If you smell gas, DO NOT:
- Remain in the building
- Use light switches or garage door openers
- Try and find the source of the leak
- Smoke or strike matches
- Use a telephone or any electrical equipment that might create a spark
Immediately evacuate the building and call 911. You should also call the City of Aledo at (309) 582-7241 or after hours at (309) 582-2331.
Be reminded: Installing a carbon monoxide detector does not eliminate the need to have a smoke alarm in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors do not detect smoke and smoke alarms do not sense carbon monoxide.
- CO is a produced anytime a fuel is burned. Potential sources include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, barbecue grills, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, generators and car exhaust fumes.
- More than two-thirds of Americans use gas, wood, kerosene or another fuel as their home’s major heat source.
- 65% of CO poisoning deaths from consumer products are due to heating systems.
Only 27% of homes in America have carbon monoxide alarms, according to recent industry research. - An idling vehicle in an attached garage, even with the garage door opened, can produce concentrated amounts of CO that can enter your home through the garage door or nearby windows.
- CO poisoning deaths from portable generators have doubled for the past two years, and many of these deaths occurred in the winter months and during power outages.
- A poorly maintained gas stove can give off twice the amount of CO than one in good working order.
Prevention
- Install at least one battery-powered CO alarm or AC-powered unit with battery backup on each level of your home and near sleeping areas.
- Have a licensed professional inspect heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances annually.
- Install fuel-burning appliances properly and operate according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep chimneys clear of animal nests, leaves and residue to ensure proper venting. Have all fireplaces cleaned and inspected annually.
- Do not block or seal shut the exhaust flues or ducts used by water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers.
- Do not leave your car running in an attached garage or carport.
- Do not use ovens or stoves to heat your home.
- Do not use charcoal or gas grills inside or operate outdoors near a window where CO fumes could seep in through a window.
- Check all carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Do they use the most accurate sensing technology? Do they need new batteries?
- Replace CO alarms every five to seven years in order to benefit from the latest technology upgrades.