Is There a Carbon Monoxide Leak in Your Home? Know the Symptoms

By: Alicia Schuller, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

If you have a gas furnace, gas water heater, gas cooking range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater, fireplace, or wood stove in your home, there is always a chance that one may leak carbon monoxide if not functioning properly. Knowing the symptoms and what to do in the event of poisoning could save you and your family's life.

The Symptoms: according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the following symptoms are tell-tale signs you have carbon monoxide poisoning.

1. severe headaches
2. dizziness
3. mental confusion
4. nausea
5. fainting
6. shortness of breath

Noticeably, many of these symptoms resemble that of the flu. However, if symptoms decrease or go away once you are outside your home, you may have CO poisoning. If you believe there is a CO leak in your home you should get all family and pets out of your house immediately and go to the emergency room. A simple blood test can determine if you have been poisoned.

If CO poisoning happens to you in your sleep, you could die. It is always advised that you install a CO detector in every room of the home for added protection.