The arrival of frigid weather means Minnesotans are buttoning-up their homes and spending more time indoors. CenterPoint Energy
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non- irritating poisonous gas. Symptoms of CO poisoning can resemble the common flu -- headaches, nausea, fatigue, confusion, and dizziness -- and can vary depending on your age, general health, level of physical activity, and the duration and concentration of exposure. Fuel-burning appliances, equipment and engines all produce CO, which is more likely to reach dangerous levels if the products are improperly maintained, operated or adjusted, or because of insufficient ventilation. The following tips can help prevent CO poisoning:
* Have a professional technician or heating dealer inspect all fuel-
burning appliances annually.
* Make sure all fuel burning appliances are properly vented and that the
vents are in good condition and clear of debris and blockages. Visually
inspect the vents for rust, holes or gaps.
* Make sure all fuel-burning appliances show a clear blue flame. A yellow
or orange flame may indicate a problem.
* Do not operate fuel-burning appliances in small, tightly-sealed areas.
* Make sure fresh air intakes to the home are not blocked or restricted.
* Install a CO alarm as an added layer of defense. Look for a device with
an audible alarm and digital readout. Minnesota law requires CO alarms
in all new construction and will eventually require them in existing
homes and apartments.
* Make sure chimneys are clear of debris and blockages. Never leave a
smoldering fire.
* Do not use a charcoal grill inside the home or garage, and do not store
it in the garage until the coals are completely out.
* Do not heat a room with a gas range, oven or clothes dryer.
* Look for signs that the home is not receiving enough fresh air for
moisture control and proper appliance operation. Signs include
excessive humidity indicated by heavy moisture or frost on the inside
of windows; soot on the ceilings and walls, front of a fireplace, or
front panel of a furnace; and a peculiar, stale odor or burning eyes
when appliances are operating.
* Do not leave a vehicle running in an attached garage, which can produce
dangerous levels of CO that will gradually enter the home even if the
garage door is left open. Pull the vehicle all the way out of the
garage immediately after starting it and then close the garage door.
* For more information about CO, contact CenterPoint Energy for a free
brochure, The Inside Story on Carbon Monoxide. Call 1-800-745-0711 or
visit http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .
If you suspect CO is present, take these actions:
* Open windows to ventilate the area.
* Open the door of an attached garage.
* Shut off the furnace and other fuel-burning appliances.
* If you experience physical symptoms, get all persons and pets out of
the premises and seek medical attention.
* If you are a CenterPoint Energy customer, call the emergency phone
number at 612-372-5050 or 1-800-722-9326. A company technician will
check your natural gas appliances. If we do not find your appliances
were producing CO at unsafe levels at the time we checked them, and you
are still experiencing signs that CO is present, you should call the
Minnesota Department of Commerce at 651-296-5175. The department
will refer you to organizations that can diagnose air-flow problems.
Remember ... CO has no smell. When you smell natural gas, you smell a non- toxic odorant added by CenterPoint Energy for safety reasons. Take the following steps if you smell natural gas:
* Leave immediately! Do not return until given permission by utility or
emergency officials. Do not use electric switches, phones or anything
that can cause a spark.
* Go to a safe location and call CenterPoint Energy -- Emergency at
(612) 372-5050 or 1-800-722-9326, and then call 911.
* Alert your neighbors.
* Leave all repairs to trained professionals. Do not try to repair the
leak yourself.
For more information about these and other safety topics, visit http://www.centerpointenergy.com/besafe , or call 612-372-4727 (metro) or 1-800-245-2377 (toll free).
CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, and pipeline and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total approximately $17 billion. With about 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. In Minnesota, CenterPoint Energy is the state's largest natural gas distribution company, serving more than 778,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 259 communities. Home Service Plus(R), the company's non-regulated business in Minnesota, offers products and services in the categories of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and appliance repair, and HVAC and hearth equipment sales. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .
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SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CONTACT: Media Pager, Minnesota, +1-612-538-1234, or Rolf Lund,
+1-612-321-4879, or Patty Pederson, +1-612-321-4609, all of CenterPoint
Energy, Inc.