Ugh....so I've not been on this forum for a looooong time...my anxiety was finally under control and I've been feeling so much better. However, in the last week or so, my anxiety is back in full force...and, as was the case the first time around, it's got a very specific focus...this time, it's carbon monoxide poisoning. I've become obsessed with the worry that there is carbon monoxide in my house and that it is poisoning me...and, of course, I've now got some physical symptoms to support that fear. We have three carbon monoxide detectors in the house (all purchased and installed within the last six months) and they've never gone off...so part of me knows that I'm probably just being irrational, but y'all know how that goes when anxiety is involved...my mind just doesn't listen to logic. I've reverted to my old habits of endless Google searches to read about carbon monoxide poisoning which is definitely adding fuel to the fire...it's as though I can't stop myself. I know this is a very specific fear, but is there anyone else out there who shares it? I'm worrying myself sick over this....
I have had that fear but now that I have carbon monoxide detectors I’m OK. Carbon monoxide poisoning in homes is not common but it still important to have the detectors. You just have to make sure that the hot water heater is vented to the outside . I have lived in the same home for over 40 years with no problem. Many people have lived in their homes for many many years. You just have to do yearly inspections of the hot water heater venting system if you’re concerned. But those carbon monoxide detectors are extremely loud and you will definitely wake up if you need to. But the odds of it happening are pretty low. Don’t let fear take you over . And don’t read things online because you’ll scare yourself.
you don’t have to live in fear of things in life. Just take proper steps in whatever you do to ensure your safety but don’t become paralyzed by the “what if‘s“. Live your life!
You said it yourself...it's an irrational fear. You have three detectors. You can also buy little card like detectors which you just stick to the side of your boiler, or a gas fire if you have one. They usually have a little circle on them, that would turn black if there is CO present in the air. That way you actually have a quick visual check for yourself, which might help.
I feel the same way. It started a few weeks ago when my husband forgot to open the damper in the flue when he started the gas fireplace. Even though we have several carbon monoxide detectors that really scared me. Then we go to a friends house and they have a gas fireplace going and I'm thinking, what if they forgot to open the damper. They don't have carbon monoxide detectors in their house so I was really scared. So much so that I moved the damper a little bit just in case it was closed so that it would be at least a little open. They are supposed to have a damper clamp on gas fireplaces so that it won't shut all the way, but after my husband left it closed I checked and of course my fireplace doesn't have it (and we just bought this house a couple of years ago and it's only 4 years old!). So now I'm even scared to be in public in case something somewhere has a leak and I don't know it! I know it's irrational, but since you can't smell or see it and you can't control your outside environment (shops, etc), it really scares me.