Knowing the sources where carbon monoxide comes from is very vital.
When you know this information for sure, then you will be able to decide where to place a carbon monoxide detector to alarm you as soon as possible.
Principally, carbon monoxide is obtained from an incomplete combustion process of organic materials, including fuels.
So, if you understand this basic principle, basically you will be able to recognize the common sources of carbon monoxide gas in your home and the workplace.
To help you identify these sources, I am going to list up common CO gas sources both at home and the workplace.
Common Carbon Monoxide Source at Home
Okay, now we will see the common sources of carbon monoxide at home.
If you find that one of the following sources is available in your home, please make sure that you always inspect them regularly to ensure they are always in good condition.
- Tobacco smoke
- Wood stoves
- Motor cycles
- Cars
- Gas stoves
- Portable power generator
- Furnaces
- Cloth dryers
- Fireplaces
- Water heaters
- Lawn equipment
- Charcoal grills
- Fuel-burning lanterns
- Camp stoves
- Leaf blowers
Common Sources in the Industry
I cannot mention specific equipment for this case. But, I will focus on the common industry types that release carbon monoxide or CO gas from their activities.
The CO gas release may come from a specific process or specific piece of equipment only. Not from the whole plant or factory.
An example of a specific process is:
The ammonia plant. CO is produced from methane which reacts with water vapor inside a steam reformer.
An example of specific equipment is:
Diesel engine generator or portable power generator.
Below here are types of industries, which release CO gas during their operations.
- Chemical manufacturing
- Power plant
- Metal manufacturing
- Food manufacturing
- Petroleum refining
- Cement manufacturing
- Mining metal ore or coal
- Plaster and concrete manufacturing
Once you know the sources of the toxic gas, you must take appropriate preventive measures to prevent CO poisoning happens.
One of the mandatory preventive measures is installing a CO gas detector – like an AC plug in Nighthawk – to alarm you when it detects its existence.
