HOMEOWNER TIPS

Welcome to the first issue of our Homeowner Tips On-Line Newsletter. As you may have noticed in another section of this web site, we are looking for a name for both this and our commercial newsletters. Go to Special Contest for more details or to enter the contest. In each issue of this newsletter we hope to cover several topics of interest. Your comments are always welcome, please fell free to e-mail us.

SAFETY:  CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. The incomplete burning of materials that contain carbon, like natural gas, propane, coal, wood, fuel oil and gasoline produces it.

Its inhalation at low concentration levels can cause such symptoms as nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Higher levels of concentration have been known to cause brain damage and death. Each year, nearly 300 people in the United States die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What can we do?

• The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends the installation of carbon monoxide detectors with labels showing that they meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc, voluntary standard, UL 2034.

• If you suspect carbon monoxide may be present; get out of the area and in to fresh open air immediately. Remove anyone overcome by the gas and give artificial respiration until either a doctor arrives or the person revives.

• Make sure appliances such as furnaces, heaters, ovens, ranges, charcoal grills, fireplaces, etc. are installed properly according to manufacturer’s commendations and local building codes.

• Have heating systems inspected and serviced annually.

• Examine vents and chimneys for improper connections, visible rust, loose masonry, or sooting.

• Never run a gas or charcoal grill inside or in a closed area.

• Never run an automobile in a closed garage.

• Never use a gas oven or range for heating.

• Never operate unvented gas appliances in a closed in area.

Remember: Properly working carbon monoxide detectors can provide an early warning before the deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level.

Where can I get additional information?

This article is provided only for the purpose of alerting people to the need to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide. The scope of this article is not intended to be all-inclusive in any area including causes, prevention, or the need for medical attention. For a comprehensive understanding of carbon monoxide poisoning further information is available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as various manufacturers of carbon monoxide detectors.

OIL & ENGINE FACTS

According to U.S. Department of Energy information, the average U.S. family spends close to $1,300 per year on their home’s utility bills.

Based on national averages the largest portion of a utility bill for a typical house is for heating and cooling.

According to the American Petroleum Institute oil provides about 40% of the energy Americans consume and 97% our transportation fuels.

What is a barrel of crude oil?

Everyone has heard the term "a barrel of crude oil". We call oil that comes out of the ground "crude oil" because it has not yet gone through the manufacturing process called "refining" which converts it into the products we use each day. One barrel contains 42 gallons.

In the refining process each barrel of crude oil yields the following:

Yes, that’s right! The refining of oil yields a "processing gain" of 2.2 gallons per barrel of crude oil!

These figures are based on 1995 average yields from U.S. refineries.

Did you know...

...the first commercial radio broadcast was on August 20, 1920?

...while President, Ulysses S. Grant was once arrested for driving his horse too fast and fined $20.00?

...that the average pencil can write 45,000 words?

...that flying the American flag upside down is a distress signal?

...that heating oil costs substantially less than other fuels and is forecasted to stay less costly well beyond the year 2000?

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More to come in our next issue...