CO gas is produced when fuel oil or gas is burned in furnaces, hot water heaters, ovens and stoves. CO buildup can be caused by reverse or negative venting occurring in your furnace or clogged chimney. Also a car left with an engine running in your garage creates great hazard for the entire residence.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. CO gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Mild exposure can cause flu-like symptoms, headaches, drowsiness, nausea and rapid heart rate. Extreme exposure results in unconsciousness, convulsions, heart or respiratory failure and death. Many victims become so disoriented they are unable to exit their home or call for help. Children are most at risk.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you purchase a carbon monoxide detector and states that CO detectors are just as important to home safety as smoke detectors.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that every home with a fuel-burning furnace install at least one carbon monoxide detector.

The US Environment Protection Agency reports that hundreds of people die each year from CO poisoning caused by home furnaces.