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(Page 2) Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning There are some basic steps to follow to prevent your family members from exposure to carbon monoxide and to keep your home safe. The first and easiest is to install a carbon monoxide detector. These are designed similar to smoke detectors and will sound an alarm before dangerous levels of carbon monoxide build up in your home. Before purchasing a carbon monoxide detector make sure that the Underwriters Laboratories have approved it and be sure to follow the installation instructions. You may want to consider having several monitors placed throughout your home and on different levels. The next preventative measure to take is to have a professional inspect your home heating system at the beginning of each winter season. These inspections should at a minimum check to ensure that furnaces are in good working condition and that the exhaust from these appliances is properly ventilated. Be sure that you do not use gas-powered engines in confined spaces. Cars that are warming up in garages should be allowed proper ventilation to allow fumes to escape. Chimney Safety Almost all home heating systems, furnaces, boilers and wood stoves, rely on the chimney to safely vent the exhaust to the outside. Therefore it is important to ensure that your chimney does not have any blockage that might prevent the fumes from properly escaping. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission every year a high percentage of household fires originate in chimneys. Every household chimney needs a regular inspection. Creosote in dirty chimneys can ignite, leading to a potentially damaging fire. Remember that an annual inspection is the key to safe and efficient home heating. It can also reveal and detect potential problems before they become costly and dangerous. Installation of Fireplaces If you're wondering why in the world would I write about home installation practices of fireplaces the answer is simple. This is a fairly common practice as many persons attempt to save a little money by doing their own work. This is great if you know what you're doing and if you have the proper skills and tools to take on such challenges. If you are considering installing a fireplace in your home the following information can assist you with making the proper decisions on whether you should take on such a job or have a professional do the work for you. Remember that old saying "what you don't know won't hurt you?" Unfortunately this is not the case when considering the installation of a fireplace. Improper installation could be deadly! In most states, a building permit is required before a fireplace can be installed. You should always consult with your local city or county building department for information regarding permits and installation inspections. When selecting a fireplace for your home be sure that it is suitable for the desired location. Specific certification requirements for fireplaces may restrict you from installing a type of fireplace due to restrictions on height, weight, maximum offset, chimney construction, etc. There are basically two types of fireplaces to choose from when making a selection, masonry fireplaces and factory-built fireplaces. The installation of masonry fireplaces is a major construction project, usually requiring the experience and knowledge of skilled tradesmen. These types of fireplaces must also be installed in accordance with the requirements of applicable Building Codes. It is strongly recommended that you outsource the installation of these types to a qualified contractor. Many "do-it-yourself" installers on the other hand, while requiring a certain degree of skill and abilities, can install factory-built fireplaces. One should be warned, however, that if you have any doubts at all about your abilities to install these types of fireplaces, it would be wise on your part to hire a contractor. These types of fireplaces usually come "pre-packaged" with all the necessary components included in the packing box. One of the most important elements of the packaging contents is the installation manual. It is essential that factory-built fireplaces be installed in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Unfortunately, many people fail to properly follow these instructions which can often lead to fatal results. |