At Ashbusters, our top priority is the safety of our customers, and we work hard to ensure that there are no dangerous hazards present in their homes. Our team has been trained and certified to perform all three levels of professional chimney inspections, and when we inspect chimneys, we carbon monoxidelook for flue blockages, cracks in the chimney liners, and other types of problems that could lead to safety risks like carbon monoxide leaks. This type of gas leak into your home can be life-threatening. Carbon monoxide is known as The Silent Killer because it is an invisible, odorless, and highly toxic gas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 400 people are accidentally killed by carbon monoxide poisoning every year in this country. This poisonous gas is also responsible for over 20,000 emergency room visits and more than 4,000 hospitalizations annually. To help you avoid carbon monoxide leaks in your home, we would like to tell you more about this toxic gas and how you can prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What is carbon monoxide and how could it leak into my home?

This poisonous gas is produced every time fuel is burned not only in cars and trucks, but also in small engines, stoves, fireplaces, grills, lanterns, furnaces, and gas ranges. Certain parts of your chimney and fireplace system, such as the liner and the damper, protect you from carbon monoxide entering your home, but over time, these parts can suffer from damage and lead to cracks and gaps that allow this gas to easily leak into your living space.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Headache, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion are the most common symptoms of this illness. Since these symptoms are so similar to the flu, it can be difficult to diagnose carbon monoxide poisoning. This can result in someone continuing to breathe this toxic gas and suffering from organ damage. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can be deadly. If you have had the flu and cannot seem to get over it, you should ask your doctor to test your blood for carbon monoxide.

How can Ashbusters help me prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?

Every year, you should contact us to schedule an appointment with our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified professionals to sweep and inspect your chimney. We will check out the places in your chimney that are most likely to allow carbon monoxide in your home. If we find any problems, we will provide you with a written explanation and photographs of the damage, and we can also give you a fair and honest written estimate of the repairs needed to stop the carbon monoxide leak. We will also recommend that you install carbon monoxide detector alarms throughout your home. Just like smoke alarms, these detectors should be placed in the same room as your fireplace, outside each bedroom, and on every level of your home.

Keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact us today at Ashbusters to schedule an appointment for your annual professional chimney maintenance services. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will make sure your chimney is working safely and efficiently.