During the chilly days of winter, it's important to know that any combustion appliances in your home are working properly. Having a carbon monoxide detector handy can be a life saver, but only if it is working properly.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel is not completely burned during combustion. It can be produced during the burning of several different substances, including wood, natural gas, propane, and other heating fuels. The home security resource Safewise says carbon monoxide can be emitted by appliances such as the furnace, fireplace, clothes dryer, water heater, and oven.

When carbon monoxide comes into contact with red blood cells, it will bond with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. Since this prevents the red blood cells from interacting with oxygen, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to suffocation or damage to the lungs and brain.

Carbon monoxide is especially difficult to detect on your own. The gas does not have an odor, color, or taste. And the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the common cold or flu. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says these include fatigue, headache, nausea, and shortness of breath.

More severe carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 400 people in the United States die every year due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and thousands more are hospitalized.

Detector effectiveness

A carbon monoxide detector is designed to identify the gas before you are seriously affected by it. The device has a sensor to identify when carbon monoxide is present and issue an audible alarm.

There are several ways for a carbon monoxide detector to function. Safewise says it might use an electrochemical sensor, which identifies changes in electrical currents caused by the presence of carbon monoxide. Other devices use are triggered when carbon monoxide changes the color of a gel or lowers the resistance of a metal oxide semiconductor.

Carbon monoxide detectors may be plugged or hardwired into a home's electrical system, or they may run on a battery. Since the former option will not be functional during a power outage, you should check to see if it has a battery backup available.

It is also important to make sure carbon monoxide will still be able to trip the alarm. Randolph J. Harris, writing for the accident reconstruction company Fay Engineering, says carbon monoxide detectors come with a test option, but the test will usually only determine if the battery and audible alarm are functional. The mechanism that determines whether carbon monoxide is present may no longer be working.

For this reason, it is a good idea to periodically change your carbon monoxide detector. You can check the device to see if it has an expiration date or a date of manufacture. Carbon monoxide detectors are usually good for five to seven years.

Consider whether to upgrade the device when you purchase a new one. The magazine Family Handyman suggests that detectors with electrochemical sensors are ideal, since temperature and humidity can affect the accuracy of gel and metal oxide semiconductor models. You can also look into options such as digital readouts, memory retention, and voice alarms for use in children's bedrooms.

A carbon monoxide detector should be effective as long as it is not mounted higher than 15 inches below the ceiling. Install at least one on each floor, locate them outside any rooms where people are sleeping, and make sure they are not blocked by curtains or other items. Carbon monoxide detectors should be kept at least 15 feet away from combustion appliances to avoid false alarms.

Other safeguards

In addition to regularly testing and updating your carbon monoxide detector, you should avoid any practices that will increase the likelihood that this gas will make its way into your home.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says all combustion appliances should be installed by a qualified professional. Never try to install or service this equipment unless you have the proper training or tools, and only conduct minor maintenance if you have consulted the owner's manual.

Every year, these appliances should be serviced to make sure they are operating properly. This inspection should check vents and flues to make sure they are not blocked, loose, or otherwise malfunctioning.

Do not use gas-powered ovens or dryers to heat your home. Doing so can allow carbon monoxide to build up in the rooms.

When using the fireplace, only close the flue after the flames have been completely snuffed. Harris says smoldering coals will continue to produce large amounts of carbon monoxide, which cannot safely exit the home if the chimney is blocked.

Be careful when using appliances that will vent air at a high rate. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says fireplaces, dryers, and exhaust fans can create a low pressure inside the home. When this occurs, the carbon monoxide and other gases produced by combustion appliances can backdraft into the home.

Use common sense and do not use any fuel-burning device, such as a grill, in an enclosed area. You also should not idle a vehicle in an attached garage, even you leave the garage door open.

When the alarm sounds

If the carbon monoxide detector goes off, you should not ignore it. Rather than trying to find the source of the problem, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says you should immediately leave the home. Call 911 to report the issue.

Safewise says a carbon monoxide detector can only be reset if it is in an area where the gas is not present. You should not go back into the home until the alarm stops or the fire department has allowed you to return.

Contact a professional to inspect your combustion appliances. This visit should evaluate all of these systems and determine how carbon monoxide was released into your home.

If the alarm is not sounding but you are experiencing symptoms that might indicate carbon monoxide poisoning, you should also leave the home. You can then report the issue to the fire department and visit a doctor to have your symptoms diagnosed. If the symptoms have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, have your combustion appliances serviced.