Around 250 people in Austria suffer annually poisoning from carbon monoxide (CO). The gas is odorless, irritable, invisible and can lead to death in the worst case. In 2024, 34 people in Austria died of co-poisoning.
There is an increased danger in summer: the Board of Trustees (KFV) warns against this. The simultaneous use of gas boilers and mobile air conditioners on hot summer days can lead to a backlog of dangerous amounts of the gas in living rooms if the ventilation is impaired. One problem is the double use of devices that affect the air pressure within an apartment. For example, the simultaneous use of mobile air conditioners and the shower or the dishwasher is problematic.
On hot days, an “air -stop” can form, in which the outside air and thus the air in the fireplace is warm, but the exhaust air is not warm enough in comparison to climb up, which leads to a backlog of the odorless gas carbon monoxide.
There is a risk of danger even if the devices are waited. However, poorly maintained or outdated gases are an additional risk, since the security mechanism cannot prevent the CO out in time if the security mechanism is defective.
“}”>
Image: APA Photoservice Schedl
Source: Nachrichten
