing 800 ppm in a tight house without extra ventilation will cause carbon monoxide levels to rise quickly to unacceptable levels.

How does carbon monoxide affect the human body?

Carbon monoxide levels are typically highest during cold weather, because cold temperatures make combustion less complete and traps pollutants close to the ground. Carbon monoxide can cause harmful health effects by reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues.