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What is carbon monoxide poisoning and how to avoid causing it with your car

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Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, so it is important that homeowners take steps to protect themselves. There are many sources of carbon monoxide in the home, but vehicles are one of the biggest dangers you need to take care of. Here's how to prevent causing carbon monoxide with your car.

What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon. Carbon monoxide can be found in fumes from chimneys and engines, as well as coming from your car's tailpipe.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if you are exposed to high levels for a long period of time. Carbon monoxide can quickly build up if your car's engine is running in an enclosed space, such as a garage, or the exhaust pipe is blocked. Carbon monoxide poisoning can even occur if you are sitting in traffic and not moving for a long time with your vehicle idling.

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, and in severe cases can lead to death.

How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Your Car

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors will alert you if the levels become dangerous. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed inside the home, but should also be placed inside garages so they can detect high carbon monoxide levels from vehicles. Make sure to test the detectors regularly to ensure they are still working properly.

Regular Vehicle Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is essential if you want to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. If your exhaust system is faulty, your car could be releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide than usual, causing a build-up in your garage. Getting your car serviced on an annual basis will help avoid any problems, but you should also take it to a mechanic if you notice any issues like loud noises or excess smoke coming from the exhaust.

Good Ventilation

Good ventilation in your garage is important because it stops carbon monoxide from collecting in there and potentially causing a health hazard. If you are concerned about ventilation issues in your garage, get in touch with a company that supplies and repairs garage doors to check for any maintenance issues. It’s crucial that your garage door functions properly and the area can be ventilated when necessary.

Don't Idle Your Car in Your Garage

If you leave your car running in the garage, you are releasing a lot of carbon monoxide which can easily travel into your home and sit in the air. Even if the garage is well-ventilated, leaving the car idling for a long time will cause significant health risks. So, whenever you park up in the garage, always double check that the engine is switched off.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be incredibly serious, and sometimes fatal. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide is a completely odorless and colorless gas, so unless you have detectors installed in your home, you will not be able to tell that the levels are dangerous until you start noticing symptoms. Testing detectors on a regular basis and following the simple steps listed above will help you to reduce the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sources:

https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/hw193731