Cold Weather's Coming to Nyack and Piermont: Heat Your Home Safely

NYACK, NY — It's going to get cold and stay cold soon enough, and that means turning on the heat. And that means being aware of carbon monoxide — its dangers and its signs.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that's invisible, odorless and tasteless. It's formed by the incomplete burning of fuels such as heating oil, wood, gasoline, natural gas, propane and charcoal. Breathing even small amounts of carbon monoxide can result in headaches, dizziness and nausea. Prolonged exposure can result in more severe illness, or even death.

The signs of a CO problem are stale, stuffy air and high indoors humidity, fallen soot from a fireplace chimney or furnace flue and no draft in the chimney or flue.

When heating units or motors are not working properly, or if exhaust fumes and chimneys are not properly vented outdoors, carbon monoxide can accumulate in your home, building or garage.

There are two key factors to heating a building safely:

• Install approved CO detectors, which can provide early warning of accumulated CO before it reaches a dangerous level.
• Properly maintain your heating system to identify and address any carbon monoxide issues.

To prevent a carbon monoxide problem, make sure that a plumber or qualified heating contractor services your furnace each year.

If you experience any of those symptoms, immediately open the windows in your home and seek medical attention.

To do your part to reduce carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Never use a gas oven or range to heat a room.
• Never leave a vehicle or gasoline-powered equipment running in a garage, even with the garage door open.
• Operate a portable electric generator outdoors away from air intakes to the building.
• Have a qualified heating contractor maintain your heating system to help identify and address any carbon monoxide issues.

O&R urges its customers to always put safety first. Anyone who smells natural gas should leave the area immediately and call O&R’s emergency gas hotline at 1-800-533-LEAK (5325) or 911.