The Facts on Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and Tasteless gas. It is produced when any fuel is burned without sufficient oxygen. Overexposure to CO can cause CO poisoning, which can lead to serious illness-even death. Follow these tips to keep you and your family safe. Preventive Maintenance Have your furnace, venting system and chimney inspected each year by a qualified contractor. Check your furnace and water heater vent pipes periodically for rust, corrosion or damage. Replace pipes if necessary. Avoid Enclosed Combustion Don't use your gas range to heat your home. Never burn charcoal in your home, garage, work shed, recreational vehicle or other enclosed area. Be sure your chimney flue is open each time you use your fireplace. Never run a car engine, lawn mower, snow blower or other combustion engine in a closed area like your garage or basement. When camping, do not operate a fuel-burning heater, lantern or range inside your tent or RV without proper ventilation. Always follow the manufacturer's directions for use. Symptoms and First Aid Symptoms of CO poisoning are flu-like and include headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing and an irregular heartbeat. Victims may appear pale, but then develop a cherry red color on lips and ear tips. Be suspicious of CO poisoning if everyone in your household is experiencing the same symptoms-especially if pets also have symptoms, because animals cannot get the flu. CO poisoning victims need fresh air immediately. Go to a neighbor's house and call 911 or your local fire department, even if the victim seems to be recovering. Carbon Monoxide Detectors The first line of defense against a CO problem in your home is an annual inspection of your fuel-burning equipment by a qualified heating contractor. But a CO detector can be a useful secondary measure. If you want to purchase a CO detector, be sure to buy one that is approved by Underwriter's Laboratories with the listing UL2034 on the box. These detectors sound an alarm before CO levels become dangerous. Follow the manufacturer's directions for operation, placement and maintenance. If you have questions about your detector, contact the manufacturer. Make the Right Call When there\'s an emergency, it's important that you get to the people who can help you right away...on the first call. So make your first call the right one. Natural Gas Odor/Emergencies Learn the steps to follow if you smell natural gas and how to call us in emergencies. Safe at Home Follow a safety checklist for all around your house to keep you and your family Safe at Home. Appliance Connectors Find out more about appliance connectors, how to inspect them, and other important safety precautions. Carbon Monoxide Detectors Discover what causes carbon monoxide and how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and receive tips on what to look for in buying and installing CO detectors. Natural Gas Odor/Emergencies In its natural state, natural gas is odorless. If you smell a faint gas odor near an appliance, the pilot light may need relighting. If you have any doubt or the odor persists after relighting, open windows and doors and call your Gas Co. Immediately. They are available around the clock, every day of the year, to respond quickly to emergencies. If the odor is strong and persistent or you hear gas leaking, leave the house, opening doors and windows as you leave. Do not use your telephone, operate any gas or electric appliances, light a match or turn light switches on or off. In some situations, sparks from any of these could ignite the natural gas. Call your gas company from a neighbor's phone. After you've made the call, please remain at your neighbor's home and wait for emergency response personnel to arrive. Basement/Utility Room Have your heating and venting system inspected every year by a qualified heating contractor. Set up a preventive maintenance service plan for your furnace, water heater and air conditioner. Check your furnace air filter regularly and clean or replace it when necessary. Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, usually the "warm" or "low" setting, to prevent hot water scalds. Never step, sit, lean or place a heavy object on appliance connectors. If the appliance connector on your gas dryer is made of uncoated brass, it should be replaced immediately with either a new stainless steel or a new epoxy-coated connector. We encourage you to call a qualified plumbing or heating contractor if replacement parts are needed. Natural gas is one of the safest and cleanest burning energy sources available. At National Fuel, providing safe, reliable natural gas service at the lowest possible price is our highest priority. We are equipped for natural disasters. In the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, flood, or tornado, National Fuel will make any repairs and restore service as quickly as possible. Our underground main lines are built of sturdy materials and are installed in well- formed, solid soil. If a gas line is damaged by a natural disaster, the chance of a severe problem is minimal