TDH and the State Fire Marshal’s Office encourage residents to have a technician service their heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal-burning appliances to ensure they are not emitting dangerous levels of CO. Both also warn residents to never use a charcoal grill, camp stove or other gas-burning device inside a home, basement or garage and to never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not properly vented to the outdoors.
TDH and the State Fire Marshal encourage consumers to read reviews of currently available carbon monoxide detectors. The devices range in price from less than $30 to more than $300, and are available with three different sensor systems: biometric, metal-oxide semiconductor or electrochemical. Consumers should understand CO detection devices have different service lives and must be replaced based upon manufacturer’s recommendations, often in the five to seven years range, and that all devices may give occasional false readings.
“CO detectors vary in price, quality and reliability so it’s important to do some research before selecting one,” said Craig Shepherd, MPH, a director in the TDH Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness office. “If you have an older one, check with the manufacturer to learn how long it will detect CO and replace it if it’s out of date. If you are buying a new one, consider one that records highest CO levels over time; this feature can help determine the severity of a CO problem in a home or business. Whichever detector you buy, read the instructional materials that come with it, test its batteries often and replace it when it is past its service life.”
Shepherd said the prevalence of CO may be more common than most people believe. He said routine exams performed as part of Tennessee’s Baby and Me smoking cessation program in 2015 revealed troublesome levels of CO in four different mothers. Inspections of their homes revealed problems with gas heating systems; quickly-performed repairs may have saved lives in each home.
