Without question the most common safety issue in homes is the presence of a silent killer called Carbon Monoxide (CO).
CO is an odorless poisonous gas produced as a by product of burning fossil fuels. Fortunately, you can easily test for the presence of this gas in your home for less than $5. Here's how.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 30 Minutes
Here's How:
- Purchase a passive CO test kit (detector badge) at your local hardware or building supply store. An example can be found here.
- Write the date of the test on the front of the test badge.
- Following the manufacturer's instructions, place the test badge in a location where you are concerned about CO gas. This may be the furnace room, near a gas fireplace, the garage, and so on. Make sure you locate the badge away from direct exposure to sunlight, ammonia, solvents or cleaners.
- Check for CO. Within 15 minutes or so the badge will darken if it detects any carbon monoxide. Even if the badge changes color slightly this is a problem.
- If the badge changes color at all and detects any carbon monoxide, immediately find the cause and correct the problem.
- If no CO is detected, you can leave the badge in place for 60 - 90 days as recommended by the manufacturer.
Tips:
- Locate the badge away from ammonia, solvents and cleaners. These may prevent an accurate reading.
What You Need:
- Passive Carbon Monoxide detector badge
