Carbon Monoxide Testing for Home Inspections

Carbon Monoxide Testing Includes:

• Verifying that CO detectors are in place in the required areas: in the vicinity of the bedrooms, on each level of the house, and in the vicinity of any attached garage.

• Testing all accessible Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the House.

• Sampling the air in the vicinity of all the fuel-fired appliances to determine CO levels.

 

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic to humans when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm. It is also produced in low quantities in normal human and animal metabolism and is part of normal biological functions.

 

In the atmosphere, it is spatially variable and short lived, having a role in the formation of ground-level ozone. As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms become more noticeable and can include headache, fatigue and nausea. At sustained CO concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.