Columbia Gas of Ohio Warns Customers of Carbon Monoxide

ZANESVILLE, OH – November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month.

In recognition of that, Columbia Gas of Ohio is urging people to use caution as they begin to warm their homes.

Erica Chronaberry, the Communications Director for Columbia Gas of Ohio, said carbon monoxide is the ‘silent killer’ because it’s a tasteless, odorless, gas that claims the lives of hundreds of Americans each year. She said there are a number of ways to make sure you and your family are safe from a CO leak.

The first and most important step, is making sure you have a CO detector on each floor of your home and in every bedroom.

“Another thing, when you go to turn on your furnace for the year when it starts getting closer out,” Chronaberry explained. “Have that appliance, have your heat generating appliances inspected by a professional contractor to ensure they are functioning properly.”

Chronaberry also said to make sure you are using your heating appliances responsibly. She recommends not using your stove or oven as a heat source as well as not using generators inside of the home.

Chronaberry said if you think there may be a leak in your home to get out as soon as you can.

“Immediately leave the house and call 911,” Chronaberry said. “You’re going to need someone to get out there and check your detectors and do an inspection to make sure that it is safe to go back into your home. Sometimes Carbon Monoxide detectors go off because the batteries actually just need changed and sometimes that’s hard to determine if that’s what the real issue is.”

Chronaberry added that if you begin to feel flu-like symptoms like headaches, nausea, or dizziness, to leave your home for a while to see how you feel. She said if the symptoms begin to subside, there may be a leak in your home.