Critical Carbon Monoxide Facts for Every Home and Office

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poisonous gas that can be fatal when inhaled. It is known as the "silent killer". It inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. Carbon Monoxide occurs when any fuel such as gasoline, propane, natural gas, and wood is burned and is a by-product of incomplete combustion. Basically, if you have fire, you have Carbon Monoxide.

Today's modern appliances are designed to minimize the production of CO. However, should one of these appliances malfunction. It can begin producing CO, and in an unvented environment can potentially build up to dangerous levels. Some examples of situations that might cause carbon monoxide poisoning are a blocked chimney or a cracked or loose furnace heat exchanger.

Some symptoms, be aware of, if you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Our dizziness, severe headaches, sleepiness, nausea, fatigue and weakness, also look out for disorientation or confusion. If you experience any of these symptoms. Consult a physician as soon as possible.

All homes and offices should be equipped with CO detectors. The only way to detect Carbon monoxide is using the detector, since it is not detectable by any of the five senses. It is very important to have your heating system inspected annually by a qualified technician and also operate all appliances in accordance with manufacturers instructions. In your garage never leave your car running or use appliances in enclosed and attached areas such as garages.

Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on each level of a home or office. If a house has only one carbon monoxide alarm, it should be installed in the main bedroom or in the hallway outside the sleeping area. Make sure to place the detector at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances. Also, it is not recommended to put the carbon monoxide detector in dead air spaces or next to a window or door. Test each alarm once a month by pressing the test/reset button. If it is a battery operated detector, replace the battery at least every six months. Periodically clean the carbon monoxide detector by vacuuming with a soft brush attachment or wiping with a clean, dry cloth.

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Kitchen Appliances - What You Need To Know When You Shop

Very few things will add as much to your kitchen as your appliances. More convenience, more features and more attractiveness can all be achieved through making good purchasing decisions.

When you begin shopping for appliances such as refrigerators, ovens or dishwashers, know what you want before you ever leave your house. If it is affordable for you, buying all your appliances together makes the most sense. Rather than just buy appliances because they are must-haves for today's world, you can give your kitchen a "together" look that fits in with the style of your home. So decide what kind of look you are going for and what features you want before you shop, and you will be well on your way to a more enjoyable kitchen atmosphere.

One of the biggest considerations when buying an appliance is "Will it work?" You certainly don't want to spend $1000 or more on an appliance only to find that the small part you need to replace in the icemaker every six months is hard to come by. Once you've found something you like, ask the salesperson what types of warranties are available and do some outside research to make sure you can get replacement parts easily should you need them.

If a warranty is offered to you, read it carefully. Sometimes you may not even need it. Some manufacturer's warranties are good for as long as a warranty you can buy, and many people feel that service warranties are a waste of money because if something is going to break before it's time, it will probably happen in the period covered by the manufacturer's warranty. If you do decide to go with a warranty, don't spend too much money, as it may not be that useful in the long run. And if nothing goes wrong during the first warranty period, renewing it may not be wise.

If you are concerned about the amount of service your appliance will need or how much it will cost, call the manufacturer. They should be able to supply you with enough information to make your decision.

You also want to think about the amount of activity your appliance will get. If you use your appliances daily, such as a dishwasher, you will want a machine that can handle the capacity and you won't want to penny-pinch if this is the case.

Pay close attention to the energy consumption of your machine as this is often overlooked by some consumers. Not only is energy efficiency important for the environment, it will save you money. The law provides that EnergyGuide labels be placed on most appliances. If the appliance you wish to buy is not labeled properly, think about looking elsewhere.

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