Kidde KN-COPP-3 Owner's Manual page 24

Carbon Monoxide Safety
Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Inside your home malfunctioning and improperly vented
appliances used for heating and cooking are the most
likely sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles running in
attached garages can also produce dangerous levels of
carbon monoxide.
A by-product of combustion, carbon monoxide can be a
potential problem from a number of common sources
–automobiles, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves,
charcoal grills, gas ranges, space heaters and portable
generators.
When these appliances are in good working condition with
proper ventilation, lethal carbon monoxide gas is vented
outdoors where it quickly disperses. But even the slightest
malfunction or misuse of any of these sources can lead to a
build-up of carbon monoxide in your home that can become
deadly before you'd even know it's there.
And you don't have to have ancient appliances to have a
problem. Today's more energy-efficient, airtight home designs
can trap CO-polluted air inside where it can quickly build
to lethal levels.
What You Can do to Protect Your Family
To be safe, know the possible sources of CO in your home.
Keep fuel-burning appliances and their chimneys and vents
in good working condition. Learn the early symptoms of
exposure, and if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning,
move outside to fresh air and get emergency help. A blood
test can confirm that CO caused the problem.
Your first line of defense is an annual inspection and regular
maintenance of your appliances. Contact a licensed
contractor or call your local utility company for assistance.
But remember, problems can begin after an inspection is
over, like a crack in a furnace heat exchanger, or a leak in
a water heater vent, a bird's nest blocking a flue or other
sources that are nearly impossible to detect: That's why
you need the 24-hour protection provided by a CO alarm.
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