Carbon Monoxide

Did you know about 50,000 people per year go to the hospital due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning? You don’t want to be part of that group! You might be wondering, what is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is an “odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death” (cdc.gov). It’s typically found in combustion fumes that are produced in trucks, car gasoline engines, gas ranges, burning wood, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and heating systems. If this gas builds up in enclosed spaces, both animals and people can become poisoned from breathing it.

Below are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: 

1. Headache
2. Weakness
3. Nausea
4. Dizziness
5. Vomiting
6. Chest pain
7. Confusion

The most important thing is your safety! Make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors and that they are in proper working order! If they aren’t working, you won’t know if you have a problem. Concerned? Our well-trained technicians know how to test and where to look for possible leaks and faulty equipment that can contaminate your home and family with this deadly poisonous gas. Questions? Call Blackies today at Danville: (217) 442-1440 or Champaign: (217) 328-3858.

Resource: http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

The Value of a Secret

Secrets are tricky things, aren’t they? Depending on the subject (surprise party vs. hazardous waste) and who it is about (relative vs. major corporation), a secret can be a fun event bonding people together or it can go to the other extreme where a bit of information left untold has the potential to be dangerous to your health.

Everyone has secrets both big and small and we are no exception. Don’t be too alarmed. Our secret is not as scary as hazardous waste; and one thing is for sure… Whether we are referring to people or companies, the truth will come out eventually.

Why, then, do so many companies leave out information their customers need to know in order to make informed decisions? Money, of course, and maybe power and definitely a concern for their reputation.

We are just not interested in being a company with secrets. To learn more about a big secret the heating and air conditioning industry has been keeping, read “Have You Heard theDark and Dirty Secret…about Your Home Comfort System?” 

Calling Mr. Clean...

Is your home clean? I don’t mean obsessively clean, just people-live-here-clean.

By now, most of us have got the basics down of keeping our home tidy, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, etc., but did you know your home comfort system also needs a good cleaning? I bet that is one thing that gets overlooked.

It is not something that jumps to the front of one’s mind when you are going through a mental list of what needs to be done. Too often, we neglect our home comfort system. We expect it to work with maximum efficiency the second we turn it on without ever stopping to think about what has spent months building up while it sat there unused.

For information on why and how to have your home comfort system cleaned, read “The Dirty Secret…”