Risk Factors
Safety Recommendations
Place carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your home and near sleeping areas. Replace batteries and the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Have a licensed HVAC technician inspect your furnace, water heater, and any gas appliances annually. Cracked heat exchangers can allow carbon monoxide to enter indoor air.
Portable generators, charcoal grills, and camp stoves produce lethal amounts of CO. Use only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows and doors.
Contact your gas utility to ask about the age and material of your service line.
Protect Your Family from CO
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. A working CO detector can warn you of dangerous CO levels in your home.
Kidde CO Detector with Digital Display →CO & Gas Safety in Broomes Island, MD
ZIP code 20615 has a modeled gas safety risk score of 0/100 (higher scores mean higher modeled risk), in the low range. This is an area-level score based on county PHMSA records; CO safety precautions remain important for every home.
Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Threat
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills over 400 Americans per year and sends another 50,000 to emergency rooms, according to the CDC. Common residential sources include:
- Gas furnaces and boilers — cracked heat exchangers or blocked flues can let CO into living spaces
- Water heaters — gas water heaters in enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation
- Attached garages — vehicle exhaust can seep into living areas through shared walls
CO Detector Placement
Proper CO detector placement is critical for early warning:
- Every floor of your home, including the basement
- Near each sleeping area, following the alarm manufacturer's placement instructions
- Away from windows, doors, and fans that could affect readings
- Mounting height: follow the alarm manufacturer's instructions — CO mixes with air (it does not only rise or sink)
About This Assessment
This assessment combines PHMSA gas distribution incident data with infrastructure age and population density factors. Pipeline incident records used here start in 2004. Individual home CO risk depends on appliance age, maintenance history, and ventilation — factors not captured in area-level data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are signs of CO exposure?
Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion - often mistaken for the flu. Prolonged exposure can cause loss of consciousness, brain damage, or death. If your CO detector alarms or you suspect exposure, leave the building immediately, get to fresh air, and call 911. Do not re-enter until emergency responders confirm it is safe.
How often should I check CO detectors?
Test your CO detectors monthly by pressing the test button. Replace batteries as the manufacturer instructs (or when the low-battery alert sounds); some alarms have sealed batteries that cannot be replaced. Replace the entire detector unit by its end-of-life date or as the manufacturer instructs, as the sensor degrades over time. Install detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas, following the manufacturer's instructions for distance from fuel-burning appliances.
What causes CO leaks?
Common sources include malfunctioning furnaces, boilers, and water heaters; blocked or cracked chimneys and flues; running a car or generator in an attached garage; and gas stoves or ovens used for heating. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a qualified technician. Never use portable gas-powered equipment indoors.