What Does the Carbon Monoxide Sticker Mean on an A/C Unit?

What is Carbon Monoxide?

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic, odorless gas often generated in the home by malfunctioning furnaces, gas ovens, wood-burning stoves, kerosene lamps and automobiles when organic fuel isn't completely burned due to a lack of oxygen. Because the gas is impossible for humans to sense, buildups in the home often go unnoticed until poisoning symptoms begin to appear. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that several thousand people a year end up in the emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Warning Stickers

• Carbon monoxide detectors are the most common way of detecting dangerous gas leaks before they can escalate. CO-sensitive alarms, roughly the size of a smoke detector, are fitted near a potential source of CO. Warning stickers like those shown in the Resources section often accompany detectors to warn homeowners of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stickers on AC Units

• Though air conditioning units are not sources of carbon dioxide, they are often hooked up to the same vent system as the furnace in centrally heated properties. A carbon monoxide leak from the furnace therefore has the potential to travel through the house quite quickly. Placing a sticker on the AC alerts people to the potential dangers of carbon monoxide through the central air system.

Staying Safe

• Make it a habit to check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector and the CO levels on the digital display, if possible, as often as possible. It only takes a quick glance to ensure the air in your home is safe. Some detectors can be plugged into an outlet to remove the need for replacement batteries. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include headache, nausea, light-headedness and flu-like feelings.