because natural gas dissipates into the air. Carbon Monoxide What you can't see, can hurt you. Be alert to the potential dangers of carbon monoxide. You can't see or smell carbon monoxide. It is a colorless, odorless, potentially dangerous gas. It is produced when fuel (heating oil, propane, kerosene, charcoal, gasoline, wood or natural gas) is burned without enough air for complete combustion. If inhaled in large quantities for a prolonged time period, carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness, brain damage and death. So even though you can't see it, protect yourself and your family - learn to recognize the danger signals of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: Fatigue, Coughing, Headache, Irregular breathing, Dizziness, Overall paleness, Nausea Cherry red lips and ears In-the event you notice the symptoms, immediately open windows and doors to ventilate your home. Then call 911 or your local fire department and get outside into fresh air. Later, have all your appliances carefully checked by a qualified heating contractor. Have Your Home Checked for Carbon Monoxide A qualified heating contractor can conduct a thorough inspection of your home and all its appliances. Your contractor can spot and solve problems which can cause carbon monoxide at an early stage, before they become dangerous. Your contractor should check to see whether: Low oxygen levels exist in your home. The construction in a new or remodeled home is too tight. Your appliances have been properly vented. You may have a partially blocked fireplace chimney. Your furnace is receiving the proper level of fuel pressure. All gas fired appliances are burning properly. What You Can Do To Protect Yourself Take the following steps to minimize the chance that carbon monoxide could pose a danger to you and your loved ones. Have your chimney and flue cleaned every year. Get a specialist to inspect your appliances and heating system every year. Be sure all home appliances have adequate ventilation. Be sure burner flames are blue, not orange. Never use a gas range for space heating. Properly insulate and weatherize your home to allow sufficient appliance ventilation. Never run an automobile or gasoline engine in an enclosed space. Never use a charcoal grill indoors. Don't rely on carbon monoxide detectors as a substitute for maintaining appliances, furnaces or chimneys. If you choose to install a carbon monoxide detector, use it as an additional preventive measure. Check Your Furnace Every year before the cold weather begins, have your heating system inspected by a qualified contractor. The contractor should provide the following services: Blower - Newer furnaces may not have blower belts, but if yours does, turn the power off, then check it for cracks or exposed inside cords. Replace if necessary with an identical blower belt, maintaining proper tension. Motors - Add oil according to the furnace manufacturer's instructions. Filter - Don't operate a forced air furnace without a filter. Replace the filter as necessary or, if your furnace has a permanent filter, clean it with detergent and water. Registers & radiators - Dust and vacuum thoroughly. See that carpets, furniture and drapes do not obstruct heat flow. Burner - Turn the power back on, then raise the thermostat above room temperature. If the burner does not start within a few minutes, turn the thermostat down and check whether the pilot light is on. If it's not, refer to the furnace manufacturer's instructions to relight it. If your furnace is 10 years old or newer, it probably has an electric ignition. To test it, simply turn up the thermostat and see if the burner lights up. Chimney & vents - As a safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure vent connectors are in place and sealed to the chimney. Check chimney draft and have any obstructions cleared. Flues & pipes - When pipes are cool, clean them and check for deposits on the inside walls. If pipes are rusty, they may need to be replaced. A New Furnace in Your Future? If you're considering a new furnace, your existing chimney may not be compatible with the updated venting codes. When removing an old furnace and installing a new one it is often necessary to install a chimney liner. Your heating contractor can make the right diagnosis to make sure your furnace, fireplace and heating appliances are properly vented and working efficiently. Need a House Call? Check the yellow pages to find the names of heating contractors in your area. Before making a decision, check with the Better Business Bureau for the contractor's qualifications. Detecting a Gas Odor Natural gas is colorless and odorless. We add an odorant that produces a distinctive "gas smell" so that leaks are easier to detect. If you detect a faint gas smell, check to see if you simply have a pilot light out or a burner that is not completely off. If you have difficulty locating the source of the odor, give National Fuel a call. If you smell a strong gas odor: Don't switch lights on or off. Don't light any matches. Do open doors and windows to ventilate. Do leave the premises.