Watching This Video Could Save Your Life

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Winter approaches in Albany. As we turn on the heat, watch out for two hidden dangers inside your home: carbon monoxide and radon. With these dangerous gasses, it can be a matter of life and death.

If you run a gas furnace or have an attached garage, it's important to know common sources of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide could seep into your home from a failed gas furnace or a car running too long in your garage.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that will send you unconscious quickly. A bird could build a nest in the chimney during the summer, and block the exhaust, for instance. It's common this time of year to read a news story about a carbon monoxide fatality or injury. Take precaution. It doesn't have to happen in your home.

New York law requires homeowners to have carbon monoxide alarms. Detectors are affordable at any home improvement store. If you cannot afford one, give me a call and I will pick one up for you. It is crucial to have a carbon monoxide detector inside your home!

Radon, another colorless, odorless gas, could also be inside your home. Radon comes from radium decay through rocks and minerals in the soil. You cannot buy a monitor, but the state can provide you with a radon test kit. These test kits are also available at home improvement stores for usually $11. A reading over 4pCi/l is considered dangerous.

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States. If your radon levels are too high, you will need to get a mitigation system. This removal process costs $1,200 to $1,800.

It's incredibly important to test for radon and have a carbon monoxide detector. If you already have a carbon monoxide detector, change the batteries routinely. If you have any questions for me, or if you need a carbon monoxide detector, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!