Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real threat to weatherized homes

• For a variety of reasons, including reducing energy consumption and saving money, homeowners are informed of the benefits of weatherizing the home.
• Despite these advantages, there is a major negative to making your home too airtight, it being, carbon monoxide.
• Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is difficult to detect without the assistance of a special detector alarm.
• A low level concentration symptom may include headache or shortness of breath, while a high level concentration is signified by unconsciousness or brain damage.
• In between these two extremes, there may be nausea, vomiting or drowsiness.
• Unfortunately, the low level concentration will produce symptoms that could easily be confused with a flu-like illness, making it entirely possible to misdiagnose your condition.
• In addition to the symptoms of illness, a number of other signs can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide in your house.
• Although carbon monoxide is problematic to detect, a stuffy, stale smell in your house may be a warning of its presence and not necessarily an indication that you should clean out the closets.
• Moreover, closely inspect your stove to see that the normal blue flame you get upon ignition has not been replaced by a yellow burner flame.
• Or, if the pilot light in your furnace continues to go out, turn off the suspect equipment, evacuate everyone from the house and call a licensed heating contractor.
• Excessive weatherizing has the potential to block the necessary flow of air needed for the safe operation of all appliances and heating equipment.
• Clear the air in your house with proper ventilation, know the dangers of excessive weatherization and don't give carbon monoxide the chance to harm you and your family.